SKYWARN Newsletter #202

---

Hello to all...

SKYWARN Strategy Meeting Minutes...

Reception Reports Needed on Gloucester Transmitter on Southern Cape Cod...

SKYWARN Training Update...

First Severe Thunderstorms of the Year Rumble Through NYC and Long Island...

Emergency Communications Workshop on Cape Cod...

Off Topic: Frequencies for Monitoring the Iraq War...

Newsletter Issued: 3/23/03.

SKYWARN Strategy Meeting Minutes...

The following are the minutes of the SKYWARN Strategy Meeting of March 15th.

Below is the list of attendees at the meeting:

N1BDA-Steve Telsey Middlesex County ARES District Emergency Coordinator

W1MPN-Mike Neilsen Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

KB1EKN-Mark Duff Suffolk County Acting ARES District Emergency Coordinator

N1VSJ-Ed Burg ARES District Emergency Coordinator-Field Operations

N1PJ-PJ Howe Worcester County SKYWARN Net Control-Paxton Repeater

W1TW-Joe Agius Sturdy Memorial EMCOMM Team's SKYWARN Representative

KB1CRZ-Carlos Silva Sturdy Memorial EMCOMM Team's SKYWARN Representative

N1VUX-Bill Ricker Greater Boston-Middlesex County SKYWARN Net Control

W3EVE-Steve Schwarm Norfolk County ARES District Emergency Coordinator

W1ZSA-Roger Turner Norfolk County SKYWARN/Walpole EMA Director

N1XRS-Tony Duarte Assistant ARES Emergency Coordinator for SEMARA

WX1USA-Eddie Cayer Rhode Island Assistant SKYWARN Coordinator

KB1GHX-Glenn Field NWS Taunton Warning Coordination Meteorologist

William Babcock NWS Taunton SKYWARN Program Leader

The meeting began with a presentation on goals and challenges in 2003

and a brief review of activations. The activations included the

Christmas Day 2002 SKYWARN Activation, the January 3rd-4th SKYWARN

Self-Activation and the President's Day Major Snow Storm. All of these

activation reports were posted through this email list. The goals and

challenges for SKYWARN in 2003 were discussed and highlighted below,

these were the same goals discussed at the last SKYWARN Strategy

Meeting:

Goals for SKYWARN 2003 include the following:

-Continued flawless execution of activation and report gathering across

the entire network similar to or better than what we had in 2002.

-Achieve the SKYWARN training plan for 2003 of 20+ sessions across

the NWS Taunton CWA.

-Continue to develop 'damage investigation' support infrastructure for

NWS Taunton across the entire area.

-Gather Amateur Radio and other Spotter info so that Amateur Coordinators

can assist in gathering more info from spotters.

-Continue to develop a HF Net infrastructure with designated net controls

and frequencies.

-Add Radio equipment and Internet capability to the NWS Taunton

Operations.

-Update and rewrite the National Memorandum of Understanding between the

NWS and the ARRL.

-Consolidate and Reorganize the SKYWARN Documentation and Distribute

by mid-April 2003.

-Assist with adding communities to the NWS Taunton Storm Ready Program.

-Utilize the 2003 SKYWARN Recognition Day for a NWS Taunton Operations

training session in concert with ops for that day.

The presentation was well received by all those that attended.

The next item discussed was the SKYWARN training update. A review of

the training schedule was done and the last number of sites needing

confirmation was mentioned. This is highlighted in the SKYWARN training

update section of this newsletter. CD's enabling SKYWARN Coordinators

to do refresher SKYWARN training for Amateur Radio Clubs were burned

and sent to my home address based on feedback during the meeting. An

effort to launch a Public Information Statement with the SKYWARN

training sessions for late March through the end of April is in the

works along with recordings on NOAA Weather Radio. This will assure

wide publicity for these training sessions.

The next item discussed was reviewing the processes concerning Snow

Storm gathering. While the policies are still under review, NWS

Taunton is looking to enhance the snowfall measuring techniques

by hitting it a bit harder in SKYWARN training. Also, the usage of

reports were discussed. Please note that the Public Information Statement

was made to give a representative sample and will be issued every 3-6

hours depending on forecaster availability. At times, final snowfall

reports that have been called in may not always make the statement.

Be assured though that all these reports are utilized. There is now a

snowfall reporting map scheme being utilized by NWS Taunton and it

is on the web site from some of the previous storms. Also, these

reports will appear in a publication called Storm Data and utilized

in other archives and resources for snowstorm events. Procedures

of gathering reports were discussed. It is noted that there may be

a new web-based way of reporting winter weather criteria. The exact

way this will be done and its implementation is still being worked

on at NWS Taunton. Updates on this will be posted in future

newsletters.

The next item discussed was the Storm Ready program. As of now, the

focus of NWS Taunton is to get a town and city in the states of New

Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island implemented into the Storm

Ready program. Once that is completed other towns and cities from

Massachusetts will be given attention by NWS Taunton. Roger Turner,

W1ZSA, noted that the Storm Ready requirements listed on the national

web site is far too strict for much of Southern New England. Glenn

Field noted this and they have used their own discretion to make the

towns and cities Storm Ready communities. Much of the criteria that

is utilized in determining how to make communities Storm Ready was

done in the Midwest US so some attributes do not apply or are too

stringent based on weather that occurs in Southern New England. NWS

Taunton will work on coming up with a guideline that is approved by

their office and the Regional Headquarters and then distribute that

information to town and city EMA directors so that they will have

a better understanding of the requirements. When this criteria is

formulated, it will be put in a future SKYWARN Newsletter. Currently,

NWS Taunton is looking to get Storm Ready Communities in Swanzey,

NH, Merrimack, NH, Portsmouth RI, Smithfield, RI, Glastonbury, CT

and Wethersfield, CT. Once some of these communities meet the criteria,

Millville, Massachusetts will then be worked into the Storm Ready

program.

The next item discussed was Adding Equipment Capability at NWS Taunton.

A justification for Internet access will be written and presented

to the rest of the NWS Taunton Technical Committee. Having radio

equipment donated to NWS Taunton was also discussed. The issue is

one that is financial (how the donated equipment could show up as

government equipment on the financial books) and also the type of

equipment that would be brought into the weather office and

installed permanently. A Technical Committee Meeting will be done

for these topics and to also stress the fact that we will need to

continue to expand and scale our capabilities as technology changes

and evolves.

The next item discussed was the ARRL-NWS Memorandum of Understanding

Rewrite. Two items were discussed. Comments on the Memorandum of

Understanding logic and the process for which to get this Memorandum

of Understanding moved through the ARRL Chain of Command and then

approved at the NWS and ARRL's highest levels. The discussion on

the Memorandum of Understanding was excellent and led to excellent

feedback.

Regarding the substance of the MOU, it was very well received. Three

items will be adjusted within the Memorandum of Understanding.

1.) Make it more clear that the National Memorandum of

Understanding does not override any existing local agreements.

2.) Put in a leadership code of ethics for the office coordinator

position to make sure it guarantees what the leadership position

requires from that standpoint.

3.) Make the ARES SKYWARN Coordinator office role a position that is

appointed at the division level versus the section level. That

coordinator would work with the ARES staffs of perspective sections

to put qualified SKYWARN people in place and have the appointments

come from the SKYWARN Coordinator versus the section ARES staffs and

would be tied to the office SKYWARN Coordinator.

The next item was process. The first part of the process will involve

getting all the Section Emergency Coordinator's from the area that

NWS Taunton covers together and meet to discuss the Memorandum of

Understanding and its content once the above modifications are made.

The next step after that would be to involve Steve Ewald, head of

ARRL Field Services in the discussions.

The next item discussed was the NOAA WX Radio Transmitters. The 162.525

Pack Monadnock Transmitter and the 162.425 Gloucester NOAA WX Radio

Marine transmitter were installed and running well. No other NOAA

WX Radio transmitter changes will occur.

The next item discussed were NWS Taunton News and Topics. The Zone

Forecast Reconfiguration date has changed and has been moved to the

April timeframe. The changes include:

-Block Island will be its own zone.

-Hillsborough County, NH will be split into two zones, Eastern and

Western Hillsborough County.

-Berkshire County, Mass. will be split into two zones, Northern and

Southern Berkshire County.

-Litchfield County CT will be split into two zones Northern and

Southern Litchfield County, CT.

-The Panhandle of Northwest Middlesex County Massachusetts will be

split from the two other zones of Middlesex County Massachusetts.

Another change will be that Severe Weather Statements (SVS) will now

be done by county codes versus zone codes. Also, Jim Notchey is now

the webmaster for the web site replacing Dave Henry. Glenn Field

announced other changes to the NWS Taunton staff as well. These items

were the last ones discussed at the meeting.

The next SKYWARN Strategy Meeting was set for Thursday October 23rd,

2003 at either 6:30 or 7 PM at a location to be determined.

Reception Reports Needed on Gloucester Transmitter on Southern Cape Cod...

NWS Taunton is looking for reception reports on the Gloucester NOAA

WX Radio Transmitter on 162.425 MHz from the Southern part of

Cape Cod from Hyannis and Falmouth through Chatham Massachusetts. Any

reports from this area can be emailed to me for distribution to NWS

Taunton forecasters interested in the coverage of the Gloucester

transmitter to the Southern part of Cape Cod.

SKYWARN Training Update...

We are awaiting the confirmation of five sites this week and the SKYWARN

Training season will be kicking off on March 31st in Swanzey, NH. The five

sites awaiting to be confirmed are as follows:

Tolland, CT for May 1st

Merrimack, NH for May 5th

Boston, Mass for June 7th

Coventry RI

Westfield MA

Below is the complete schedule, which can also be seen at:

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo/trsched.htm

The following is an update on SKYWARN training for year 2003. Further

updates will be posted on the web site as needed.

03/31/2003 6:30-9:30PM Monadnock Regional High School

Mon. 600 Old Homestead Highway

East Swanzey, NH

Directions Obtained at: http://www.nhom.org/maps/swanzey.html

04/1/2003 7-10 PM Pomfret Community School

Tues. 20 Pomfret Street

Pomfret Center, CT

04/3/2003 7-10PM Rocky Hill Fire Department HQ/Co. #3

Thurs. 3050 Main Street

Rocky Hill, CT

04/05/2003 Noon-3PM Falmouth Town Hall

Sat. Falmouth, MA

04/07/2003 7-10PM Pioneer Valley Regional High School

Mon. Route 10

Northfield, MA

04/08/2003 6:30-9:30PM Manchester Memorial Elementary School

Tues. Manchester, MA

04/10/2002 7-10PM The Carriage House-Manchester, NH Red Cross Chapter

Thurs. 1800 Elm Street

Manchester, NH

04/28/2003 6:30-9:30PM Walpole, NH Town Library

Mon. Walpole, NH

04/29/2003 7-10PM Sturdy Memorial Hospital

Tues. Rice-Webb Auditorium

Attleboro, MA

04/30/2003 6:30-9:30PM Alcott School

Wed. 91 Laurel Street

Concord, MA

05/3/2003 Noon-3PM Newport Public Library

Sat. 300 Spring Street

Newport, RI

05/7/2003 7-10PM Plymouth Community Intermediate School

Wed. 117 Long Pond Road

Plymouth, MA

05/8/2003 7-10PM Walpole Town Hall/Senior Center

Thurs. Walpole, MA

05/17/2003 Noon-3PM Wilbraham Middle School Auditorium

Sat. 466 Stony Hill Road

Wilbraham, MA

05/19/2003 7-10PM Nashua City Hall

Mon. 229 Main Street

Nashua, NH

06/09/2003 7-10PM Worcester Emergency Management Operations Center

Mon. 50 Skyline Drive

Worcester, MA

06/10/2003 6:30-9:30PM Nantucket Fire Department EOC

Tues. 131 Lower Pleasant Street

Nantucket, MA

First Severe Thunderstorms of the Year Rumble Through NYC and Long Island...

The first severe thunderstorms of the year rumbled through the New

York City Area, Northern New Jersey and Long Island. The thunderstorms

produced large hail of Dime to Quarter Sized with one supercell

thunderstorm in Northern New Jersey dumping Golf Ball Sized Hail on

one community.

Thunderstorms did move into portions of Southeast Massachusetts and

Rhode Island but no hail or wind damage was reported. The thunderstorms

were a touch weaker as they made their way from the Long Island and

New York City area into Southern New England. SKYWARN Coordinators in

the area did monitor the situation but did not need to self-activate

nets in the area. No hail or wind damage was reported.

This is a reminder that the Spring and Summer Severe Thunderstorm

season is upon us and we'll need to be prepared for activations for

these types of events as we move into April and May. SKYWARN Spotters

and Coordinators should prepare for the new Convective season.

Emergency Communications Workshop on Cape Cod...

There are still plenty of openings for the Emergency Communications

Workshop on Cape Cod for Saturday March 29th from 8:45 AM-3:00 PM.

Please contact one of the leaders below if you'll be attending the

workshop. Please see the release below.

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Workshop Saturday March 29th,

2003:

There will be an Emergency Communications Workshop on Saturday

March 29th, 2003 from 8:45 AM-3:00 PM at the Oak Ridge Elementary School

in East Sandwich, Massachusetts. This session is being put on by the ARES

Section Staff and Frank Laughlin, WQ1O, District Emergency

Coordinator for Cape Cod ARES.

This Emergency Communications Workshop will provide the background and

information to serve Amateur Radio Operators when they need to respond

to a communications emergency. It will feature an Introduction and

Conclusion to Emergency Communications, and five 1-hour training

sessions on topics including:

Overview of Eastern Massachusetts ARES-RACES-SKYWARN Programs

Net Operations

NTS Traffic Message Handling

Basic ICS

Go Kits

Interactive Exercises on Field Operations

This training will also feature a 1-hour lunch that will be provided at

no coerced cost to any Amateur who attends the session.

The presentations will be given by other Amateur Operators well versed

in the topics listed above. The training will be a worthwhile endeavor

not just for emergency communicators but for anyone who is an amateur

radio operator, and wants to learn more about the hobby.

Preregistration is requested but is not required in case anyone would

like to attend at the last minute. We will, however, accept any

preregistrations after that day or any walk-ins as long as space permits.

Directions to the Oak Ridge Elementary School:

Take Route 6 Eastbound and Get off at Exit 3. Go South on Quaker

Meeting House Road. The school is less than a 1/2 mile on your

left.

For any additional information and to preregister for the workshop,

please contact:

W1MPN, Mike Nielsen by email w1mpn@arrl.org

W3EVE, Steve Schwarm by email w3eve@amsat.org

WQ1O, Frank Laughlin by email wq1o@attbi.com

KD1CY, Rob Macedo by email rmacedo@rcn.com

This training should be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in

learning more about emergency communications and amateur radio in

general.

Off Topic: Frequencies for Monitoring the Iraq War...

Many people are watching, listening and monitoring the Iraq War. Below

are some additional frequencies that people with Short-wave Radios can

monitor. This includes military frequencies to monitor war operations

and Arab Short-wave Radio Broadcasters. Also, I've found that the BBC

World Service on 5975 KHz, which is on during the evening hours from around

6 PM EST on is also an excellent source of information. Below is an email

provided by Terry Stader, KA8SCP through the Popular Communications Email

list. This email was resent over the Billerica Amateur Radio Society email

list.

Monitoring The Iraq War

As the world waits and watches Iraq, if you've got a short-wave receiver with

sideband mode (USB and LSB) you can hear certain military communications

related to the conflict including many long-distance GHFS (Global HF System)

stations including Emergency Action Messages (EAMs) and Skyking messages

which are high-priority messages for air and ground stations.

Frequencies to monitor (in the USB mode) include:4709, 4724, 6712, 6739,

8992, 11175, 11271, 15038 (11175 is a very active frequency most of the

time)

Short-wave broadcasts from the Middle East that you can hear with a

reasonable antenna include the following. Note that UTC (Universal Time) is

5 hours ahead of EST. Note that because the changing situation in the area

these times and frequencies are subject to change; of course checking the

frequencies from time to time is your best bet of hearing a broadcast.

Egypt, Radio Cairo on 9900 at 2315 UTC

Iran, Voice of the Islamic Republic, Tehran on 9022 at 1030 UTC (also on

9835 and 11970) Iran also on 13730 and 13745 at 1330 UTC.

Iraq, Radio Baghdad on 11787 (varies slightly to 11785) at 2000 UTC. Also

check 15265, 15375, 15385, 21470 at 1100 UTC.

Israel, Kol Israel on 6280, 7475, 9435 at 0500 (also on 11605). Israel also

on 15640, 17535 and 6220 at 2000 UTC. Also check 1700 UTC on 17545. At 1900

UTC on 11605, 15615 and 17545.

Kuwait (Radio Kuwait) on 11990 kHz at 1800 UTC. Also check 15110 kHz.

Syria, Radio Damascus on 12085 (and 13610 frequently) at 0500 and 2000 UTC

Turkey, Voice of Turkey, Ankara on 11960 and 12000 at 2100 UTC; on 6020 at

0400 and 2300 UTC

United Arab Emirates Radio, Dubai on 13675, 15395 at 0020, 1330 UTC; 15395

at 0030; 0200 on 15395 and 15370;

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@rcn.com

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

Back to the SKYWARN Newsletter Archive