NORTHWEST GEORGIA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB SEVERE WEATHER NET EXPLANATION
BEFORE WE START....A FEW QUESTIONS:
1. What purpose does a Severe Weather Net provide?
2. What equipment does one need to participate in Severe Weather Net?
3. Who may activate the Northwest Georgia Emergency Net?
4. What functions do stations have in a Severe Weather Net and what are their roles?
5. When is a Severe Weather Net called into session?
6. What is the procedure for operating a Severe Weather Net?
PURPOSE OF SEVERE WEATHER NET:
The purpose of the Severe Weather net is to collect weather related information from places affected by severe weather, and relay that information to the National Weather Service, Emergency Personnel and/or the local Emergency Management Agency.
WHAT IS "SEVERE WEATHER?”
Severe Weather is any weather condition which presents a threat to life or property. This includes hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, snow and ice storms, and floods.
WHAT EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED?
Most Severe Weather Nets are conducted on 2-meter repeaters. Therefore, amateurs need to have two-meter radios (some areas are using other frequencies such as 220 MHz and 440 MHz).State-side Severe Weather Nets usually meet on linked repeater nets controlled by NWS Peachtree City. In our area the 146.805 (+) 100.0 Hz Jasper repeater and the 146.895 (+) 77.0 Hz Yorkville repeater are normally linked in. On HF, 75 meters, 3975 KHz USB is the ARES statewide frequency, so having an HF radio and the appropriate license to operate an HF radio can also be useful. What is very important is having emergency power capability, since commercial power is likely to fail during severe weather.
WHO CAN ACTIVATE A NORTHWEST GEORGIA SEVERE WEATHER NET?
A Severe Weather Net may be activated by any Amateur within the WARNING area at any time. Should the net be opened by another Amateur, that amateur shall relinquish net control to the Appointed ARES EC for Floyd or Polk Counties, or his designee, immediately upon request.
WHAT FUNCTIONS ARE THERE IN A SEVERE WEATHER NET?
A DIRECTED NET – All traffic must be directed to Net Control.
NET CONTROL -This station is in complete control of the net. His/Her job is to bring the net into session, or maintain the net after another station starts it. The Net Control appoints Alternate Net Controls, Net Liaisons, and takes check-ins from spotter stations, maintaining a log of call-signs, location and time. All traffic and inquiries MUST go through Net Control. When the emergency has passed and the net is no longer needed, the Net control will secure the net.
ALTERNATE NET CONTROL - There should be at least one station appointed to this function. The Alternate Net Control should also keep a list of current check-ins, locations and time. If the Net Control should have to leave the air, the Alternate Net Control should assume control of the net until the Net Control can return to the air.
NET LIAISON - The station appointed to this function is responsible for collecting any important weather information and passing it on as traffic to the designated National Weather Service weather net, or to NWS Peachtree City by any available means. This station should be well acquainted with traffic handling procedures.
SPOTTER STATIONS - These stations are the ones who pass along severe weather information on the Net. After they check in and give their location, they should remain off the air unless they have severe weather information to pass on the Net. Spotter Stations should be prepared to report on the weather condition at their location if the Net Control requests such information. These stations must request permission from Net Control before they secure. We DO NOT encourage Storm Chasing. This is a very dangerous practice and should be left to trained professionals.
CREATED BY DEREK HOPKINS, KA4ZTY (SK)
UPDATED BY BILL DICKERT, KD4EKZ 03/27/2013
Click this link to download a PDF copy
NORTHWEST GEORGIA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB SEVERE WEATHER NET PROCEDURE
The Severe Weather Net in the Rome, Georgia area is a function of the Northwest Georgia Amateur Radio Club and shall be held on the W4VO repeater located on Mount Alto 4 miles WSW of Rome, GA. The repeater frequency is 146.94 MHz (-) PL 88.5 Hz. Alternate frequencies are 443.200 MHz (+) PL 100.0 Hz, 147.120 MHz (+), no PL and 147.300 (+) PL 100.0 Hz.
ACTIVATION -A Severe Weather Net is only activated when a WARNING has been issued by NWS for Floyd or Polk Counties. The net may also be initiated when a WARNING has been issued for counties adjacent to Floyd and Polk Counties. These counties include Bartow, Chattooga, Gordon, Haralson and Paulding in Georgia and Cherokee and Cleburne Counties in Alabama. The Net will remain active until the Severe Weather Event has exited all of these counties or until advised by the ARES EC or Net Control in in the adjacent counties that they are in control and no longer require our input. At any time we may receive a request from NWS, Floyd or Polk County EMA to activate a Severe Weather Net under WATCH conditions to provide them with important information concerning weather conditions in the net area. Nets may also be activated at the specific request of Floyd or Polk County EMA for any reason deemed urgent by the EMA at any time. When the Net is activated, the Net Control will come on frequency and state that the Northwest Georgia Emergency Net is now in session. He will then ask for stations who can act as Alternate Net control. Once an Alternate has been established, he will ask or appoint a station to act as Net Liaison to the National Weather Service Net.
CHECKING INTO THE NET - When Net Control asks for Spotter Stations to check in, they will be asked to do so by prefix. Check-ins should only give their call-sign and location, and if necessary, any important weather information.
DURING THE NET - After a Spotter Station checks in to the Severe Weather Net, he/she should remain off the frequency unless there is severe weather information that needs to be passed on to the National Weather Service. If this becomes necessary, the station should give in his/her call and wait for Net Control to acknowledge his/her station. All traffic should go through Net Control.
WHAT SHOULD BE REPORTED?- Spotter Stations should only report severe weather information. The National Weather Service uses specific guidelines for weather information requested. Net Control will provide the reporting guidelines at the beginning of the net and repeat them periodically as required during the net. Net Control and the National Weather Service will assume that if you do not report any severe weather information from your area, that your area is not affected by severe weather. Therefore, do not report information that deals with non-severe weather (such as sunshine or calm winds) 2 Northwest Georgia Amateur Radio Club Severe Weather Net Procedure unless Net Control requests that information. NWS only wants to know about specific severe weather conditions.
USING THE TERM "BREAK"- The term "Break" should only be used when giving your call when there is emergency traffic to pass and time is of the utmost importance. Otherwise, stations wishing to enter the net should just dump in their call between transmissions.
LEAVING SPACE - All stations on the net must make sure that they pause briefly before keying up their radio so that stations with emergency traffic can access the repeater. No time is a good time to be "quick on the trigger". During a severe weather emergency, this becomes especially important.
SECURING FROM THE NET - No station should secure from the net unless they request permission from Net Control. The reason for this rule is that if the net control calls upon you and you don't reply he/she is probably going to assume that something has happened to you. The net control needs to know that you will still be there if they need you.
AFTERWARDS - Net control is responsible for keeping accurate logs during the Severe Weather Net. After any Severe Weather Net has had to Function, an evaluation of that net and any needed refinements in procedure should be reviewed by a Net Committee. if one exists.
SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER: AVOID SPREADING RUMORS
During and after a disaster situation, especially on the phone bands, you may hear almost anything. Unfortunately much misinformation is transmitted. Rumors are started by expansion, deletion, amplification or modification of words, exaggeration or interpretation. All addressed transmissions should be officially authenticated as to their source. These transmissions should be repeated word for word, and only when specifically authorized.
STRIVE FOR EFFICIENCY:
Whatever happens in an emergency, you will find hysteria and some amateurs who are activated by the thought that they must be sleepless heroes. Instead of operating your own station full time at the expense of your health and efficiency, it is much better to serve a shift at one of the best-located and best-equipped stations, suitable tor the work at hand, manned by relief shifts of the best-qualified operators. This reduces interference and secures well-operated stations.
DON'T BROADCAST:
Some stations in an emergency situation have a tendency to emulate "broadcast" Northwest Georgia Amateur Radio Club Severe Weather Net Procedure techniques. While it is true that the general public may be listening, our transmissions are not and should not be made for that purpose.
CONCLUSIO N
It is hoped that no one will ever have to experience a severe weather situation. However, if the need arises, Amateur Radio Operators should be well trained and ready to give their time to public service in the best way possible. As has been demonstrated many times in the past, a well-run severe weather net can be a value to emergency personnel and can also save many lives.
CREATED BY DEREK HOPKINS, KA4ZTY (SK)
UPDATED BY BILL DICKERT, KD4EKZ 03/27/2013
Click this link to download a PDF copy
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