TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 17.12 DATE: March 19, 2017
SUBJECT: HOW IMPORTANT IS SKYWARN?
As spring grows near, thoughts of our functions during Flash Floods, Severe Storms, and even Tornadoes come to mind. It is inevitable, because of our changing weather patterns, they will come. With this in mind we need to be preparing ourselves for operation during a storm. Our reports are important to the National Weather Service, and possibly people in the area in which the storms are heading. We must keep our communications up especially during those severe storms.
Questions to ask yourself should include: Do I have battery back-up power? Should I have an antenna in the attic so I don't have to use the outside antenna during lightening? Can I hit a couple different repeaters from indoor antennas with the Hand Held radio? Do I have the National Weather Service unpublished telephone number handy? Or, do I know someone who is a Storm Spotter, and has the number? And, How can I contact that Spotter?
The unpublished telephone number for the NWS office is only given to those who have taken the SKYWARN Storm Spotters class. You don't have to be a RACES or ARES member, or belong to any organization to assist with the SKYWARN Net which is held on the 147.255 MHz repeater during severe weather.
All reports of weather during a SKYWARN Net are important, even if you don't have any severe weather. It lets those on a SKYWARN Net know where and how large a storm is, and maybe how fast it's moving. So report all weather conditions to the Net Control Station. Break out those Severe Weather training materials and be prepared, Spring is just around the corner.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV