SKYWARN Newsletter #144
Hello to all...
Meterologist-In-Charge Bob Thompson's wife, Pen Thompson Passed Away...
Review of SKYWARN Presentation to Forecasters from Wed. March 1st...
SKYWARN Strategy Meeting for Saturday March 25th at 10 AM...
SKYWARN To Support Ice Jam Flooding and its Effects for Next Year...
SKYWARN Training Update...
Boston Marathon Still Needs Hams...
Eastern MASS ARES Reactivates Section Net in the End of March...
Search and Rescue Training from Braintree EMA...
***Newsletter Issued: 3/6/2000.
Meterologist-In-Charge Bob Thompson's wife, Pen Thompson Passed Away...
Once again, I must pass along some horrible news. I was informed by
Glenn Field late Friday Afternoon that the wife of Bob Thompson,
Meteorologist-In-Charge of NWS Taunton, passed away. Penelope "Pen"
Thomspon died from Ovarian Cancer, a disease she had for approximately
1.5-2 years.
For the last two to three months, Bob Thompson has worked few, if any
hours, as he tended to this situation and was with his wife during the
last 2 or 3 weeks where she slipped into a coma as the cancer overtook
her.
Bob and his two sons can now use our support. I plan on attending the
wake on Sunday Evening as I feel obligated to as the Amateur Radio
Coordinator of the NWS office. Others on the Coordinators list may want
to go so listed below are the wake and funeral arrangements for Pen
Thompson:
Sympathy Cards can be sent to the Thompson family at:
31 Linda Street
Westboro, Mass. 01581
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer
Society. The Thompson family has asked that the donations in memory of
Pen Thompson be restricted to donations for Ovarian Cancer Research.
Here is a number to call:
1-800-227-2345
My sincerest condolences go out to Bob Thompson and his family for
their heart-breaking loss. It is hoped that the strength and support
of their family and friends will help them through this tragic time.
Review of SKYWARN Presentation to Forecasters from Wed. March 1st...
On Wednesday March 1st, Glenn Field, Warning Coordination
Meteorologist, had Martin Mendelson, N1JMA, and I speak before
the forecasters at NWS Taunton concerning SKYWARN and amateur
radio's role in the SKYWARN program. The presentation was a huge
success.
The presentation began with a little about myself and what I do
outside of being the volunteer coordinator for the NWS Forecast
Office. We then moved on to discuss the various forms of technology
being utilized outside of amateur radio to keep people informed
on severe weather threats. These technologies include the ability
to page over 50 people and send email to 350-400 spotters and
coordinators regionally and post the SKYWARN Newsletter via
this email list. This is to emphasize how technology has improved
the way we have been able to get the word out about SKYWARN and
how we are able to easily view weather products, radar and
satellite pictures from the internet that are given out by
NWS in some form.
Following that topic, amateur radio capabilities were discussed
in general terms. A repeater and its ability to repeat the signal
form greater distances and from mobiles, portables and distant
base stations were discussed. The effective range of the VHF/UHF
communications was discussed. The range of VHF and UHF
communications is approximately 100-200 miles.
The 6 meter, 53.31, Mount Wachusett Repeater was discussed. The
repeater provides coverage of 200-300 miles and connects NWS
Taunton with Connecticut and Western Massachusetts more easily.
It can also be used as a command frequency for MEMA when RACES
is active at the headquarters or at the area offices.
The future use of HF was discussed. HF will be utilized for
communications out to Western Mass. and Connecticut but will
also be used to communicate with NWS offices in neighboring
states such as NWS offices in Burlington, VT, Gray, Maine,
Albany NY, Buffalo, NY and Brookhaven, NY, and also for
direct communications with the National Hurricane Center.
HF could play a unique role for the Northeast River
Forecast Center which is interested in obtaining ice
jam location information from rivers and streams across
areas that are in but also out of the NWS Taunton County
Warning Area. Victor Hom of the Northeast River Forecast
Center was at the presentation and is part of the river
ice team that has been formed to address the issues of
ice jams on area rivers. (Details on that will follow
in a separate topic.)
After that presentation was given, Martin Mendelson, N1JMA
gave his presentation on the use of the 146.76 Scituate,
RI Repeater and how it plays a role in connecting RI and
parts of CT with NWS Taunton. He also discussed the recent
rise in activity among RI hams with ARES and SKYWARN. Martin
mentioned how severe weather began occurring in Rhode Island
during one activation and how a call placed to NWS Taunton,
got the amateur at the station to change frequencies from
Eastern Mass. areas that were experiencing severe weather
to the areas in Rhode Island that were experiencing severe
weather.
Martin also explained how amateur radio was playing a key
role in getting Rhode Island EMA back on the amateur bands.
Rhode Island EMA was active during Hurricane Floyd and there
was a direct line of communications between NWS Taunton and
RI EMA during Floyd.
Martin also mentioned how the entry level test has decreased
in the amount of questions from 55 to 25 effective April 15th.
He also briefly described how hams have to get pass a test
to obtain an amateur radio license and that it is not just
a privilege with a blanket license such as CB radio.
Once Martin's presentation was complete, Jim Lee, Science Officer
for NWS Taunton stepped up to the podium and thanked Martin and
I for the presentation. Jim also said that he will be working
to mandate that during general thunderstorm conditions that
a paragraph in the discussion be geared specifically toward
SKYWARN spotters to describe the possibility of having even
isolated severe weather during a general thunderstorm event.
Some forecasters are already doing this today.
Also, Joe Dellicarpini will be attempting to get a few forecasters
together to possibly take a ham class to be given solely for the
forecasters at NWS Taunton. This might be an intense quick class
to try to get a few forecasters licensed as quickly as possible.
This would not replace the needs for hams at NWS Taunton but
enhance the use of amateur radio by allowing forecasters to use
the amateur radio on their regular shifts so that the radio is
covered until an amateur arrives or to collect data from routine
weather nets for events that are not severe in nature but data
is needed.
Presenting to the forecasters helped to strengthen the strong
bonds of teamwork already present between NWS Taunton and
ARES-SKYWARN. Special thanks to Glenn Field and all forecasters
at NWS Taunton for allowing us to present at their meeting.
SKYWARN Strategy Meeting for Saturday March 25th at 10 AM...
The SKYWARN Strategy Meeting will be held Saturday March 25th
at 10 AM at NWS Taunton. This meeting is open to SKYWARN Coordinators,
NCS's and alternate NCS's. We will have lunch brought in to the
NWS office and the meeting agenda will appear in the next newsletter.
SKYWARN To Support Ice Jam Flooding and its Effects for Next Year...
Victor Hom, hydrologist for the Northeast River Forecast Center,
and member of the River Ice Team for the NERFC, upon recommendation
from Edward Capone, N1LTP, hydrologist for the NERFC, has asked
for amateur SKYWARN support for ice jam location and detection and
for ice jam river flooding.
The Cold Water Resources Lab has developed models that can be utilized
when ice jams occur. The issue has been knowing a precise location of
the ice jam, what type of flooding, if any, is it causing and how it
is effecting the river or stream around the ice jam and up and down
stream from the jam.
Service hydrologist Dave Vallee is working with the river ice team to
develop a criteria on what is reportable for ice jam location and
flooding. NONE of this work will require spotters to go near or on
the ice as that would be extremely dangerous. The work that would
be needed would be observation of the ice, its location, how strong
the ice jam holding its location, and how the environment is effected
around the ice jam meaning is there any flooding occurring.
For this year, the warm spell and lack of snow has not created an ice
jam situation for this year. In future years, SKYWARN spotters that
are interested will be asked to assist in obtaining this information
for NWS to assure proper river and stream flood warnings for ice
jams and to also incorporate the data into models that will be used
to predict ice jam flooding and an ice jam's effect on the river
or stream. Also, it is hoped to utilize HF to connect area NWS offices
to the Northeast River Forecast Center so that all reports from other
NWS offices could be funneled in via amateur radio to the NERFC.
Further details on this project will follow in later newsletters.
SKYWARN Training Update...
Here is the update on four training sites that are still being worked
on:
Lexington, Mass area:
Bill Ricker, N1VUX working on a site in the Lexington, Woburn, Reading
area. Possibilities are the Lexington Voc-tech school or the Middlesex
Community College. Bill has had some issues finding a way to get a
site. If anyone can assist please contact Bill via email at
wdr@world.std.com or wdr@avicenna.com and cc me to the message.
Connecticut:
Roger Jeanfaivre and Tom Walsh reports that Connecticut DEM is busy
with the Millstone Drill but is still trying to work obtaining the two
sites in Newington, CT and Southeast Windham County CT.
Hillsborough County, NH:
Awaiting word from Marc Slater, KB1DFE, on a site in the Greenfield NH
area.
For the list of confirmed sites please see the web site at:
http://www.ultranet.com/~rmacedo/trsched.htm
Boston Marathon Still Needs Hams...
As of this newsletter writing, about 20 amateurs are still needed
to volunteer for the Boston Marathon. Please contact Bob Salow,
WA1IDA, for information and forms to sign up. The deadline
for preregistration has passed, but the Marathon could sure use
your help. Bob's email address is wa1ida@arrl.net
Eastern MASS ARES Reactivates Section Net in the End of March...
The following has been announced by Bill Ricker, N1VUX,
staff EC for planning and training.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- PLEASE ANNOUNCE ON CLUB NETS
EASTERN MASS SECTION NET REACTIVATED BY ARES
FROM: EMA ARES (ARRL Eastern Mass Sect., Amateur Radio Emergency
Service)
BY: William Ricker, N1VUX, ARES EMA EC/Planning-Training
DATE: 2000-03-04
The Eastern Mass Section, ARRL, ARES is re-activating the once-a-
month section net as an ARES net. The net is on the Minute Man
Repeater Association linked system (146.610- &c) on the 4th Sunday of
each month, at 9:30 pm. The “dry run” was 2000-02-27; the first full
net will be 2000-03-26.
The purpose of this net is to:
1) Introduce people to ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)
2) Provide practice to ARES members
3) Validate different communications paths for use in times of
emergency.
During emergencies, this net (on portions or whole of the linked
system) may be called as a section ARES Liaison Net, with deference to
prior allocation of repeaters to specific functions.
The ARES Section Net is open to MMRA members, ARES members, and
all hams interested in emergency communications. The net will handle
EMERGENCY or PRIORITY traffic, bulletins, announcements, and,
occasionally, training material. Typical bulletin and announcement
content will include:
* SKYWARN training sessions list (http://www.ultranet.com/~rmacedo)
* ARES Training list
* Summary reading of first month or two of the PSE List
(KD1SM/KD1LE) http://www.ziplink.net/users/kd1sm/pslist.html
* ARES Net directory: 2100 Tuesday EMA Public Safety Net 145.23-;
2000 Sunday Norfolk County SKYWARN 146.895-; This net EMA Section
ARES net, on MMRA links, 4th Sunday, 9:30 PM. To have your club net
listed as an ARES net, have your net manager and ARES liaison contact
ARES leadership.
Training content may include asking checkins to specify COMMERCIAL,
PORTABLE/MOBILE, or EMERGENCY power (where emergency does not
include the battery that was on the HT when you picked it up); short
discussion of procedures for upcoming public service events (PSE);
The MMRA will be in maximally linked mode from 9 to 11 PM, but the
net will occur between 9:30 and 10:30 to fit between nets scheduled on
NSRA (ARRL Audio Newsline) and Waltham (HHTN). Before and after the
links are up for general amateur use. Since this is a linked repeater
system, you must pause with the mike keyed for a second before
beginning speaking -- each time you key -- to allow the links to sync
up. Codes for control of the links are available to MMRA members. ARES
members, in particular OES and NCS stations, are encouraged to have
these codes handy in case of emergency. The MMRA can be reached for
more information via email: mmra@mmra.org ; at
http://www.ultranet.com/~mmra/ ; and US
mail: P. O. Box 1127, Berlin MA 01503.
The Marlboro 146.61- is the central node of the net. Other nodes on 4
bands are listed below. Typically the 6m & 2m nodes are un-linked and
the 70cm and 1.25m nodes are linked. During net, all nodes will be
linked if possible.
MMRA Linked System
Location Band Output Input Offset CTCSS/In CTCSS/Out
Marlboro 6m 53.81 -1 MHz 71.9 71.9
2m 146.61 -600 kHz None 146.2
1.25m 223.94 -1.6 MHz 103.5 103.5
70cm 449.925 -5 MHz 88.5 88.5
Weston 2m 146.82 -600 kHz None 146.2
1.25m 224.7 -1.6 MHz None None
Stoneham*2m 146.715 -600 kHz None 146.2
70cm 446.725 -5 MHz 88.5 None
Quincy 2m 146.67 -600 kHz None 146.2
1.25m 224.4 -1.6 MHz 103.5 103.5
* At this writing, Stoneham is likely off net. An extra 449 frequency
is available.
ARES or RACES affiliated repeaters that are capable of dynamic linking
are welcome to link in for the ARES net. (To become affiliated, ask.)
/s/ William Ricker, N1VUX
EMA ARES DEC/Suffolk-Metro (desg); EC Planning-Training; NM (desg)
Search and Rescue Training from Braintree EMA...
Once again here is the Search and Rescue Training announcement
from Braintree EMA as given by Rick Reuss, KA1LKB:
Search and Rescue class
When : Saturday, March 18 12-4 pm
Where: Braintree Town Hall
1 JFK Drive, Braintree MA 02184
For Further Info, call BEMA at 781-794-8188
EMAIL KA1LKB@AOL.COM
Talk-in available on 147.300 MHz Weymouth and 442.500 MHz Braintree
Repeaters starting at 11 AM.
Search Dogs Northeast will be doing a presentation on Search and
Rescue. Weather permitting, there will be some outdoor
demonstrations and exercises.
* An all day exercise is in the planning stages.
* This class is open to the general public.
* 4 Hours of EMT credit will be available to any EMT's that attend.
There is no requirement to preregister. However, partipants may
wish to monitor the 147.300 MHz Weymouth or 442.500 MHz repeater
in case the class is cancelled to weather conditions or emergency
operations.
Rick Reuss KA1LKB
Deputy Director
Braintree EMA
781-794-8188 (office)
That's all for this edition of the SKYWARN newsletter, comments,
questions,and/or suggestions are always welcome. The next
SKYWARN Newsletter will be posted in the March 11th-12th, 2000
timeframe.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
SEMCARES Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@pop.ma.ultranet.com
Packet Address: KD1CY @ AA1FS
http://www.ultranet.com/~rmacedo
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