BROWARD COUNTY SKYWARN OPERATIONAL MANUAL

1. PURPOSE:

The SKYWARN program was established to provide Amateur Radio communications in support of the National Weather Service (NWS) office located in Miami  Florida,  prior to and during severe weather that  will affect Broward County, Florida.

2. OBJECTIVES OF SKYWARN:

The objective of SKYWARN is to provide weather information to the National Weather Service  and to the Broward County Emergency Management Division,  by recruiting trained amateur radio operators (Storm Spotter Training by the NWS)  to provide  severe weather spotting and reporting.

3. ORGANIZATION:
The SKYWARN program shall be administered by the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Weather Service (NWS) office.

4. MEMBERSHIP:

Any amateur radio operator licensed by the FCC with a valid license who wishes to contribute time to the safety of the residents of Broward County, Florida may be members in SKYWARN. SKYWARN membership is strictly voluntary and has no club affiliation. No member shall be expected to participate beyond the scope agreed upon when joining the spotter program, nor shall any member be required or expected to function in any activity for which they feel they are not trained or qualified. Membership, however, implies a willingness to put forth effort when it becomes necessary and to participate in the required training.

5. TRAINING:

The largest single activity of the SKYWARN program is to provide emergency communications from spotters reporting severe weather in the field into the National Weather Service and the Broward County Emergency Management Division and other agencies we serve. To this end, all spotters must attend one training session prior to each year that the SKYWARN program is in operation. These training sessions will be conducted by the National Weather Service. Information review and new information will be supplied each year at the training session. Members in the SKYWARN spotters program are urged to make an effort to attend all of these training sessions.

6. COMMUNICATIONS:

All communication within the SKYWARN program will be on VHF, on two meters. All spotters in the SKYWARN program must have no less then a valid Technician Class license as issued by the FCC to operate on two meters. Reports via the 220 MHz. links can be made by any spotter, including those with Novice licenses.

7. REPEATER USE:

The primary repeater used for SKYWARN will be the 146.910 MHz , PL-110.9, W4AB/R located in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with the 146.790 MHz W4MOT/R located in Plantation, Florida as the secondary repeater.  In the event that a major power failure occurs knocking out all commercial power, we will use 146.910 MHz simplex, with the Net Control Station (NCS) switching to  146.790 simplex.  During activation of the Skywarn Net, all normal radio traffic on the 146.910 or 146.790 MHz repeater's shall cease, and only necessary information shall be passed on during SKYWARN activation.

8. ACTIVATION:

Activations of communicators and storm spotters can come from several sources which includes any Skywarn member,  the  National Weather Service or the Broward County Emergency Management Division.

When a SEVERE WEATHER WATCH or WARNING has been issued for Broward County, the 146.910  MHz repeater will be put into SKYWARN MODE, and indicate that there is a potential for severe weather.

Net Control stations  will begin to operate when the NWS issues SEVERE WEATHER BROADCAST which effects Broward County and its coastlines.

Once the NET CONTROL STATION (NCS) activates the network, the 146.910  repeater is in  total control of the NCS operator. All station-to-station traffic should be cleared through the NCS operator. Any non-pertinent traffic is to be passed on somewhere else.

Skywarn Spotters checking into the SKYWARN NET will keep the NCS advised of any moves, either in frequency and/or location during the period of activation. Should a Spotter wish to leave the NET, they will advise the NCS that they are doing so. At the end of the SKYWARN NET the NCS will conduct a roll call. Should a Spotter not answer the roll call at the close of the NET, the Broward County Sheriff�s Office or the cities  police departments will be advised that you�re missing.

9. SPOTTER LOCATIONS:

SKYWARN SPOTTERS can report their weather information into the NCS from any location. While it is advantageous to locate oneself in a clear location for making their observations, no spotters should not place themselves in personal danger. Spotters may from time to time be requested by the NCS to go to a specific location for the collection of additional information.

10. REPORTING PROCEDURES:

Once a net has been established, the NCS will accept station check-ins by call sign only. As time permits and at the discretion of the NCS, stations will be asked for locations. After this the Spotters will only transmit at the direction of the NCS or when the Spotter has weather information to enter into the net. At the discretion of the NCS, pertinent information from the Spotter will be relayed  to the National Weather Service.

11. SPOTTERS REPORTING PROCEDURES:

When reporting weather conditions, the spotter will give the NCS BRIEFLY WHAT WAS SEEN in the following order of importance.
  • Give your call sign, Skywarn number and location.
  • What you have seen.
  • Where you saw what you�re reporting. Give direction and distance from a known position to the      storm.  Example:  At the intersection of I-595 and I-75.
  • If you are in a location that you are not sure of check with your map before you make your report.  Know where you are.
  • Stay cool. Be professional. REMEMBER, THE PUBLIC IS LISTENING ON SCANNERS.
  • What�s the direction and estimated speed of the cell you�re tracking.
  • End  your report with your call sign and stand by for any direction from the NCS.
  • Above all, USE COMMON SENSE!
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    DO NOT MAKE UN-NEEDED REPORTS TO ANYONE.
    Example of what NOT TO DO......
    This is KF4MKT, I see a big black cloud!!!. How�s it over your way?
    We really don�t care or need that type of information.
    Also, avoid conjecture and speculation. Please use good judgment in the use of the airways, and in doing so, we will provide quality information for the NWS and the communities we are trying to serve.
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    NET CONTROL STATION Responsibilities:

    Being a NET CONTROL STATION is a big job. You are responsible to do many things which include logging all reports and most of all keeping track of everything.

    A SKYWARN NET CONTROL STATION runs the program in most cases before the spotters get involved.  Activation of the NET CONTROL STATION comes when  a SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT is issued by  the NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE or when a Skywarn member activates the net because of severe weather.at South Bend requests an amateur radio operator at the service, whichever comes first. The NCS should monitor the weather by whatever means at their disposal, weather radio, 162.550 MHz (Channel 2), or the Weather Channel, or local new station on the TV. The main thing is to be informed of what�s going on.  The NCS should also be in touch with the NWS to let them know that a skywarn net is in progress.

    Once the SKYWARN NET is called into action the NET CONTROL STATION will take check-ins, taking only call signs and Skywarn ID numbers at this time.

    This is done to see how many spotters are available. Next inform those who have checked in what you know about the storm. Next recall your spotters to learn where they are, make notes and if possible indicate their locations on a map.

    Under no circumstances should a spotter talk directly into the NWS unless directed by the NCS or the NWS wants to talk with the spotter.  The NWS hotline is busy enough.

    NET CONTROL STATION will decide what reports should go into the NWS.  In receiving Storm Spotter reports, make sure you understand what they are reporting. Keep the repeater free of unwanted traffic. Sometimes someone driving through does not realize that the repeater is under Net control. In the shortest possible time and politely  inform them of our condition and get back to business.  Remember....Your transmissions along with others are being monitored by the general public, cities and county officials who depend greatly on what they hear from us.