It is vitally important that SITREPS contain no rumor or unverified information that is not clearly so identified.
A report of "a tornado at East Podunk," for example, should be amended to read "buildings damaged by high winds at East Podunk," unless the National Weather Service has officially declared it a tornado. It is helpful, however, to pass along certain unverified information if it can be attributed to a specific source: A report similar to the following would be acceptable: "County Road 114 flooded at Goose Creek bridge south of Percyville. Eyewitness report by H. P. Maxwell W1AW. No independent confirmation."
Conflicting information can be reported in the same manner, citing both versions and noting the conflict Generally, requested SITREP subjects in any given activation might include several of those below, but each situation generates its own requirements. The SEC's requested topics may change from report to report and are not limited to those given here for general guidance only:
Weather obs - temperature, wind speed and direction, tide, barometer, precipitation.
Severe weather - funnel clouds, heavy rain, high winds or tides, rising streams, freezing rain....
Casualties -be very specific about source of this info, but do NOT use names of victims.
People needing evacuation - nature of threat, numbers and location.
Any unusual events or matters needing immediate attention, including relief operators for ARES stations. (Jump teams?)
Areas to be evacuated - and total population of each.
Number of shelters to be opened, and their combined capacity
Number of shelters to be staffed by ARES
Name of agency managing shelters.
Total number of shelter occupants per county - No names of shelterees. Use official estimates of numbers if no specific figures available.
Degree of commercial power loss in specific areas. (Usually an estimated number of users. Indicate any critical facilities, such as hospitals, that may be affected.)
Structural damage to buildings and causes of damage. Give locations (but not street addresses), structural type and use of building (nursing home, store, factory).
Curfews (who declared, when effective, area affected)
Polluted water supplies
Hospitals closed, overloaded, or non-functional
Time and date County EOC was activated
Number of ARES operators assigned to duty and when activated
List ARES-Served Agencies activated
Changes in alert level of ARES nets
Changes in activation status of the District and each county
Road/street/bridge closings. Be specific about the location.