The Movie Twister #Skywarn #OKwx @NWSnorman @NWSTulsa #Oklahoma @NWSNorman @OKmesonet @NWSSPC

In preparation of the 25th anniversary of the movie Twister, I spent my first day away from deployment listening to the National Weather Service Norman briefing and watching the movie.  

May 15 at 10 a.m., the Twister Movie Museum in Wakita will lead the charge in the 25th anniversary celebration. 

A lot has happened in the weather enterprise in 25 years.  The movie started out remembering the way things were in 1996.  

Since then, the force layout has changed even more.

1.  NWS Norman has moved along with the Storm Prediction Center and the Oklahoma Mesonet to the National Weather Center. 

2.  Doppler radar is now Old School.  Dual Polarization, or what one person called "Bipolar", radar is the latest tool.

3.  The Oklahoma Mesonet, the premier Statewide weather system, has been joined by  New York and other States to provide public safety and agriculture information.

4.  Sirens have been replaced by personal electronic devices.  At least eight ways have been documented for receiving warnings from the National Weather Service.  The Emergency Alert System replaced CONALRAD and the Emergency Broadcast System in 1997. Since then, the Wireless Emergency Alert and Integrated Public Alert & Warning System are on the field, along with improvements to the nationwide All-Hazards Radio.  In other words, for someone to say "I didn't get a warning" they actually meant "I didn't WANT a warning".  Even television and radio stations have wall to wall coverage with some 24-hour streams.

5.  Thanks to tools like Twitter, SpotterNetwork, mPING helps  reports easily flow to the appropriate weather service office and Skywarn has been joined by Weather Ready Nation 

6.  Gusty was gone. Gary England is retired. Dan Threlkel, Jon Slater, and Travis Meyer are not. 

In 25 years, Oklahoma has been one of many impacted by ice storms, flood, wind storm, wildfire, and, even "Non-Tornado tornado".  FEMA has been a good partner with State Emergency Management in helping with recovery and mitigation dollars.

A LOT has changed in 25 years.  Will you be in Wakita to participate in remembering 25 years ago and maybe engage in the next 25?

This is why you evacuate on watch #Skywarn #WRN

It's easy to forget to be weather aware when vacationing on the lake.  There's not a cloud in the sky and then BOOM.

If you live in manufactured housing, even more substantial than these shown in the media report from KSWO, consider finding more substantial shelter NOW before the watch is issued.  Don't wait for the warning to hunt.

When the watch is issued, be it tornado or severe thunderstorm, be closer to the substantial shelter than in one of these.  Clearly, one would not want to be ON the lake during severe weather.

"I did not want a warning." #WRN #skywarn

In the USA, for someone to say they did not get a warning is essentially to say "I did not want a warning."

Emergency Managers, for years, have encouraged the Citizen to be more  active in getting their warning information.  The days of the siren to wake us up in the middle of the night is over.  As one emergency manager pointed out:
\
When I was MUCH younger, the windows were open in the spring, the black-and-white TV was not on all the time, folks did not listen to MP3 players with headphones, and sirens could be heard inside the house.

With the cell phone tied to every waistband, some jurisdictions are turning to products such as Everbridge, Nixle, BlackboardConnect, MyStateUSA, Code Red, and EmergencyE to encourage the public to get their warnings.  The National Weather Service offers this  “LISTING OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF WEATHER ALERTS”.

Popular smartphone operating systems such as the Android and Iphone offer applications such as Storm and WeatherBug that automatically alert when the resident is in a warning area as well as for areas where the Citizen has an interest.

The Weather Service has offered Interactive NWS for a few years now.  This service sends email and text messages to subscribers (who are members of the emergency management community).  This supplements the Weather Radio network that has been in place for a number of years.

Of course, amateur radio plays a big part in keeping the resident aware as do local media partners.  Even newspapers are joining the electronic media to give their own Twitter and Facebook information. 

You may get automated information from your Federal partners with the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and the Wireless Emergency Alert system.

Indeed, today, there's no need to go without a warning.  However, you must WANT to get one.

What is ACES in Skywarn?

Take a lesson from this #Skywarn spotter.  ACES is the word.

Wichita man hopes to win lottery; lightning strikes instead (Kansas)

via TWIAR News Feed on 3/31/12

Like a lot of other Americans, Bill Isles bought Mega Millions lottery tickets on Thursday. Later he joked with a friend that he had a better chance of getting struck by lightning than winning the record jackpot. That night, Isles walked out into his backyard and got struck by lightning.

What does ACES mean?

Awareness

Communication

Escape Route

Safe Zone

WX4NHC, National Hurricane Center Miami Florida, will be on at their usual time slot from past years and the remaining open time slot from 1400-1500 UTC has been filled by NWS Salt Lake City Utah, WX4SLC. For this year, WX7PHX, NWS Phoenix Arizona has relinguished their time slot.

EchoLink and IRLP are just a couple of modes people can utilize to contact NWS offices during SKYWARN Recognition Day. Many NWS offices will be on 2 Meters, 440 MHz, HF, Digital other VHF/UHF bands. Additional details on SKYWARN Recognition Day can be found via the following links:

http://hamradio.noaa.gov
http://www.arrl.org/news/the-13th-annual-skywarn-recognition-day-set-for-december-3

The December issue of the ARRL QST Magazine has a story on National Weather Service / ARRL SKYWARN Recognition Day on page 68 in their Public Service Column.

As in past years, the EchoLink *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system will be scheduling time for NWS offices in 1-2 hour time slots to act as a net control to make contacts with spotters that are on the system. If a NWS office runs out of contacts and there are other NWS offices on the system, the NWS office acting as net control can turn it over to a different NWS office to act as a net control on the system at their discretion.

We'd like to ask NWS offices to do their best to adhere to the schedule. Sometimes this is difficult due to the number of contacts received by NWS offices. We ask for everyone's patience and working cooperatively to respect the time slot schedule.

Below is the finalized SRD Schedule for 2011. See the list of NWS offices below:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: WX0GLD (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
0200-0300: WX4MLB (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
0300-0400: W0ABR  (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Confirmed to keep the time slot)  
0500-0600: WX9GRB (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
0700-0800: N0NWS  (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
0800-0900: KL7FWX (Confirmed to keep time slot. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AK)
0900-1000: KL7FWX (Confirmed to keep time slot. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AK)
1000-1100: KL7FWX (Confirmed to keep time slot. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AK)
1100-1200: WX4HUN (Taking WX7PHX Time Slot and relinguishing their 1400-1500 UTC time slot)  
1200-1300: W7NWS  (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
1300-1400: KL7FWX (Confirmed to keep time slot. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AK)  
1400-1500: WX4SLC (New NWS Office for SRD'2011)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
1600-1800: WX4NC  (Confirmed to keep the time slot, 2 hour time slot and time slot is from last year)
1800-1900: WX6MTR (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
1900-2000: K0MPX  (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
2000-2100: WX4MLB (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Confirmed to keep the time slot)
2300-2400: WX6NWS (Confirmed the NWS Sacramento California Office for this time slot)

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Taunton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years on reflector 9250 and have its gateway system on IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 125266 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system.

The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their support!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton Massachusetts
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

Hello to all..

The Skywarn Recognition Day event was confirmed with EchoLink and IRLP are just a couple of modes people can utilize to contact NWS offices during SKYWARN Recognition Day. Many NWS offices
will be on 2 Meters, 440 MHz, HF and other VHF/UHF bands. Additional
details on SKYWARN Recognition Day can be found via the following
link:
http://hamradio.noaa.gov

As in past years, the EchoLink *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector
9219 system will be scheduling time for NWS offices in 1-2 hour time
slots to act as a net control to make contacts with spotters that are
on the system. If a NWS office runs out of contacts and there are
other NWS offices on the system, the NWS office acting as net control
can turn it over to a different NWS office to act as a net control on
the system at their discretion.

We'd like to ask NWS offices to do their best to adhere to the
schedule. Sometimes this is difficult due to the number of contacts
received by NWS offices. We ask for everyone's patience and working
cooperatively to respect the time slot schedule.

Below is the SRD schedule from last year. We would like to know if NWS
offices would like to keep their time slot or change time slots. A
couple of NWS offices have already asked to keep their time slot. See
the list of NWS offices below:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: WX0GLD (Time slot from last year)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Time slot from last year)
0200-0300: WX4MLB (Time slot from last year)
0300-0400: W0ABR  (Time slot from last year)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Confirmed to keep the time slot but can swap if needed)
0500-0600: WX9GRB (Time slot from last year)
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Time slot from last year)
0700-0800: N0NWS  (Time slot from last year)
0800-0900: KL7FWX (Time slot from last year. Will Show Up on Echolink
as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AL)
0900-1000: KL7FWX (Time slot from last year. Will Show Up on Echolink
as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AL)
1000-1100: KL7FWX (Time slot from last year. Will Show Up on Echolink
as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AL)
1100-1200: WX7PHX (Time slot from last year)
1200-1300: W7NWS  (Time slot from last year)
1300-1400: KL7FWX (Time slot from last year. Will Show Up on Echolink
as KL2GS - NWS Fairbanks AL)
1400-1500: WX4HUN (Time slot from last year)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Confirmed to keep the time slot but can swap if needed)
1600-1800: WX4NC  (Confirmed to keep the time slot, 2 hour time slot
and time slot is from last year)
1800-1900: WX6MTR (Time slot from last year)
1900-2000: K0MPX  (Time slot from last year)
2000-2100: WX4MLB (Time slot from last year)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Time slot from last year)
2300-2400: N6NWS  (Time slot from last year)

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN
Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS
Taunton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and
1200-2400 UTC.
The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123.

If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so
and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system
to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to
move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your
scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact
with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as
in past years on reflector 9250 and have its gateway system on IRLP
9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 125266 open for NWS offices.
Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western
Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with
the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New
England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG* Echolink Node: 9123
systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink
users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For
IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you're using must
have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system
will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system.

The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a
conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere
else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference
considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go
to our web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that
information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will
also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the
*WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, New England Reflector
Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their
support!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton Massachusetts
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

If you think the original "See Something; Say Something" came from Homeland Security, please think again.

That honor belongs to the brave souls connected to the local Skywarn program.

This handy program, born out of the National Weather Services in the 70s, has been the stimulus for local spotter groups and the StormReady program.

Today, the Skywarn program is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters.

These individuals give their reports to their local emergency management official who relays them to the National Weather Service or they give their reports to the National Weather Service who relays them to the local emergency management office.  Either way, spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards.

 If you see a logo that looks like this, chances are the spotter has been to the required training provided by the National Weather Service.  This is annual training required by so many emergency managers across the USA.

If this logo is on a personal vehicle, you can be assured that the owner of the vehicle uses their OWN gas, tires, windshield wipers, oil, RainEX, etc. while you remain safe at home watching TV for the report that the spotter is giving to the weather service.  In other words, they train and report at no cost to the government OR the Citizens they serve.

These are NOT chasers with expensive vehicles they allow to have videotaped (sometimes even by themselves) being operated in a dangerous manner.  These individuals use their own vehicles.  If they break the law, they get a ticket.  They know that.  Their insurance goes up as a result.

Skywarn is the original "See something; SAY something".

What's this all about?

The discussion about Spotter Convergence continues on the Chaser list.
The popular program StormChasers has added more fuel to the
discussion, especially when video of a vehicle passing in no passing
zones.
From last May, here's a post regarding the topic:
http://kc5fm.blogspot.com/search/label/Skywarn

> Is it time for chasing legislation
> to help control these unruly, dangerous convergence situations which are
> very difficult for towns such as Hennessey, or Kingfisher Oklahoma as they
> were last May 19th, or are you against legislating chasing? Why, what are
> some of your ideas or views on this subject?
As strongly as I feel about this subject, list members may be
surprised that I am NOT in favor of chasing legislation.
I AM in favor of CHASERS calming down and self-regulating, if you
will, their dangerous activity. I'm in FAVOR of certain popular TV
CHASERS acting like Human Beings, on and off camera. I am ALL THE
MORE in FAVOR of CHASERS modeling safe behavior when they are
streaming their video for all the world to see.
The video of the TIV barreling down the road across TWO double yellow
lines is but ONE example of unsafe CHASER behavior. Watching the
CHASERS stream their OWN video and my thoughts have already been
documented at http://kc5fm.blogspot.com/search/label/Skywarn
I AM in favor of Skywarn training and credentialing. IF you are a
Skywarn spotter, you have had spotter safety training. If you are
stopped for some vehicular infraction and have no reason to be their
(documented by a Skywarn "card" of some sort), you will face increased
scrutiny by the officer. That's how it works in Jackson County,
Oklahoma, USA. I have already told my troop commander words to the
effect that my spotters are not above the law. I have ridden with a
number of my spotters and some have ridden with me. They all know
expectations. I am convinced that they will continue to meet
expectations.
The Skywarn program, if I understand correctly, will become a truly
National program with uniform training. Spotter SAFETY will be part
of that training. Much like the SpotterNetwork process of vetting
individuals in a certain subject matter, the training will produce a
person entered into a National database. Mess up and I suspect that
entry in the National database will be removed.
NO! I am not in favor of increased legislation. I am in favor of
individuals doing the right thing without being told all the time what
the right thing is.
But while you are at it, could you please NOT tell me how safe you are while you stream video showing me you are NOT?

Storm chasers are NOT #Skywarn Spotters.

In part of my emails to the Weather Chaser list, I made note of this video. Please use viewer discretion.

Please view this video. Although it's not about chasing, it's about
motor vehicle operation and some undesirable consequences. I will add
it is quite graphic. Viewer discretion is advised, in other words.

http://www.facebook.com/kc5fm?ref=profile#!/video/video.php?v=347401909287&ref=mf

PLEASE be SAFE and remain FREE.

Not to be outdone, some chasers took matters into their own hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxgI_wQ9r18, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQQ_-ECVVag

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMdJy3qMak are shots of a TV storm chaser barreling down a two lane road, complete with support vehicles. Can you see brake lights as these folks barrel down the roadway?

Here's more from my colleague to the north.

In this article, the Vortex2 team says that chasers got in their way. The article is believable except the spokesman was observed by the German Skywarn Team breaking the law. The particular individual also has ties to the "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE" chasers on a popular TV show.

One of the participants posted comments on his Facebook page. The reply is in italics.

You REALLY believe this?

I'm responding to video of the TIV convoy passing other chasers and
the complaint that we were doing so unsafely. I realize that people do
not know that our team has radios and that we give a "clear" to the

Would you expect a Trooper to understand this? You were breaking the LAW!

follow vehicles so they know that there is no oncoming traffic. Also I
am up in the turret so that I can get a better perspective of traffic
ahead. Also the video that I saw was "zoomed" in, optically
compressing space, so that the hill and vehicles seems closer together

Then WHY did the cars behind you have to slam on THEIR breaks?


than in reality. Finally, the TIV or any of it's follow vehicles have
never been in or caused an accident. Also, want to say that I

Never a time like NOW to break THAT record.

appreciate your concern for chasers safety and I will do my best to
make it a priority for my entire team for the rest of the season. I'm
not perfect, I know that more than anyone, but I really respect the
chaser community and I take your comments seriously."

Read my post on the WX-Chase list about CHASERS. I would much rather folks out there were SAFE than exhibiting the DANGEROUS action you display.

The post referred to above is quoted below.

Since I'm not around ground zero this afternoon, I took some time to
watch some of the video samples available on the various video
streams.

I observed speed too fast for conditions (wet roads and hail),
following too close (can't you count one-one thousand, two
one-thousand after you pass a yellow line or pothole?), inattentive
driving (at least two left of center), one busted a red light, a
couple or three almost rear-ended the car in front.

Folks, if you are going to tell the world you are safely operating
your motor vehicle, the pictures need to match. If you are going to
put a picture of you in the car driving, it helps if you pay attention
to what you do instead of dinking on the PC, talking on the radio, dig
for something on the floor or in the back seat, etc. Don't you all
have partners?

Maybe it would be a better practice to NOT show video while you are
breaking the law. After all, these end up on TV and you don't get
paid.

I'm getting the idea that this is too hard for some but, please, TRY
to be SAFE out there. Tomorrow you are in Oklahoma. I will be too
busy to watch but I bet someone in a clearly marked car will be.

Finally, these examples are NOT representative of Skywarn. Please contact your local emergency management office or National Weather Service office for information about how to be involved in this important activity.

Radio Shack has an interesting Weather Radio with AM/FM for Skywarn folks.

Since Jackson County has a grant to get a 75% rebate on the purchase of a new weather radio with SAME technology, it was not hard to say "yes".

The radio has an amazing additional feature. It's a scanner for two-meter and 440 mHz Skywarn channels, programmable. That's 20 channels for the local Skywarn enthusiast.

The radio specifications list .3 microvolt for both the weather radio and Skywarn band. That's not great sensitivity but locally it works to hear the local Skywarn repeaters and the County NWS transmitter, with the telescoping antenna collapsed and folded into storage.

Reading the reviews on the Radio Shack site, some complaints are:

low sensitivity
can't program a local Skywarn channel
no balance in audio between bands

One EXCELLENT feature is the BNC antenna adapter that comes with the radio. This makes having an outside antenna to improve reception of both weather and amateur radio signals.

Overall, this is a good unit, especially if you live in Jackson County, OK and are involved in the Skywarn Program.

Pecuniary Interest has a life of its own. Will this issue ever end?

Now a committee has filed a Petition to allow paid personnel to use amateur radio frequencies during drills and exercises. There may be some merit to this petition, from the "Fight like you train. Train like you fight." part of disaster preparedness and emergency response training.

However, do I need a drill or exercise to learn how to use my new walkie-talkie I brought home from the hamfest? REALLY.

What would be the purpose of the training, drill, exercise for the amateur radio operator? If it's so the folks can see if the radio works, get a couple of volunteers to go around to each of the radios to see if they can talk to each other.

From the Federal Communications Commission's William Cross:

Lloyd,

To flesh out a couple of things you asked about in the below e-mail, the
Public Notice (PN) specifically says that the waiver request must come
from the government entity conducting the drill, not from individual
amateurs or others participating in the drill.

As for how the government entity should request a waiver, it should
submit a written request addressing the factors listed in the PN to

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
Attn: Scot Stone

Note that a waiver is needed only for those licensees transmitting
messages on behalf of their employer during the State and local
government public safety agency "occasionally conducted emergency
preparedness or disaster drills test or drill." This may, after
analysis, turn out to be very few licenses or, by rearranging functions
of participants, a waiver may not be needed.

Adding in a new hire that comes on duty after the waiver request but
before the waiver is granted or the new hire who replaces someone for
whom the waiver has been submitted would require a new waiver submission
or a change to the previously-filed request. As noted in the Public
Notice, "...the filing of a waiver request does not excuse compliance

with the rules while that request is pending. The waiver must be
requested prior to the drill, and employees may not transmit amateur
communications on their employer's behalf unless the waiver request has
been granted."

William T. Cross
Mobility Division
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Federal Communications Commission

This was in response to the email that detailed the "rules" and the Government's response to it.

The email sent to a number of amateur radio interests states:

Below is a copy of a press release from the FCC #DA 09-2259 stating
the local governments must request a waiver for paid staff to
participate in non-emergency radio communications on behalf of their
employer.

Another unanswered question would be how long should the jurisdiction
submit the request? In other words, how long is the wait expected to
be. I know the drills I plan are weeks and months before hand.

However, what about the new hire that comes on duty after the waiver
request but before the waiver is granted (since we don't know how long
this process might be)? Will there be a method to get a quick answer?
If the new hire replaces someone for whom the waiver would have been
submitted is a new waiver submission required?

Answer: No method to get a quick answer. Waiver request must be submitted in writing to the address given above. Jurisdiction would need to file a new request for waiver.


From the FCC:

Transmissions by amateur stations participating in government disaster
drills must comply with all applicable amateur service rules. While
the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary
noncommercial communications service, particularly with respect to
providing emergency communications, is one of the underlying
principles of the amateur service,

1 the amateur service is not an emergency radio service. Rather, it is
a voluntary, non-commercial communication service authorized for the
purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical
investigations carried out by licensed persons interested in radio
technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.

2 State and local government public safety agencies occasionally
conduct emergency preparedness or disaster drills that include amateur
operations. Some entities, such as hospitals, emergency operations
centers, and police, fire, and emergency medical service stations,
have expressed interest in having their employees who are amateur
station operators participate in these drills by transmitting messages
on the entity’s behalf. The Commission’s Rules, however, specifically
prohibit amateur stations from transmitting communications “in which
the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest,
including communications on behalf of an employer.”

3 Given the public interest in facilitating government-sponsored
emergency preparedness and disaster drills, we take this opportunity
to provide a clear process for requesting a waiver, and the
information that we require in order to consider granting such a
request.

4 Waiver requests should be submitted to the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau by the government entity conducting the
drill, and must provide the following information: (1) when and where
the drill will take place; (2) identification of the amateur licensees
expected to transmit amateur communications on behalf of their
employers; (3) identification of the employers on whose behalf they
will be transmitting; and (4) a brief description of the drill. We
emphasize that the filing of a waiver request does not excuse
compliance with the rules while that request is pending. The waiver
must be requested prior to the drill, and employees may not transmit
amateur communications on their employer’s behalf unless the waiver
request has been granted.

In an actual emergency, the Commission’s Rules provide that an amateur
station may use any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to
provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate
safety of human life and the immediate protection of property when
normal communication systems are not available.

5 In those circumstances, rule waiver is not necessary.

For further information regarding matters discussed in this Public
Notice, contact William T.
Cross of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Mobility Division, at
(202) 418-0680,
William.Cross@fcc.gov.
By the Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; Chief, Public Safety
and Homeland Security
Bureau; and Chief, Enforcement Bureau.

1 See 47 C.F.R. § 97.1(a). See also Recommendations of the Independent
Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications
Networks, Order, EB Docket No. 06-119; WC Docket No. 06-63, 22 FCC Rcd
10541, 10576 ¶ 111 (2007) (noting that the amateur radio community
played an important role in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina and other disasters).
2 See 47 C.F.R. § 97.3(a)(4).
3 See 47 C.F.R. § 97.113(a)(3) (emphasis added).
4 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.925.
5 See 47 C.F.R. § 97.403. See also Amendment of Part 97 of the
Commission’s Rules Governing the Amateur Radio
Services, Report and Order, WT Docket No. 04-140, 21 FCC 11643, 11667
¶ 52 (2006) (clarifying that amateur
radio operators who are emergency personnel may use their amateur
radio stations while in paid duty status, but not
addressing the prohibition against transmitting messages on behalf of
an employer).

Previous to this, the American Radio Relay League announced guidelines on the Pecuniary Interest topic. In an email, Laura Smith, Special Counsel for the FCC, stated she was in agreement with those guidelines. That could have been end of story. As the reader can see, from above, it was not.

As some have suggested, I will not remove amateur radio from the Emergency Operations Center, I will not submit my licenses for cancellation, and I will not quit my job.

In the mean time, the emergency manager, Logistics Section Chief, or the Communications Leader has three options:

1. Use the Military Affiliate Radio System and the willing operators there.
2. Use volunteers from Amateur Radio Emergency Service or the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service as a buffer to keying that microphone in behalf of the jurisdiction.
3. Continue to use the Part 90 equipment they already own and hope the hams will honor their Part 97 obligation to be that existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators.

Hams will have to support their local government, if RACES is to be the case. There are the anti-government types that will refuse to do so.

Perhaps this PowerPoint decision tree may be helpful.




73

Pryor Snow
Originally uploaded by colston

This weekend has been terrible for the folks in Northwest Oklahoma.

Twitter has been ablaze with stories and reports from #OKice. Amarillo National Weather Service office reported final snow reports for the blizzard.

Nevertheless, the photo here is from Pryor. The current radar shows the storm continues in the area.

The Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emergency Service group was placed on standby for the event. This is a dedicated group of volunteers who give up their time for special events and disasters.

At any rate, this week Oklahoma has seen thunderstorms, thundersnow, fire weather, blizzards, and clear blue skies.

Check your local forecast EVERY day. Then you won't be in flipflops going into winter weather to rescue someone.

http://blogs.woodtv.com/2009/02/11/tornadoes-in-oklahoma/ is a work about the Lone Grove, OK tornado of February, 2009.

One of the quotes in the comments involved a trucker's wife. Seems she is happy her husband is out of the State.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_us/severe_weather reports a ... "trucker driving through town was also killed when winds slammed into his rig".

That produces thought that truckers need the same warning the rest of us get. How do they get warnings?

http://truckerweatherwatch.org/ is the Trucker's Weather Watch. It's a site founded "by Sean Kiaer of Everett, Wa. on October 12 2006 to integrate the Trucking industry in to the National Weather Service's Severe Weather Reporting Network, known as SKYWARN™.

Folks who go to Skywarn training regularly hear "never try to outrun a tornado".

As one puzzles over how to get information into the trucks of the trucking industry, remember, in Oklahoma, at truck stops, the National Weather Service NOAA weather radio is played in the background in the rest rooms. Rather than MUZAK, the weather radio provides potentially lifesaving information.

Some, though not all, use Citizen Band radios with weather radios incorporated in them. Some relay on the goodness of dispatchers, friends, and truck stops to keep them informed of weather.

Of course, others are amateur radio operators. Those that travel the highways frequently, along the same route, have the active repeaters programmed into their radios.

Some use their cell phones, if they have a relative or friend in some sort of emergency management or weather service.

Some, it is feared, have nothing.

This is one of the reasons why Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is so important. Can a system be developed to get the life-saving message into the hands of those that need it, before they need it?

While tornadoes typically occur between March and May in Oklahoma, with a second season in October through December, remember that tornadoes can occur at any time during any season.

From our Friends at the National Weather Service:

Public Information Statement

... february and deadly tornadoes...

tornadoes struck in central and south central oklahoma tuesday
evening affecting the cities of oklahoma city and edmond in central
oklahoma... and lone grove and ardmore in south central oklahoma.
storm survey teams will visit the affected areas on wednesday to
determine the details of these tornadoes.

... february tornadoes...

there have been 44 documented february tornadoes within the state of
oklahoma between 1950 and 2008.

there have been two previous deadly tornadoes in february in
oklahoma since 1950... both occurring on february 22 1975 in
southwestern oklahoma. on that day... one tornado struck altus
killing two people... and another tornado killed one person near
mountain park. these were two of six tornadoes that struck between
midnight and 3 am in oklahoma.

the strongest tornadoes since 1950 to have occurred within oklahoma
in february are two f3 tornadoes both that struck on february 17
1961. one f3 occurred in eastern oklahoma county from near spencer
to northeast of luther... and the other f3 was part of a tornadic
storm that moved from near stratford to konawa... wewoka and to
south of shulter.

before tuesday... the last february tornado in oklahoma occurred on
february 25 2000 in tulsa.

... deadly tornadoes...

a list of the deadliest tornadoes in oklahoma since 1950...

1. 36 fatalities 5/ 3/1999 f5 bridge creek - oklahoma city - moore
2. 20 5/25/1955 f5 blackwell
3. 16 5/ 5/1960 f4 wilburton - keota
16 5/ 5/1961 f4 talihina - reichert - howe
5. 14 6/ 8/1974 f4 drumright - olive - lake keystone
6. 10 1/22/1957 f4 gans
7. 8 4/26/1984 f3 morris
8. 7 5/ 9/1959 f4 north of harden city and stonewall
7 4/24/1993 f4 catoosa
10. 6 * 5/10/2008 f4 picher

* the picher tornado was responsible for 6 fatalities in oklahoma...
but 21 fatalities along its entire path in oklahoma and missouri.

a list of the deadliest tornadoes in oklahoma since 1882...

1. 116 fatalities 4/ 9/1947 woodward
2. 97 5/10/1905 snyder
3. 71 5/ 2/1920 peggs
4. 69 4/12/1945 antlers
5. 52 4/27/1942 pryor
6. 36 5/ 3/1999 bridge creek - oklahoma city - moore
7. 35 6/12/1942 oklahoma city /southwest/
8. 33 4/25/1893 cleveland county
9. 23 11/19/1930 bethany
10. 21 5/ 8/1882 mcalester

Now that you know that tornadoes can occur at any time, in any month:

1. Learn how to get warnings
2. Make a Plan
3. Make a Kit that supports the plan
4. Help your neighbors