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Severe Weather Spotting Preparation, Activation, Safety, and Communications 2015

Severe Weather Spotting Preparation, Activation, Safety, and Communications 2015. Attitude and Frame of Mind. You are a storm SPOTTER , not a storm chaser! Your job is to provide factual, real-time information about weather conditions We all work together in the interest of public safety.

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Severe Weather Spotting Preparation, Activation, Safety, and Communications 2015

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  1. Severe Weather SpottingPreparation, Activation, Safety, and Communications2015

  2. Attitude and Frame of Mind • You are a storm SPOTTER, not a storm chaser! • Your job is to provide factual, real-time information about weather conditions • We all work together in the interest of public safety

  3. Attitude and Frame of Mind Severe thunderstorms can be deadly To be an effective storm spotter you must also pay attention to your own safety!

  4. Preparing for the Season • Attend training sessions - RACES Safety Training - Emergency Management Training at the EOC • Be sure your vehicle is good operating order • Assemble necessary equipment - ready kit

  5. Recommended Equipment • County or site map • Radio or other communications equipment such as a HT • Clipboard, paper and penIdentification – RACES ID, drivers license, vehicle ID

  6. Recommended Equipment • Report forms - RACES Emergency Weather Report - Windshield Assessment Survey • Wind gage, ruler, compass or GPS • Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs • Working APRS

  7. Recommended Equipment • Binoculars • Rain coat that is bright colored or worn with orange vest • First Aid Kit

  8. Optional • Gloves, Blanket • Snacks, non-alcoholic drinks • Video or digital camera • Fire extinguisher • Spare fuses, paper towels, insect repellant • Additional pair of shoes • Flares

  9. At the Beginning of Storm Season, and Occasionally Thereafter • Make sure the lights all work: headlights, flashers, turn signal, break/backup • Check your fluid levels: oil, coolant, brake, battery and windshield cleaner • Inspect your radios, coax, power connectors, antenna and antenna connector, check HT batteries - charged

  10. Every Time You Go Out • Fill the gas tank • Check your windshield wipers – it’s going to rain on you • Check your tires – tread, pressure, and spare • Check to make sure defroster is working • Put a fresh coat of Rain-X on the windshield if you have time

  11. ACTIVATION • Emergency Management / Races Officer will send a page out of possible activation (others listen closely to the radio 146.94) • Once the page is received start preparation for possible activation • When RACES is activated, Net Control will activate and announce the Severe Weather Net, Listen for instructions • Net Control will take check-ins , need call sign and location. • Net Control will contact EOC Officer at EOC • Net Control will assign location to the spotters. Once spotter has arrived at their location check back in

  12. ACTIVATION • Spotters find an area with as good a view as possible. If you have to move please notify Net Control • Net Control will periodically as for updates as to what you see. (Note - Net Control may move you throughout the activation) • If the weather event fits the criteria please report it immediately to Net Control • If life or property is at risk break in to Net Control with the emergency - Use as calm and controlled a voice as possible • Once the watch/warning is over and your not needed Net Control will send you home. Once arrived at your home please notify Net Control. Once all is clear Net Control will shut down the RACES Severe Weather Net

  13. Spotter Safety • Take a partner if possible • Driver concentrates on the road • Spotter concentrates on spotting and navigating • Always let net control know where you are

  14. Spotter Safety Survey Your Spotting Location • Move completely out of traffic • Be visible - parking lights (not hazard flashers) or yellow caution light • Be sure you have a good field of view (at least 180o) • Important for spotting and safety • Are there power lines overhead?

  15. Spotter Safety Survey Your Spotting Location • Too much mud? • Tall dry grass - a potential fire hazard near your exhaust • Avoid low spots or ditches that may flood quickly in heavy rain • Know your escape routes!

  16. Spotter Safety Driving Safely • Rural intersections can have low visibility due to crops or weather • Heavy rain and hail=poor visibility and may mean you are in “wrong” part of storm! • Avoid water flowing over roads - six inches can float a moving car (hydroplaning) • Lightning can strike miles away - stay in your vehicle

  17. Communications

  18. Communications • Your job is to observe and communicate • CREDIBILITY is key! • Be objective in your reporting • Report what you observe or experience • Avoid subjective and personal descriptions • Observation should be communicated in something measurable or comparative • Distance, direction, and movement should be a part of every report where applicable

  19. Communications • Give all reports with respect to your location • Estimate wind speeds or describe damage being caused • “When in doubt, don’t shout.” • If not sure of what you are seeing, take extra time to observe before you report • Report only what you see

  20. Communications • Know WHAT to report • Report roads blocked by traffic (ie Chasers) • A thunderstorm is classified as severe if one or more of the following are observed: • tornado or funnel cloud • winds 58 mph or greater • hail 1 inch or greater in diameter (Quarter)

  21. Communications URGENT Priority • Wall Clouds • Rotating wall cloud • Funnel cloud • Funnel Clouds with rotation • Tornado • Flash flooding

  22. Communications HIGH Priority • Hail 1 inch or greater in diameter • Winds speeds greater than 58 mph (or damaging winds, damage to chimneys and TV antennas, shallow rooted trees pushed over) • Persistent non-rotating wall cloud • Rainfall 1 inch or more per hour, Flooding

  23. Communications Priority Information • Information on what you are observing - based on the prior criteria • Give your location and the direction you are looking. • Give direction of movement and estimated speed • Damage you have observed - Lightning strikes that started fires - Traffic lights not working - Building or road damage - Damaged or broken gas or power lines - Injured persons or vehicle accidents

  24. Communications • Use break tags if necessary to break into existing net traffic • PRIORITY – used to report important but non-life threatening info (such as damage) • EMERGENCY – used only for life or property threatening or damaging incident

  25. Communications Examples of reports we DON’T want to hear... “I have light rain at my location” “I can see lightning off in the distance!” “It’s starting to brighten up here.” “The clouds are really dark to the west.”

  26. Communications Keep your radio traffic... • BRIEF • CONCISE • ACCURATE • THINK • about what you are going to say before you say it! • Frequencies used if activated • 146.94 is the primary , 146.94 simplex, • 444.000 or 146.105(+)

  27. Observing the Storm • A storm spotter plans ahead an escape route when • stopped or driving to observing a storm. Park headed out. • Park headed into high winds. • If it starts to hail, park headed into the hail and wear your • safety glasses. Put on leather gloves. • Don’t park near object that could come loose in high • winds. • Position your self to best observer the storm.

  28. Observing the Storm • When stopped to view a storm, keep your head on a • swivel. Look overhead occasionally, as well as all around. • Be extra cautious at night. It is more dangerous to observer storms at night than the day. You can drive into a storm without realizing it. It is a good reason to have APRS so your support group knows exactly where you are. • Don’t trespass on private property. • Don’t lay your mic on the seat. Hang it up.

  29. Observing the Storm • Keep your engine running when you park your vehicle to view a potentially dangerous storm. At night you might want to turn the engine off momentarily from time to time to help hear an approaching storm. • Be familiar with the area that you will be observing from. Know the roads and towns near by the area your • observing.

  30. Why Have APRS • To maximize results by better placement of spotters. • To position spotters out of harms way. • If contact is lost, last position is known. • If help is needed, GPS coordinates are known.

  31. Observing the Storm

  32. Damage Assessment

  33. Damage Assessment

  34. Lightning Safety

  35. Lightning Safety • Lightning can strike you and your vehicle at any time. • Avoid being the highest object and avoid being near the highest object. • Don’t park under power lines or trees in a lightning storm. • Keep all of your car doors and windows closed and • avoid hanging your arm out the window. • In a lightning storm avoid holding the radio mic.

  36. Thank You and Be Safe

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