LIVINGSTON COUNTY
AMATEUR RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS

MICON Guidelines for County Key Stations

General Guidelines

Each county is responsible for the operation of it's own local Skywarn Net. However, MICON requests that those County Key Stations observe the following common rules:

Operational Guidelines

These guidelines are for the Key Station Operators who are communicating to MICON using voice communications on the net frequency of 442.15 MHz. (K8DTX Repeater). Digital (Packet) communications to MICON are covered in a different procedure.

    1.  County nets can be activated from an EOC, or from an individual's home.

    2.  After your Skywarn net has been activated, have your Key Station operator check into the MICON net and give their name and
    callsign. Your Key Station callsign may be your county EOC call such as N8EOC or W8OAK, or an individual's call if they are
    operating from their home or other location.

    NOTE: Be aware that a MICON operator may not have arrived at the National Weather Service office. They may establish a temporary net from their car if they are in transit. If you have a severe report such as a tornado and MICON is not activated, immediately relay the report via the NWS 800 number (1-800-808-0006). Those trained in digital operations may send the report in via the K8DTX-5 Packet Radio reporting system on 145.760 MHz.
    3.  Advise MICON of your current net status. The status is either Standby, Green, Yellow, or Red depending on what level your
    net is operating.

    4.  Spotter reports from the field should only be reported to NWS when they meet the minimum reporting criteria. Review these
    criteria which are outlined in your local Skywarn net procedures. You may also want to review the Severe Weather Report Form
    that outlines the categories to report. This form is viewable on the LCARPSC web page at http://www.qsl.net/n8eoc/

    5.  When you receive severe weather reports from your field spotters, make sure they include the (T)ime of the event, the (E)ffect
    of the event, and the (L)ocation of the event. An example of using this TEL reporting system is as follows:

    This is K1DE with the following severe weather report. At 12:35 I am observing ¾' hail at M-59 and Byron Rd.

    NOTE: All times are reported in local time, not GMT or UT.

    6.  Spotters must be as accurate as possible when they are reporting the time of the event. This is very important to NWS
    Forecasters as they can replay the radar information at a later date to correlate your report to the event.

    7.  Monitor the MICON net before requesting routine weather information. There could be blue skies in your area, but MICON
    may be busy with severe weather activity in adjacent counties.

    8.  Check with MICON operators before sending damage reports. MICON may be busy with severe weather communications
    from other counties and not be able to take your reports immediately. These reports are important to NWS so try and communicate
    them later, or send them by alternate means such as the K8DTX-5 Packet Radio System.

    9.  Please inform MICON when you secure your net. You may ask the net control station for an assessment of pending weather,
    but is the County's decision on whether to close their net.

    10.  During periods of low MICON net activity you have an excellent opportunity to train new Key Station operators. MICON
    personnel will work with your new operators offering suggestions and constructive feedback in order to enhance their
    communications skills.

J. W. Moore, K1DE
DDEC MICON-DTX

Home