🚀 go-pugleaf

Well, after watching this thread for a while, it's time to chip in my $.02.

I think what we're seeing is that this topic is intensely localized.  In
other words, there is no blanket anwser.

I can only speak for the area around Cincinnati.  Here are my
qualifications to comment on the subject:

1.  I am a career firefighter/paramedic for the second largest suburban
department in Hamilton County (Cincinnati)
2.  I maintain the disaster plan for our Township therefore I work closely
with the County EMA Director.
3.  I am the Communications Officer for our department, therefore I work
closely with our county-wide communications (9-1-1) center.  This center
dispacthes 56 fire and EMS departments, as well as numerous municipal
police departments and the County Sheriff's Patrol.
4.  I am a net control operator for the local amateur radio skywarn group
and conduct much of the training.

After that lengthy self-indulgence, I can tell you that calling in severe
weather to the 9-1-1 center is definitely frowned upon.  Due to the volume
of calls, alarms and otherwise during severe weather, they only want calls
that the people they dispatch can do something about.  In other words, if
severe damage has occurred, call 9-1-1.  Don't call if it MIGHT happen.
 There is nothing they can do for that.  Also, a few years ago, when the
NWS office at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Intl. Airport closed
and moved to Wilmington, OH to consolidate at the new NEXRAD office, our
Comm. Center lost their direct radio link to the NWS.  In other words, any
calls to 9-1-1 must be processed through the telephone, the same way
everyone else calls.  Not very time efficient.  They simply don't have the
time or manpower to field a bunch of calls for this.

Next, the County EMA only sounds our sirens when the NWS issues a WARNING
for Hamilton County, so notifiying them directly is of no value.

I realize this is only valid for our area, but I think much of it may hold
true for other large metropolitan areas too.

FWIW

Mike Nie - KB8VMX
mnie@fuse.net
mnie@greentwp.org

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