EDITED FOR SUBURBAN AND RURAL APPLICATION 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION & ORGANIZATION
   • Purpose of This Manual
   • Purpose of SKYWARN
   • Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN
   • Organizational Structure of SKYWARN
   • SKYWARN's Relationship to ARRL/ARES/RACES/REACT
   • § Federal Communications Commission, Part 97 and SKYWARN and NOAA - Weather Radio Alerts
   • SKYWARN Advisory Committee
   • RED CROSS WINTER 4 WHEEL DRIVE PROGRAM
   • Role of SKYWARN Net Control
   • SKYWARN Management
   • Program Manager
   • Amateur Radio Coordinator
   • South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator
2. ACTIVATION of SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO NETS
   • NWS Decision to Activate SKYWARN
   • Activation Time Frames and Requested Staffing
   • NWS SKYWARN Net Activation Steps BY NWS FORECASTERS
   • SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator Activation Steps
   • Net Control Operator Personnel List
   • NWS Communication Emergency Procedure
3. NET CONTROL OPERATOR PROCEDURES
   • Resources
   • Preparations for Extended Activation
   • How To Volunteer for Net Control Duty
   • Handling Non-Severe Weather Reports
   • Operating Rules
   • Closing the SKYWARN Net
   • SKYWARN SubNet Procedures
   • Interfacing with Other Groups
   • SWITCHING NET TO ALTERNATE REPEATERS
4. Reports
5. SKYWARN NET CONTROL SCRIPTS
   • SKYWARN Script #1 - SUMMER
   • SKYWARN Script #2 - SUMMER
   • SKYWARN Script #1 - WINTER
   • SKYWARN Script #2 - WINTER
   • SKYWARN Net Closing Script
6. SKYWARN PACKET OPERATIONS
7. HURRICANE WATCH and/or WARNING
8. SKYWARN HF OPERATIONS
9. PUBLICITY and PUBLIC RELATIONS and AUTOCALL
10. NWS Wakefield
11. SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN TRAINING NET SCRIPT

SKYWARN NET CONTROL OPERATIONS MANUAL

This manual is a guide for Net Control Stations (NCS) for the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net. The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net is a sub net of the SKYWARN Net sponsored by the NWS Wakefield. There is a separate manual for SKYWARN Net participants. Material in the participant's manual is not repeated in this document. Training cannot, and should not, take place "on the job" during severe weather. Proper training is essential for the effective flow of information between SKYWARN spotters and the NWS and/or emergency management personnel. This includes training for spotters as well as net control volunteers. To be effective, everyone in the SKYWARN "system" needs to know their roles BEFORE severe weather strikes.

SKYWARN is the NWS national program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters. SKYWARN volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens. SKYWARN, formed in the early 1970's, has historically provided critical severe weather information to the NWS in time to get appropriate warnings issued. Thus the key focus of the SKYWARN program is to save lives and property through the use of the observations and reports of trained volunteers.

Each NWS forecast office runs its own SKYWARN program. It is a goal and a challenge to continually improve the SKYWARN system and to integrate new technologies and procedures to best fulfill the SKYWARN mission of saving lives and property.

Amateur radio has been, and always will be, a critical component of the SKYWARN program. Throughout the Nation, we are extremely fortunate to have hundreds of trained SKYWARN spotters who are also amateur radio operators. This dual role for amateur radio operators is a natural result of their inherent interest and fascination with natural and scientific phenomena (especially the weather!) and with cutting edge technology such as Doppler radar and lightning detection devices. When this fascination is combined with the ability and desire to be trained to communicate severe weather observations via amateur radio in a professional and effective manner, the synergy is hard to duplicate. Finally, amateur radio operators have a long history of using their training, skills and equipment in uncompensated public service to help the community at large, which is precisely the focus of the SKYWARN system.

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Programs use mostly donated equipment that is maintained by amateur radio operators; who volunteer their time and expertise. In addition to being an extremely usable and reliable station, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station, located in a forecast office, provides a visible and professional focal point for the importance of amateur radio to the NWS, even when SKYWARN is not activated. This is extremely important as the NWS annually receives many thousands of visitors at the forecast office, from elementary school students through high-ranking government officials and emergency managers.

The close working relationship between the NWS and the amateur radio community provides many special benefits to each group. These benefits are highlighted in the following goals for the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net:

1. To provide the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports via amateur radio. This includes both incoming reports of severe weather per the NWS criteria and amateur radio operators making observations at specific locations in response to a NWS request. For example, amateurs have often been asked to monitor river and creek flooding situations at certain critical points.
2. To create and maintain an organized communication network for passing critical severe weather traffic, in a timely fashion, to and from the NWS in the event that normal communications have been interrupted. NWS centers have lost normal communications services in the past and it is likely that the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Nets will be activated in future communications emergencies. In nearly all areas the NWS has regularly experienced an overloaded telephone network during storms. This is probably due to the huge number of people using telephone modems and fax machines to communicate from home during storms. While the telephone system may not be "down", it may take 30 minutes or more to telephone the forecast office. At these peak usage times, amateur radio plays a critical role in relaying severe weather observations to the forecast office.
3. To disseminate warnings and special weather statements issued by the NWS to the amateur radio community. Every attempt is made to read special and severe weather statements issued by the NWS over the SKYWARN Net to keep amateurs informed of developing situations and to prepare for situations when normal communications channels fail.
4. To organize and train amateur radio operators to prepare themselves and their families for disaster or emergency weather related situations; so that they may be available to assist in emergency net operations. This preparedness training is critical if the SKYWARN system is to be expected to operate reliably during true emergency situations.

SKYWARN is NOT a club. It has no political or financial ties to ARRL, RACES, the cities of South Hampton Roads or the state of Virginia. It is a true volunteer public service whose membership is open to all who wish to participate. All reports of severe weather through the SKYWARN system are appreciated.

Notification of severe weather as defined in the NWS Basic Spotter's Field Guide can be done by telephone, e-mail or FAX directly with the NWS Wakefield Office. However, with limited resources, the fielding of multiple pieces of information can be cumbersome and can potentially delay the reporting of urgent severe weather (tornadoes, funnel clouds or flash flooding). The use of SKYWARN Nets allows for a more orderly collection of observations and the rapid reporting of specific events.

In the ideal SKYWARN Net organization, there is coordination of all spotters both Amateur Radio operators and non-operators. Specific organizational issues of coordinating Citizen Band and non-Amateur Radio operators will not be dealt with in this manual. However, the NCS operators must be aware of reporting requirements when including observations from non-Amateur Radio operators.

NWS Wakefield jurisdiction covers portions of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. The large size necessitates that the NWS Wakefield SIWYARN Net be composed of multiple subnets. Each subnet is in most instances associated with a local repeater.

The 146.820 repeater was selected for several reasons:

1. Most severe weather has come from the southwest. The repeater location covers, South Hampton Roads and the southwestern corner in particular.
2. The repeater is on Chesapeake City property and is backed up by a propane generator.
3. The City of Chesapeake has openly requested SKYWARN support of NWS Wakefield has supported Amateur Radio activities.

It follows that the basic organization of SKYWARN associated with the W4CAR 146.820 repeater is as follows: NWS Wakefield Program Manager
ß
NWS Wakefield Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator
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South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator
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Net Control Stations
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Spotters
From an organizational viewpoint, the most important position is the NCS operator. The NCS operator runs the SKYWARN Net. Although some NCS operators may have the skill to run a net without a script, most of us will require a script. As both a training device and guideline for net procedures, the script is the single most important piece of information to have available at your station. For consistency, NCS operators should use the same set of scripts. The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator is responsible for changes to the script.

Scripts have been set up and included here to outline the NWS criteria for severe weather on which observations are requested; so that untrained observers may participate.

The Amateur Radio operator's participation in the SKYWARN program is formally acknowledged and encouraged in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the NWS. This agreement indicates that the ARRL will encourage its local volunteer groups operating as the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), to provide the NWS with spotters and communicators as requested by the NWS during times of severe weather.

Many civil disasters are a direct result of severe weather and/or are exacerbated by severe weather. Accordingly, the NWS may utilize the SKYWARN amateur radio operators not only to obtain and disseminate severe weather observations, but may also use the amateur radio operators to maintain close coordination with Emergency Managers under Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) guidelines.

In very simple terms, SKYWARN Net provides communication of severe weather reporting, ARES/RACES provides emergency communication when normal communication channels are down. The two organizations are not mutually exclusive in function, but SKYWARN functions primarily in the warning and mitigation phases of weather related disaster plans, while ARES/RACES comes into play after the disaster has occurred. In the event of a major disaster and operators are limited, the SKYWARN NCS will act as a tactical station under the ARES/RACES network.

Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams (REACT) also support SKYWARN. A Memorandum of Understanding also exists between the NWS and REACT. REACT nets may take reports of severe weather and relay them to the NWS either by normal communications modes (phone, FAX etc.) or by linking up with a REACT member who is also an amateur radio operator; who can relay the severe weather information to SKYWARN Net Control through the SKYWARN amateur radio frequencies. Although it may take some creativity and organization, the goal is to include all groups in the SKYWARN system. The REACT interface has worked effectively and has received many reports from travelers passing through.

On July 28, 1993 the Federal Communications Commission issued a Report and Order based on PR Docket 92-136, which revised Amateur Radio Rule 97 C.F.R. 113, which governs "prohibited transmissions" on amateur radio frequencies. The Report and Order is Appendix 11.21 to this manual.

This rule change has two major effects on the use of amateur radio in the SKYWARN program. First, in the Report and Order, the FCC specifically permits the use of amateur radio, "...to collect data for the National Weather Service." Before this explicit statement there was a great deal of discussion over whether SKYWARN type activities were a permissible activity by Amateur Radio.

Second, 97.113 (e) permits the retransmission of, "... weather forecast information intended for use by the general public and originated from the United States Government stations", on an intermittent basis, on amateur radio frequencies. This has permitted amateurs to link NOAA Weather Radio directly to amateur radio repeaters. This feature has proven to be a great enhancement in activating SKYWARN. Most SKYWARN participants learn of SKYWARN activation through the issuance of warnings on NOAA Weather Radio. In some areas, we have successfully integrated the NOAA Weather Radio alert tone into a number of local repeaters. Another system can also give amateurs DTMF (touch tone) access to live NOAA Weather Radio rebroadcast through repeaters.

The NWS also announces, in most areas over NOAA Weather Radio, that SKYWARN has been activated. This announcement can also be followed by the local amateur radio frequency that is to be used. Where used, these announcements have significantly improved net participation.

We have been told that this system has not only alerted SKYWARN participants of the weather situation, but has also warned boaters and motorists listening to scanners, of deteriorating weather conditions. In many instances, this simple early warning of an upcoming storm was enough to get people to seek safe shelter. Thus, we have made great communications strides in not only linking the NWS to amateur radio during severe weather, but in providing a valuable and potentially life saving public service.

SKYWARN organizations in other parts of the country often have an advisory committee to improve communication between multiple coordinators and to maintain consistent operating practices that best support the NWS office.

NWS Wakefield covers a broad region encompassing parts of Virginia North Carolina and Maryland. Currently, there is no advisory committee associated with the Wakefield office. Consistency of reporting is monitored by the Program Manager and the NWS Wakefield Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator.

SKYWARN Program Manager:

The SKYWARN Program Manager is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist. The Program Manager is responsible for providing SKYWARN Spotter's training. All SKYWARN reports ultimately go to the Program Manager.

SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator:

On the amateur side, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is chosen by the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager as the point person with whom the SKYWARN Program Manager coordinates SKYWARN activities. In some areas, the NWS may take a lesser role in selection of the Amateur Radio Coordinator; leaving the choice more in the hands of, say, an ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator, to make the appointment.

Regardless of how the appointment is made, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator position is a volunteer position, and it is a critical position for the Amateur Radio side of the SKYWARN equation. It is a matter of some importance that the Amateur Radio Coordinator and his assistant coordinators be able to physically get to the NWS Forecast Center in a relatively short period of time

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator oversees VHF and HF SKYWARN communications and therefore must hold at least a General Class license. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator may have an Amateur Radio Training Coordinator, and Assistant Coordinators, to organize the operation of the entire SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net (Master and Sub-Nets) and to ensure operation in accordance with the goals of the NWS. Specific duties of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

1. Ensuring that at least two SKYWARN net liaisons go to the forecast office when requested by the NWS. Net liaisons are experienced amateur radio operators who go to the NWS forecast office, pull the important severe weather information from the SKYWARN net and give it to the forecasters and get updated weather information and warnings from the forecasters and place this information on the main net, and on the subnets. The liaison also coordinates directly with the subnets as necessary. Liaisons should be relieved and replaced every 3-4 hours. Assistant Coordinators often serve as Net Liaisons in NWS centers where space is limited. Where this is necessary, be careful of not over-scheduling personnel in terms of consecutive hours served.
2. Creating and updating a set of recommended protocols and an operating manual for net operation.
3. Coordinating simple, effective and efficient procedures for passing traffic between local weather nets, SKYWARN Sub-Nets, and the NWS forecasters.
4. Sharing information, ideas, and protocols with other SKYWARN programs throughout the country to develop the best possible local SKYWARN program. Many SKYWARN programs and ARES groups have home pages on the Internet. This has made the exchange of information between groups more efficient. In fact, parts of this manual are on the Internet for this very reason! (All of the National Edition)
5. Coordinating the activities of SKYWARN with ARES, RACES, REACT, and other governmental agencies to best fulfill SKYWARN's goals

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is also responsible for making sure that at least one "coordinator" is on duty at all times to receive the NWS notification and to bring up the net as requested by the NWS.

Amateur Radio operators that interface directly with weather forecasters at NWS Wakefield are referred to as SKYWARN Net Liaisons. During a severe weather alert, SKYWARN Liaisons may pass messages between the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net and NWS Wakefield particularly if normal lines of communications are down.

The South Hampton Roads Coordinator is responsible for the training and organization of the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net. Additional positions other than NCS operators and spotters are created at the discretion of the South Hampton Roads Coordinator.

The organization is not affiliated with any city or club. Historically in the event that a local SKYWARN Coordinator is lacking, the local Amateur Radio leadership will work with NWS Wakefield and the NWS Wakefield Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator in the selection of a local coordinator. Otherwise the NWS Wakefield Program Manager and Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator will select a South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator replacement from candidates recommended by the current coordinator with input from NCS operators.

The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator has the following responsibilities:

1. Oversees South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net operations.
   • Oversees or monitors activation of The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net.
   • Oversees and or monitors the process of termination of the Net.'
2. Oversees training on severe weather reporting and weather safety.
   • Coordinate SKYWARN Spotter Training from NWS Wakefield
   • Net Control Station Training
   • Organize the weekly SKYWARN Training Net
3. Reviews Net Control Scripts
4. Recruits NCS operators
5. Reports to and works with NWS Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator and NWS Program Manager.
   • Provide monthly reports upon request
   • Help with any public relations/educational events such as National SKYWARN Recognition Day.
   • Provide an activation recall list to NWS Wakefield.
6. Oversees the selection process of Net Control Stations, replacement SKYWARN Coordinator and creation of other positions, which the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator feels would help in the overall function of the Net.
7. Maintains a rotational schedule of NCS both for the weekly training nets and for any Nets that run for any length of time and/or during the night
8. Coordinates activities with other Emergency Nets
9. Provides recognition of SKYWARN Spotters

The NWS Wakefield Office has the option to activate SKYWARN when severe weather is expected to affect its area of warning responsibility. SKYWARN can be activated in many ways and is activated for many forms of anticipated severe weather including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, floods, and severe winter storms.

Notification of NWS Wakefield SKYWARN activation and activation of the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN can be formally done in two ways:

1. The NWS Wakefield using NOAA weather channels announces SKYWARN has been activated.
2. The NWS Wakefield Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator or Program Manager can activate the local Net by contacting those on a recall list provided by the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN coordinator.

NWS radar can't see everything. NWS Wakefield is not obligated to activate a region wide SKYWARN because of your local activation. NWS Wakefield has authorized the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator to activate the SKYWARN Net without notification from NWS Wakefield in the event local stations and spotters identify the formation of severe weather. Local weather stations can and do run severe weather warnings independent of NWS Wakefield. Activation of the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net must be by the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator or if not available, by those in decreasing order of precedence on the recall list (a.k.a. chain of command).

For short lead-time events (i.e. severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods), SKYWARN is activated when a STORM WATCH is issued. The lead-time may vary from zero (0) to six (6) hours. Thunderstorms often change rapidly and are life-threatening situations. Net control volunteers are always requested to staff the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station at NWS centers during thunderstorms and during other similar fast moving and rapidly changing weather situations. The SKYWARN net will usually remain activated for three to twelve hours for short-term events

During long lead-time severe weather events, such as hurricanes, stream and river flooding, and winter storms, SKYWARN is activated when the WARNING is issued. Lead-time may be anywhere from zero (0) to twelve (12) hours. Requests to staff the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station will depend on the forecaster's assessment of the nature of the storm and the storm's potential to cause widespread communication outages. Long-term events may cause SKYWARN to be activated for extended periods of time, possibly measured in days. Severe winter storms (blizzards!) in March 1993 and January 1996 caused some SKYWARN organizations to be activated for more than 30 continuous hours.

The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator can assign shifts for NCS stations if the watch is expected to last more than a few hours. If the Coordinator is not available, the active NCS station can arrange for shift coverage.

It is the lead forecaster's responsibility to see that SKYWARN is ACTIVATED whenever a WATCH or WARNING affects the NWS county warning area of responsibility (covering 2 or more counties), OR he/she feels that a critical weather situation is developing that threatens life and/or property and SKYWARN reports are needed (i.e. flood, hurricane, winter storm, etc.)

Normally, NWS Wakefield will contact NCS operators through the recall list. If there is a warning in effect and SKYWARN is not activated and you are a South Hampton Roads SKYWARN NCS operator, you may activate SKYWARN. Once spotters and other NCS operators have checked in, you may formally pass off duties to another NCS operator when appropriate.

In the event the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN has been activated independent of NWS Wakefield, contact NWS Wakefield by e-mail and inform them that you have threatening local conditions and that you have activated the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net.

EMERGENCY ACTIVATION STEPS

1. If URGENT SEVERE WEATHER such as a tornado is spotted, call NWS Wakefield immediately. Do not wait to activate the net for identification of a funnel cloud or tornado.
2. When there is a Warning in effect, SKYWARN should be activated. NWS Wakefield may contact operators based upon the recall list to activate SKYWARN.
3. See the recall list in the Appendix for contacting available NCS operators.
4. If necessary make an announcement on the 146.850, 146.970 and 146.610 repeater frequencies stating that SKYWARN Net has been activated on the 146.820 repeater.
5. Call the WFOS radio station to make an announcement. (757) 547-1036.

TRAINING NET

1. See training scrip.

The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator will prepare and continually update a list of Net Control operators certified to run a SKYWARN net (both from the NWS and remotely). The goal is have enough Net Control operators on the list so that there will be someone available at all times and enough to cover a 24 hour period. The SKYWARN Coordinator must be able to contact Net Control operators at any time and should have the amateur's home phone, work phone, car phone, FAX, and pager numbers

If the telephones are NOT working and there is an IMMINENT DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY (i.e. tornado, very severe thunderstorm) and there is NO time to find another telephone:

• Turn on Amateur Radio to the dedicated frequency
• Press the button on the microphone and say

"THIS IS NWS CITY, STATE. WE HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM. CAN SOMEONE CONTACT KO4RK AND HAVE THEM CONTACT US ON THIS FREQUENCY? (or possibly);

CAN SOMEONE TEMPORARILY START UP THE SKYWARN NET? WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING SITUATION (READ WATCH OR WARNING)"

IT IS LEGAL TO DO THE ABOVE ACTIVITY!!!
(Authority: 47 Code of Fed. Reg. (CFR) 97.403):
"SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROTECTION OF PROPERTY"
"No provision of these rules (part 97 amateur radio rules) prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available."

This last emergency procedure has become more important with the telephone system getting increasingly overloaded. This procedure was put in place after the NWS communication system at one Forecast Office was severed when a contractor cut a fiber optics cable nearby.

It has only been used once that we know of; where tornadoes were touching down and causing damage and injury and the NWS telephone system was overloaded with spotter and media calls and an eyewitness to a funnel cloud touching down was calling the NWS on amateur radio to report a funnel cloud location and direction of movement.

This procedure is to only be used in emergencies, which may need to be justified, as above, but it is an important backup communication resource should normal NWS communication systems fail or become overloaded.

In the event an evacuation is ordered, do not use SKYWARN duties as a reason to stay. Please EVACUATE!

SKYWARN amateur radio volunteers should be prepared for an extended operations if SKYWARN is activated for a hurricane or for severe winter long-duration storms. Volunteers are responsible for maintaining at their site of operation food, medications and personal hygiene supplies sufficient for the duration of the Net

If you are not a designated South Hampton Roads SKYWARN NCS operator, but you are interested in becoming one, contact the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator.

Trained Net Control operators may also contact the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator. Please feel free to indicate your availability to Net Control at a quiet time in net operations. Please do not be insulted if your services are not needed.

All communication with NWS Wakefield is done via the Internet and e-mail. Telephone and FAX are secondary means. If all normal communications are down, reports can be relayed through the 146.790 and 146.760 repeaters in Suffolk and Williamsburg respectively.

Severe weather that is urgent (i.e. Tornadoes, Funnel Clouds or Flash Flooding) is reported to NWS Wakefield immediately. All other severe weather reporting is done hourly.

No matter how hard you try to eliminate it, many of the reports received over any SKYWARN net will be for non-severe weather. There is no room for direct criticism of any operator or reporting technique during SKYWARN nets. Please be courteous to the report giver and note the amateur's location, as you may need to contact the amateur(s) if the storm moves in their direction. If the problem persists, read the net instructions from your script again as time permits. As the moment dictates, it may be necessary in periods of extremely severe weather to only take reports from specific areas of interest to the NWS or only reports of severe weather. If the situation arises, please do not be shy about informing net participants of the exact nature of the information needed and that the only report you will take must meet the severe weather criteria. Please indicate when net is reopened for all traffic.

Your net scripts should contain instructions designed to ask participants to refrain from giving non-severe weather traffic on the net.

The 146.820 repeater is on an emergency circuit hooked to an emergency propane powered generator.

Alternate frequencies to be used are: 146.610
146.850
146.970

The City of Chesapeake has a public FM radio station on the campus of the Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology. The school principal and station engineer support SKYWARN. Activation announcements can be done through the station.

If you are asked to provide weather information, you should provide only that information that is being forwarded to NWS Wakefield. This would meet the requirements of FCC legal operation of an Amateur Radio Station. All SKYWARN observations can be obtained by scanners listening in on the SKYWARN Net and is pubic information. Data gathering is permissible as long as it relates to NWS Wakefield activity. Any other information gathered specifically for WFOS purposes is not permissible.

Information that can be reported by location is the following:

1. Measured wind speeds equal to or greater than 50 mph.
2. Measured rainfall greater than or equal to 1 inch/hour or 3 inches in 24 hours.
3. Ice
4. Street flooding
5. Hail, pea size or larger
6. Funnel clouds or tornadoes

After receiving the briefing, the NCS operator should take the following steps to bring up the net:

1. Take a deep breath and calm down!
2. Size up the situation and make a plan of attack
3. Get a clipboard with sufficient copies of the correct reporting form (summer or winter).
4. Find pens or pencils.
5. Get the Operations Manual with the appropriate scripts. The NWS is primarily concerned with storm damage reports that meet the official NWS criteria. This information is initially used in issuing warnings and later in storm damage reports and in locating possible tornado touchdowns and damage.
6. Set up the radio.
7. Backup frequencies for the second net should be programmed into the radio.
8. It is helpful to have access to a computer with Internet capability near your radio station.
9. Please date and time all sheets and WRITE LEGIBLY!

During initial Check-ins, get Spotter ID numbers in addition to call signs

If spotter ID not available, get location of station. Minimum is city. If possible get subdivision or major intersection.

Get What, When and Where. Scripts are very helpful.

If you are busy, and an urgent severe weather report (tornado, funnel cloud or flash flood) is reported, you may have another station e-mail NWS Wakefield.

There is no maximum time period that a NCS station should be on the air. However, if the net is very busy, NCS operators should switch off hourly. If only hourly reporting is required, NCS operators should switch every 2-4 hours.

The training script provided at the end of the manual has spots to fill in with weather reports and training material. Training material should emphasize reporting requirements and weather safety for spotters.

When the severe weather situation calms down, NWS Wakefield and or the local news network will publicize termination of the warning or watch. The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator or the Net Control Station, when notified of the termination of the watch or warning, will perform the following net shutdown steps:

1. Inform the NCS of the net to be deactivated
2. The NCS operator will make a final call for severe weather reports. At the end of snow storms, the Net Control Station should poll various areas within the warning area for a final snow fall report Upon hearing no further reports of severe weather, the Net Control volunteer should read script 14.12 and thank the repeater licensee and amateur radio community.
3. The Net Control station should indicate to anyone listening on the net that any further reports of severe weather must be telephoned into the NWS. See Scripts.
4. Please submit reports to the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator.

The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Net is a Subnet. It may be necessary to arrange, as part of your NCS operations planning, to set up designated and dedicated Liaison Relay Stations which can access both the primary repeater AND the local repeater SIMULTANEOUSLY

The Sub-Net Liaison Relay Station's primary responsibility is to relay priority traffic for the Sub-NCS station that cannot access the primary repeater directly (Internet and phone communication would be down).

The NCS, or the liaison relay station, of each SKYWARN Sub-Net will notify the NWS Net Liaison operator of the activation of the SKYWARN Sub-Net as well as the Net Control operator's and liaison station's call sign and telephone number. This will permit the NWS Net Liaison operator to contact the SKYWARN Sub-Net if requested to do so by the NWS.

The use of Subnet Local Liaison Stations is to be encouraged if you feel you are in danger of losing control as Local, Sub-Net NCS. When event traffic gets hot and heavy, don't be afraid to ask for a Local Liaison station to help out. They can handle telephone calls and other duties for you. As NCS, you will know when it is time to make this request . . . a sense of panic will set in. Putting excited spotters on "hold" while you try to make a difficult contact on a different frequency or make a telephone call to NWS, can really add to everyone's stress levels in a fast moving net.

A Local Liaison Station absorbs a lot of duties that can disrupt the smooth operation of a Subnet NCS; like making phone calls and handling time consuming minor logistical problems. If the level of disruptive duties continues to grow, NCS should request that a Local Resource or Tactical Support net be formed.

Local Liaison Relay Stations usually will not be participating in their own Subnet. They will be "lurking" in the background and waiting for either reportable observations or instructions from their Subnet NCS. In a very large and wide spread event a Liaison Sub-Net could become absolutely necessary. If a Local Liaison Station becomes necessary, the operator would become responsible to make notes of all reports of severe weather on the standard reporting forms and pass the severe weather information to the Net Liaison Operator at the NWS.

Local Liaison Relay Stations must have strong receiving and transmitting capabilities with strong signals on used frequencies. The ability to monitor separate frequencies on the same band and/or different bands, is extremely desirable; as is an auxiliary power source. The Liaison Station normally operates from his or her home.

The NWS is often asked to communicate with other groups in addition to amateur radio operators. Every attempt should be made to have the broadest possible inclusion into the SKYWARN Net. At the present time, there are no facilities to monitor citizens band frequencies at the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station and no such facilities are planned. Accordingly, if groups such as REACT would like to participate in SKYWARN nets, it is imperative that the group coordinate with one of their members who is also an amateur radio operator who can relay the reports to the primary SKYWARN net.

From time to time it may be necessary to switch the net to alternate frequencies for technical or other reasons. The procedure is as follows:

1. Verify the net has permission to use the alternate repeater. Permission may be received over the radio if necessary.
2. Make an announcement on NOAA Weather radio of the change in frequencies.
3. Assign a station to remain on the initial frequency (simplex if necessary) to tell stations checking in of the change in frequency.
4. Thank all repeater groups and licensees for the use of the repeater.

After completing the Training Net, the NCS should record the following:

• Date
• Number of check-ins including the NCS
• Check-in call signs (location is desirable, but can be obtained later)
• Duration of Net
• Training topic

The above information is forwarded to the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator. This can be done by e-mail or even as a Net Report through the South Eastern Virginia Traffic Net.

Example:

1 R KG4PWC 24 CHESAPEAKE VA 2000 JAN 2 200X
SKYWARN COORDINATOR NAME AND CALL SIGN
SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN TRAINING
NET REPORT FOR 2 JAN
0X QND/20 QNI/5 QNS KG4PWC/NCS
K0IBS KE4PAP KB4LIF KG4IIF TRAINING
ON HAIL X 73


KG4PWC

QNI = NUMBER OF CHECK-INS INCLUDING NCS
QND = DURATION OF NET IN MINUTES
QNS = LIST OF STATIONS INCLUDING NCS


Training Net reports are for the use of the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator. The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator can ask the NWS Wakefield Program Manager to critique a training net.

Urgent Severe Weather defined as Tornado, Funnel Cloud or Flash Flood should be reported to NCS and relayed via NCS to Wakefield immediately or called in immediately by the spotter. All reports should include the spotter's ID number or call sign, location, time and observation. You can use the form at the end of manual or put it in a spreadsheet.

Hourly reports should include
Call sign or spotter's ID (Spotter's ID is preferred)
Severe Weather Observation

• Tornado or funnel cloud
• Winds - either evidence of 50 mph wings by damage or actual measurements of winds 50 mph or greater.
• Rainfall - 1 inch/hour or 3 inches/24 hours
• Flooding
• Snow depth

Location
Time of observation

Reports should be e-mailed to NWS Wakefield with a copy to the South Hampton Roads SKYWARN Coordinator.

NWS WAKEFIELD considers Spotter's ID useful for determining active spotters.If the source of the report is felt to reliable by the Net Control Station (NCS), spotter's ID is not necessary, but must get location. Location is assumed to be base station location of the address associated with the spotter's ID on the NWS database. Call signs are also useful for location but require extra work inputting data at the Wakefield office...

V. SKYWARN NET CONTROL SCRIPTS

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)
READ EVERY 30-60 MINUTE
THIS IS _______ (call sign), NAME IS __________ NET CONTROL FOR SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WAKEFIELD, VIRGINIA.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING:

1. TORNADOES, FUNNEL CLOUDS OR ROTATING WALL CLOUDS
2. HAIL (PEA SIZE OR LARGER)
3. WIND 50 MPH OR GREATER
4. FLOODING
5. RAIN ACCUMULATION IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH OR MORE PER HOUR OR 3 INCHES IN 24 HOURS.
6. DAMAGE BY WIND OR LIGHTNING
7. DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME WITH YOUR CALL SIGN AND OR SPOTTER'S ID. THIS IS ___ (call sign). OVER. [AFTER ALL REPORTS ARE RECORDED]

HEARING NO FURTHER REPORTS. THE NEXT SCHEDULED REPORTING WILL BE AT ____________.
IF BETWEEN NOW AND ___________ YOU SPOT A TORNADO, FUNNEL CLOUD OR FLASH FLOOD, CONTACT THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN NET CONTROL _________(call sign) IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REACH NET CONTROL, PLEASE CONTACT NWS WAKEFIELD IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS _____________(call sign) NET CONTROL FOR THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN NET MONITORING.

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER)
READ EVERY 30-60 minutes
THIS IS _______ (call sign) NAME IS ___________ NET CONTROL FOR SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE WAKEFIELD, VIRGINIA.

ON BEHALF OF THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE W4CAR 146.820 (OR ALTERNATE) REPEATER FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY.

WHEN SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT IS NOT TAKING TRAFFIC, AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS MAY USE THE REPEATER. IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRANSMISSIONS BE KEPT SHORT AND BREAKS GIVEN TO PERMIT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO REACH SKYWARN.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. THIS IS _______ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN. OVER.

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)
READ EVERY 30-60 MINUTES
THIS IS _______ (call sign) NAME IS__________ NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WAKEFIELD, VIRGINIA.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING:

1. SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES
2. SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH PER HOUR
3. SEVERE ICING ON TREES, STREETS, OR POWER LINES

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS ___ (call sign). OVER
[AFTER ALL REPORTS RECEIVED]
HEARING NO FURTHER REPORTS, THE NEXT SCHEDULED REPORTING WILL BE AT ___________. THIS IS __________(call sign) NET CONTROL FOR THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN MONITORING.

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER)
READ EVERY 30-60 MINUTES
THIS IS _______ (call sign) NAME IS _________NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WAKEFIELD, VIRGINIA.

ON BEHALF OF THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE W4CAR 146.820 REPEATER GROUP FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY.

WHEN SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT IS NOT TAKING TRAFFIC, AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS MAY USE THE REPEATER. IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRANSMISSIONS BE KEPT SHORT AND BREAKS GIVEN TO PERMIT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO REACH SKYWARN.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. THIS IS ________ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN. OVER.

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER AND AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY)
READ ON CLOSING THE NET
THIS IS ________ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WAKEFIELD, VIRGINIA.

ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE W4CAR 146.820 (OR ALTERNATE) REPEATER GROUP FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY AND FOR PARTICIPATING IN SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER NETS.

WHEN SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT IS NOT TAKING TRAFFIC, AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS MAY USE THE REPEATER. IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRANSMISSIONS BE KEPT SHORT AND BREAKS GIVEN TO PERMIT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO REACH SKYWARN.

PLEASE PASS ALL FURTHER SEVERE WEATHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY TELEPHONE.

THIS IS _______ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN. THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO SEVERE WEATHER NET IS NOW SECURED AT ______. THE REPEATER IS RETURNED TO NORMAL SERVICE.

NOTE: Please e-mail all reports of severe weather to the NWS.

Packet Amateur Radio is an exciting method of digital communication. It involves connecting a computer to a terminal node connector (TNC), which in turn is connected to the amateur radio transceiver. We want to integrate this "new" technology into the SKYWARN system to the greatest possible extent. Currently there is no packet station link between the South Hampton Roads region and NWS Wakefield. The following is presented for educational purposes.

The primary uses of the packet at this time are to:

1. Relay detailed (primarily winter) storm and damage reports from local subnets and spotter to the NWS; and,
2. Send watches and warnings to Local and State Emergency Services during emergency situations and communications outages.

The primary packet frequency is _____._____ (simplex). There are a number of packet nodes on this frequency including:

• FOAKS in City, State
• EZF in City, State
• CARA3 in City, State
• WINC in City, State
• CSKY in City, State

The first four nodes are part of the _________ network, which covers most of _________________. (continue with special instructions) Direct connects are preferred and are printed out in hard copy upon receipt.

Plans are beginning to form to create a region wide high-speed packet backbone on a second frequency. Until then, the use of SKYWARN packet is to simply relay one message at a time from station to station and to disconnect. Please disconnect as soon as possible to avoid clogging the frequency. Please do not read messages previously sent to the NWS.

A packet system in West Virginia has been set up linking many counties and EOC's. The system is called DAREN.

SKYWARN will be activated when a hurricane is anticipated to strike the _____________________ area. The SKYWARN amateur radio net may be activated any time a hurricane threatens the East Coast (particularly the mid-Atlantic Region) or South Florida. In an event such as Hurricane Andrew, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) in Camp Springs, MD acts as the back-up hurricane center to the NWS National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Coral Gables, FL.

SKYWARN may be asked to help support NMC and NWS with amateur radio communications. SKYWARN amateur radio support may also be requested to assist with backup communications to other NWS offices threatened by hurricanes, such as Wakefield, VA, and to assist in gathering severe weather and damage reports from areas impacted by the storm where normal communications are inoperative.

In such situations, HF will most likely be required. It may be necessary to plan staffing for many 24-hour periods. If there is a possibility of a hurricane passing within 100 miles of Wakefield, VA, net control volunteers need to arrive at NWS prepared for a long stay in the event that roads are closed. It is important to coordinate with local ARES and RACES groups.

THE REMAINING PORTION OF THIS NATIONAL EDITION OF THE MANUAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED AND HAS BEEN LEFT INTACT AND ATTACHED AS A SAMPLE OF A STRUCTURE THAT WORKS WELL FOR THE WASHINGTON, D.C. /NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA.

HURRICANE WATCH NET (HWN) (Instructions for Washington, DC and Virginia Coastal area)

Contact should be made with the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) to coordinate efforts. They may need to use the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station to relay ground truth (actual observations) reports into the NWS system. It is expected that packet will be used for these purposes.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) operates in cooperation with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in much the same manner that SKYWARN operates with the Washington, DC Weather Service Forecast Office (WSFO).

The purpose of the HWN is to:

1. Disseminate hurricane advisory information to marine interests, Caribbean Island nations, Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) and other interests for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific as promulgated by the NHC in Coral Gables, Florida.
2. Obtain weather information for the NWS from reporting stations who are not part of the routine network of the World Meteorological Organization and forward the information to the NHC.
3. Function as a backup communications link for the NHC, EOC's and NWS and other vital interests involved in the protection of life and property before, during and after hurricane events.
4. Relay initial hurricane damage assessments to the NHC.

HWN operations normally commence anytime a hurricane is within 300 nautical miles of an inhabited land mass and will continue in operation until the storm is no longer a threat. The net DOES NOT handle health and welfare type communication.

Operation will normally take place on 14.325 MHz +/-, however the operation may shift to 3.950 or other frequency at the request of stations in the hurricane affected area or to take advantage of shifting propagation conditions.

Priority is given to those stations representing the NWS and emergency management organizations. The net control volunteer of the SKYWARN station should identify that they are located at the WSFO, Washington when checking into the HWN.

The Dade County, Florida Amateur Radio Public Service Corps operates station W4EHW located in the forecast office of the NHC. Most traffic is passed to this station via the HWN or through a landline computer link to Southern Region, NWS. If these links are not available, SKYWARN may be asked to pass the information via NWS facilities located in the WSFO. For further information, go to www.hwn.org.

Although HF has been set up at NWS for special occasions, at the moment it is not there permanently.

Information on Virginia HF Emergency Net Operations are in the Appendix. It may be important to use HF should a storm damage large numbers of repeaters in the area.

There are plans for permanent HF at the NWS in the future. Even though this may become a reality, it is also possible that the station may be damaged by the storm and a secondary radio and antenna may need to be installed after the storm passes.

An important facet of SKYWARN operations is public relations. SKYWARN provides ample opportunities to demonstrate the unique capabilities of amateur radio as well as the volunteer and public spirit of amateur radio operators. If you speak with the press, please be extremely careful what you say because you represent the entire amateur community and the SKYWARN program. If you have any questions, please contact a forecaster BEFORE speaking with the press. If any doubt, "I don't know." is a good answer. A number of articles that have been written about the SKYWARN program are included in Appendix 11.7 of this manual.

SKYWARN is a public service activity and is not a club. Because SKYWARN does not have a checking account or dues, we make use of articles placed in The Foundation for Amateur Radio's AUTOCALL magazine in place of a monthly newsletter to keep SKYWARN volunteers informed of current events in the program. Please monitor AUTOCALL and contact the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator if you have any questions. We thank The Foundation and AUTOCALL for their unyielding support and assistance to the SKYWARN program.

There are constant challenges to the radio frequencies set aside for amateur radio use. SKYWARN provides an identifiable and extremely visible opportunity for putting amateur radio in its best light. Severe weather is always of interest to the media. Our SKYWARN amateur radio Station has already been featured nationally on The Weather Channel and CBS' How'd Do That (segment on the Blizzard of '93 May, 1993) and in the December 1992 edition of the American Radio Relay League's QST magazine in an article on the amateur radio response to Hurricane Andrew. Thus, the SKYWARN program not only benefits the NWS and the public, but also helps to preserve amateur radio as a national resource.

The NWS does its best to promote the capabilities of the SKYWARN amateur radio net. In early December, the annual SKYWARN Recognition Day co-sponsored by ARRL allows all Amateur Radio Operators to make contacts with all the NWS stations and obtain some nice QSL cards. The South Hampton Roads SKYWARN with the help of the Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service Club station, has operated an offsite station for WX4AKQ.

SKYWARN has developed a large following of scanner enthusiasts, emergency managers and amateur radio operators. Let us continue to put amateur radio's "best foot forward.

X. NWS WAKEFIELD SKYWARN

SKYWARN Program Manager - Bill Sammler
SKYWARN Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator - Joe Wagner, KO4RK
NWS WAKEFIELD SKYWARN CALL SIGN - KAKQ
NWS WAKEFIELD AMATEUR CALL SIGN - WX4AKQ

By Phone - 800-737-8624 (severe weather only!)
By FAX -757-899-5107
By E-Mail - akq-report@noaa.gov
For the latest forecast: 757-899-4200, listen to NOAA Weather Radio, or on the web, www.weather.noaa.gov/akq.

145.37 - Gloucester
145.43 - Richmond
146.625 - Jarrett
146.655 - Elizabeth City, NC
146.76 - Williamsburg
146.82 - Chesapeake
146.91 - Ahoskie, NC
147.00 - Suffolk
147.195 - Smithfield
147.30 - Franklin
147.36 - Chesterfield

162.550
162.400
162.475
162.450

South Hampton Roads SKYWARN TRAINING Net Script, 1/27/03

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