Well Severe Weather Season is quickly approaching and I have taken your suggestions from our first preliminary Skywarn Net Standard Operating Procedure and have updated it with those suggestions(see attached) - I appreciate all the excellent input! I also updated the frequency of operation area to include our latest decisions for back up operations. Please review and I will have printed copies for the meeting tonight for final review before our official release. I recently also joined the Kankakee club (KARS) and earlier this week met with John McGarey, K9BYT, who is the Kankakee County Skywarn Net Control. John is going to provide me with a copy of the software he developed which is based on Microsoft Access for Spotter check-in/out and ESDA report generation.
See you all tonight!
Mike Marcier - KC9HHT
Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club
Preliminary Copy Rev2 - March 6, 2007
Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club
Skywarn Net
Standard Operating Procedure
The Iroquois County Skywarn Net is coordinated and operated by the Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club (ICARC) and establishes the following Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This SOP provides for the administration of local Net operations with area storm spotters and establishes contact procedures with local Public Safety Authorities and the National Weather Service (NWS).
This SOP is divided into five basic areas of control definition:
- Frequency of Operation
- Net Activation and Control Procedures
- Spotter Check In/Out, Welfare Checks
- Spotter Qualification Requirements
- Spotter Safety
Frequency of Operation
The frequency of operation of the Iroquois County Skywarn Net will be:
Primary frequency of operation: 147.030 MHz Repeater (W9RWX) located in Crescent City, IL. This repeater has a standard offset of + 600 KHz and a PL tone of 103.5 Hz. In the event that this repeater is not in operation the net will take place on the backup simplex frequency.
Backup simplex frequency: 147.030 MHz FM Simplex is the back up frequency for net operations with no PL tone. When operating in this condition, spotters should be mindful that they may not be able to hear all traffic going into net control and should withhold traffic if instructed by net control. Net control should then call you back for a report once the traffic has been completed. With the primary repeater down, net control communications to the NWS will take place on the Kankakee Area Radio Society (KARS) Repeater on 146.940 MHz with a + 600 KHz offset with a PL tone of 107.2 Hz.
Secondary frequency of operation: 444.625 MHz Repeater (W9RWX) located in Watseka, IL. This repeater has a standard offset of + 5 MHz with a PL tone of 103.5 Hz. This repeater will also be available for spotter traffic as a back up to the 147.030 MHz Repeater. The 444.625 MHz Repeater may also be crossband linked to the 147.030 MHz Simplex channel to provide additional coverage operations.
APRS Digital Communications: An APRS Digipeater located on the Cingular Wireless Tower east of Watseka operating on the Nationwide frequency of 144.390 MHz will provide NWS bulletins and regional messaging access.
Skywarn Net Activation
The Skywarn Net will be activated when the National Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Warning, or by special request for spotter support during threatening weather activity by Net Control, the NWS or local Public Safety authorities. The ICARC Skywarn Net Control is responsible for activation of the net however, in the absence of the primary Net Control operator; ICARC Skywarn Net Control Alternates (see contact list) may handle net control. The Iroquois County ESDA Director (see contact list) should be notified when Net operations begin and end. A report should be e-mailed to the ESDA Director after the closure of the net highlighting reporting activities, who participated and their locations.
During Net operations all non-essential communications not relating to the Skywarn net operations should be minimized.
Spotter Check-in
It is the duty of Skywarn Net Control to keep track of reporting station information and their locations. As spotters report in, net control should log their positions for referral when reporting to the National Weather Service and for spotter welfare confirmation checks. Net control should note current weather conditions reported by spotters. Spotters should report changing conditions as threatening weather approaches (wind, hail, heavy rain, wall cloud formations, funnel clouds, tornados, etc.)
Spotter Welfare Check
Before the closing of the net after a weather emergency, net control should include a welfare check of all spotters still in an active status in the affected area to make sure everyone has been accounted for.
Spotter Check-Out
Whenever a spotter who has checked in to the net is no longer available they need to contact net control to check out of service. This has two purposes: it lets net control know that you are no longer available for reporting but it also is so there can be an accounting of spotters for welfare checks both during and after a weather event.
Reporting to NWS
Net control should be the primary person communicating to the NWS and should contact them as severe weather conditions warrant (see contact list).
The conditions that warrant NWS notification are the following:
- Estimated or measured wind in excess of 60 MPH
- Heavy Rain or flash flooding taking place
- Hail - give approximate size of hail based on NWS Spotter’s Guide
- Wall Cloud formations, funnel clouds either aloft or on the ground - providing location information, and direction of travel
- Other items of public safety concern
It is the duty of net control to minimize communications to the NWS and to make sure non-essential communications does not overwhelm NWS operators. It is not the job of the NWS to communicate directly with spotters unless for purposes of coordinating critical funnel cloud tracking.
Net control should notify local public safety authorities of any concerns affecting the immediate safety of people and property by calling 911. If phone lines are out of service see contact list for alternate contact methods.
Spotter Qualifications
Spotters must have taken Spotter Training Class through the National Weather Service in order to be qualified to participate in Spotter operations. Training is required to make sure that all spotters are familiar with the proper identification of hazardous weather activity and they are aware of spotter safety rules.
Spotter Safety
Always put safety first and do not get too close to the cell or wait in its path. If in an open rural area position yourself such that you can observe the cell from a distance without being in harms way. This will also allow you to be in the best position to observe the cell activity. Never attempt to observe a cell from inside a town or city area because you will not be able to out run the approaching cell. Never endanger yourself or family members.
Contact List
National Weather Service
Romeoville, IL
Phone: 800-681-2972
WX9LOT - The NWS will monitor the Kankakee Repeater 146.940 MHz +600 KHz offset with a PL Tone of 107.2 Hz during severe weather.
Iroquois County ESDA
ESDA Director
Carl Gerdovich
ESDA Repeater radio access contact Sam Ripple or Mike Marcier
Iroquois County Sheriff
Dial 911
Non-Emergency phone: 815-432-4918
ICARC Skywarn Net Control
Mike Marcier – KC9HHT
Home Phone: 815-432-3540
Cell Phone: 815-383-6814
Alternate Net Control Operators
Carl Schroeder – K9CS
Sam Ripple – W9QKF
Home Phone: 815-432-3308
Cell: 815-383-0499
