🚀 go-pugleaf

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date:    Sat, 22 Aug 1998 08:19:00 -0500
> From:    Kim Walker <mkwstar@CYBERRAMP.NET>
> Subject: Re: Spotter Nets
>
> Sorry, folks, for the long post.  But, this is an important topic that has
 been
> raised!

<LONG SNIP>

As I've been reading these posts concerning the "reorganization of RACES and
SKYWARN" , I have a question for this group {and it already may have been asked
 and
answered, but I'm playing e-mail catch-up}..Am I wrong or is not the NWS {and
 the
local populance} our "primary served agency" that we are serving and city/county
government EM agencies secondary? It is the NWS that initiated the SKYWARN
 program,
not city/county government EM agencies!
The local NWSFO should also be the ones to take the lead for any SKYWARN net
activations, if they want it that way. I also am aware of how restrictive,
territorial and political RACES organizations can become! Mostly d/t the current
RACES rules and regs {which haven't kept up with "the times"}. I've been there,
done that, burned my T-shirt, hi! Think about this info. Not to inflame, just
commentary..Now, I'll go back to my corner!

>
>
> >      Sam Barricklow wrote:
> >
> > Currently, most SKYWARN organizations, especially those organized under
> > RACES, are under either county or city control.  In many cases, such as
> > with Dallas County RACES, the focus of the group is within the county.
> > Typically, SKYWARN nets are shut down when storm activity moves out of
> > Dallas County into the surrounding rural counties.  (There are a few
> > dedicated spotters from Dallas County who will track stronger storms
> > outside of the county.)
> >
> > (Snip). . .
> >
> > As a result of these factors, it is time to consider a basic
> > reorganization of RACES and SKYWARN, changing from a local organization
> > controlled by a city or county government to a regional organization.
> > The governmental focus of responsibility should be either the National
> > Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) with warning responsibility for
> > the location or a state controlled multi-county organization that
> > parallels NWSFO responsibility.
> >
> > (Snip). . .
> >
> > Comments?
>
> > Allan Moller wrote:
>
> >      (Big Snip). . .Second, it may be difficult, because of local politics,
> > to develop
> >      spotter nets on a regional basis.  The politics of the current city
> >      and/or county spotter nets can be difficult enough to deal with!
> >      Trying to pull many spotters together from varying areas could be a
> >      major problem.  However, if people can make it work, so be it!
> >
> >      (Snip). . .
> >      Finally, the NWS likes Amateur Radio spotters because of their
> >      superior communications systems.  The amateur frequencies allow
> >      weather-trained Amateurs to talk efficiently to each other and to the
> >      net controller, so that initial tornado reports can be confirmed (or
> >      denied) by others.
>
> Kim Walker's thoughts:
>
> This is a very interesting subject to come up on the list.  As a local D/FW
> spotter (well, local as in Kaufman County), I would like to add some thoughts
> and comments.
>
> I have often wondered why there is not a more concerted effort on the part of
> current RACES organizations to provide multi-county coverage during severe
> weather events.  The only response I have ever received from those whom I
 dared
> ask is that "politics" will never let that happen.  I have to just get a
 little
> emotional here, folks--albeit unprofessional:
>
>      There should be no "politics" when it comes to the business of providing
> important,
>      possibly live/property saving information for those who live in and near
> our
>      neighborhoods.  PERIOD.
>
> Kaufman County RACES is currently not very active, even with training nets.
> The lack of severe weather is the probably cause of this.  But, when
 conditions
> warrant, we provide communications for and spot for the NWS into Van Zandt
> County.  Often, we would like to feel welcome to communicate back to the NWS
> through the 146.880 machine in Dallas.  But, we are often met with
 indifference
> and the feeling that we are interfering when we attempt to do just that.  Is
> this "politics" in motion?  Probably.
>
> When storms develop in "this area," they develop mostly near the Palo
> Pinto/Parker County area (in terms of those that will be going through the
> metroplex), and move through very rapidly.  For any particular community, the
> severe weather begins and ends within two hours.  It makes perfect sense to
> have a regional effort for RACES/ARES, or some other entity willing to make
 the
> effort, for the provision of emergency communications and tracking severe
> weather.
>
> I don't know how many times a RACES unit from Tarrant Cty. has attempted to
> enter a Dallas RACES net to report the characteristics of a storm that has
 been
> being tracked, or even to provide a report from the fringe of the county--and
> Dallas RACES has not allowed this to happen.  We here in Kaufman County hang
 on
> the edge of our seats to hear that report so we will have a better idea of
 what
> we are facing.

Sounds to me like Dallas Cnty RACES needs to come out of the "vacuum" created,
 once
again, by those pesky RACES regs and see what the rest of the world has to
 offer!
They might be surprized.Just a thot, I might be wrong..

>
>
> These comments are not meant to be inflammatory but simply to point out part
 of
> the reasons why I believe Sam and Alan are right.  This area needs to have a
> much better communication method and procedures for effective surveillance of
> severe weather.  I am not the one to suggest how this might be done, at least
> not in this forum.  But I, for one, am perfectly willing and eager to work
 with
> others in making this happen.  The idea of being able to learn about weather,
> participate with others during severe weather and to have a reason to be
 mobile
> (I hate staying at my house when severe weather is nigh) was the sole reason
> for my making the effort to "get into" HAM radio.
>
> Sam, you've sort of taken the ball and bounced it.  I would love NOT to see
> this die.  What can we do?  Alan, you made the implication that the NWS would
> see this as a favorable evolution.  It is the NWS that we are here for and who
> we work with.  What would the NWS like to see in terms of broad-spectrum
> coverage? There are ways that relays of communications could be provided

> probably in the entire area you serve--if HAMs would stay on frequencies long
> enough for that to happen!
>
> I am excited now!  Let's keep this going.
>
> Kim Walker - W5TIT
>
> ------------------------------
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Sat, 22 Aug 1998 12:32:28 -0700
> From:    "Matthew L. Janusauskas" <w21@MEGSINET.NET>
> Subject: Re: Regonal SkyWarn Organization
>
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>
>
>
> Hello SkyWarn List:
>
> Here in the Chicago Metro area we are involved in something similar to =
> what has been recently discussed on the mailing list...
>
> Under the direction of the NWS office in Chicago and administrated by =
> our District Emergency Coordinator a multi-county organization was =
> formed after a devistating tornado struck our area in 1990.  There are =
> 13 counties that participate in the system.
>
> Each county has it's own local net, and a representative from that local =
> net passes traffic to and from the primary lieson net that is directly =
> monitored by the NWS.  All watches, warnings, status reports, etc. are =
> all immediately broadcast on this net and usuallly come out before NOAA =
> tones them out or even weather wire services get them.
>
> The system works very well for us and is quite efficient.  The only true =
> struggle is discouraging individual spotter reports on the main net =
> channel.  These individuals are refered to a local spotter net.  The =
> traffic is thick enough on the main net just with lieson stations from =
> all the local nets.  If anyone has any questions I will be happy to give =
> more detail.

Matthew..Sounds like an interesting approach..Just curious, is this SKYWARN
net/organization under the ARES or RACES banner, or both?

>
>
> Matthew Janusauskas
> Asst. EC, Director of Operations
> Kankakee County Sheriff's Department
> ESDA / ARES

<SNIP>

> ------------------------------
>
> End of SKYWARN Digest - 21 Aug 1998 to 22 Aug 1998
> **************************************************



--
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73 de Greg, WB4HRR/Charlotte {NC} Area SKYWARN EC {CASN}
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Visit the Charlotte Area SKYWARN Interactive Website!
@: WWW.CLTSKYWARN.ORG

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