NWS Gray Ops. Plan

National Weather Service Gray, ME

SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team

Operations Manual

Version: 02.20

Serving the County Warning Area (CWA) of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Gray, ME

Including: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, and York Counties in Maine &

Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan Counties in New Hampshire

1. Introduction
   

   1. Purpose of this Manual

   2. Purpose of SKYWARN

   3. Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN

   4. SKYWARN and Storm Chasers

2. NWS Gray SKYWARN Team Structure
   

   1. General Information

   2. Organization Name

   3. Mission Statement

   4. Core Values

   5. Legal Structure

   6. Financial Structure

   7. Assets and Liabilities

   8. Ability to Further Organize

3. SKYWARN Operating Areas
   

   1. Cooperation Among Operating Areas

   2. SKYWARN Repeaters

   3. Subnets

   4. Special Provisions for New Operating Areas

4. SKYWARN Roles
   

   1. SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator
      

      1. Amateur Radio Coordinator Job Description

      2. Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Qualifications

      3. Selection of the Amateur Radio Coordinator

      4. Duties of the Amateur Radio Coordinator

   2. Assistant SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator
      

      1. Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Qualifications

      2. Selection of the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator

      3. Duties of the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator

   3. Area Managers
      

      1. Area Manager Job Description

      2. Area Manager Position Qualifications

      3. Selection of the Area Managers

      4. Duties of Area Manager

   4. Net Managers
      

      1. Net Manager Job Description

      2. Net Manager Position Qualifications

      3. Selection of Net Managers

      4. Duties of the Net Manager

   5. Net Control Operator
      

      1. Net Control Operator Job Description

      2. Net Control Operator Position Qualifications

      3. Net Control Operator Station Requirements

      4. Selection of Net Control Operators

      5. Duties of the Net Control Operator

      6. Activity Evaluation and Classification

      7. Mix of Regular vs. Reserve NCO’s

   6. Responder
      

      1. Position Description

      2. Position Qualifications

      3. Selection of Responders

      4. Duties of the Responder

      5. Substitution with Net Controllers and Area Managers

5. Recruiting and Outreach
   

   1. Recruiting Members

   2. Spotter Outreach

   3. Club Outreach

   4. Public Outreach

   5. NWS Outreach

   6. Partnerships

6. Activating SKYWARN
   

   1. Activation Criteria
      

      1. Daytime Activation Criteria

      2. Nighttime Activation Criteria

      3. Use of Local Discretion for Activation

      4. SKYWARN Radio Desk Activation Criteria

      5. Handling Nets-In-Progress at End of Day

   2. Activation Forecasting
      

      1. Amateur Radio Coordinator Role in Forecasting

      2. Coordination with NWS Employees

      3. SKYWARN Risk Assessments

   3. Activation Procedures
      

      1. Area Manager Role in Activations

      2. Team Activation Notifications

      3. Notification of Partners

      4. NWS Notification

      5. Deactivation

7. General Net Procedures
   

   1. Before the Net

   2. Acquiring the Frequency

   3. NCO Station Identification

   4. Net Scripts
      

      1. Official Scripts

      2. Unofficial Scripts

      3. Mandatory Script Content

   5. Informal vs. Directed Nets
      

      1. Informal Nets Defined

      2. Directed Nets Defined

      3. Transitioning Net Formats

   6. Net Check-Ins
      

      1. Purpose of Check-Ins

      2. Information Collected

      3. Welfare Check-ups

      4. Roll Calls

      5. Handing Off Net Control

      6. Record Keeping Requirements

   7. Taking Reports
      

      1. Reportable Events

      2. All Reports Taken

      3. Information Collected

      4. Logging Requirements

      5. Handling Sensitive Information

   8. Relaying Reports
      

      1. Sending Reports to NWS

      2. Send Urgent Reports by Phone

      3. Relaying via Radio

   9. Dealing with the Unexpected
      

      1. Frequency Conflicts

      2. NCO or WFO Under Direct Threat

      3. Widespread Loss of SKYWARN Repeaters

      4. Telephone Outage in Areas Unreachable by WFO via VHF

   10. Handling Fraudulent or Suspect Reports
       

       1. Identifying Suspicious Reports

       2. Probing for Clarity

       3. Logging and Relaying Suspect Reports

8. Radio Desk Operations
   

   1. Decision to Activate

   2. Staffing Considerations

   3. Service Level Commitment

   4. Guests

   5. NWS Office Operating Conditions

   6. Volunteering for Responder Duty

   7. Interaction with NWS Employees

   8. Access to the WFO

   9. Personal Items

   10. Briefing Upon Arrival

   11. Security Policies

9. WX1GYX Station Regulations
   

   1. Call Sign Usage

   2. Operating Privileges, Control Operators

   3. WX1GYX License Trustee

   4. Modification or Renewal of WX1GYX License

   5. WX1GYX Station Equipment

   6. WX1GYX Equipment Maintenance

   7. Ownership of WX1GYX Equipment

   8. Equipment Loans

   9. Equipment Donations

10. Interoperability Plan
    

    1. Activation Types Defined

    2. Routine Event Interop Plan

    3. Major Event Interop Plan

11. Relationship with Other EMCOMM Organizations
    

    1. Policy Introduction

    2. EMCOMM Leadership Members in SKYWARN Leadership Rolesn

    3. Guidelines for Third Party EMCOMM Teams Supporting SKYWARN
       

       1. Prevailing Policies and Procedures

       2. SKYWARN Support of Third Party EMCOMM Teams

       3. Third Party EMCOMM Team Sponsorship of SKYWARN Nets

       4. SKYWARN Communications Channels

12. Reporting Criteria
    

    1. Rainfall

    2. Flooding

    3. Winter Weather

    4. New Snowfall

1. Appendix A. Hurricane Watch Net

2. Appendix B. Directions to NWS Gray

3. Appendix C. County Warning Areas of Adjacent NWS Forecast Offices

4. Appendix D. ARES Frequency Allocations
   

   1. Maine ARES Frequencies

   2. New Hampshire ARES Frequencies

5. Appendix E. Traffic, Weather, ARES, & RACES Nets

6. Appendix F. 2 Meter FM Simplex Coverage

7. Appendix G. Forms
   

   1. Log Sheet

   2. Severe Weather Report Form – For use at the NWS Weather Desk

8. Appendix H. Instructions for Linking & Unlinking Repeaters on the KQ1L System

9. Appendix I. NBEMS and Digital Messaging

10. Appendix J. SKYWARN Amateur Radio Network

11. Appendix K. Radio Equipment at the NWS Gray Radio Desk
    

    1. Yaesu FT-8900

    2. Kenwood TS570 HF Transceiver

    3. Connect Systems CS801 DMR Transceiver
       

       • Changing between Talk Groups

       • Changing between Zones (Repeaters)

12. Appendix L. NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team Contacts

1. Introduction

1.1. Purpose of this Manual

This manual is designed to be used as a reference guide for NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team operations in the area that comprises the County Warning Area (CWA) of the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office in Gray, Maine. The NWS Gray and SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team have a large area of responsibility which includes numerous counties and cities in portions of two states. Some variation in local operating practices and tastes is expected and allowed, and this document serves only as a baseline reference to establish and ensure continuity of operations. Policies and procedures may vary slightly from one Operating Area to another and from time to time. These variances may not be immediately reflected in this Manual.

1.2. Purpose of SKYWARN

SKYWARN is the NWS national network of trained volunteer severe weather Spotters. SKYWARN volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to issue timely and accurate warnings of impending dangerous weather conditions. In addition, working with emergency management officials, SKYWARN Spotters can help provide their communities with advance warning of impending hazardous weather and provide the realtime ground truth required to appropriately respond to these threats.

1.3. Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN

Amateur radio has been, and probably always will be, a vital link in the NWS warning system. Fortunately, in the NWS Gray CWA there are hundreds of trained SKYWARN Spotters, a large percentage of which are amateur radio operators. Amateur radio operators possess many characteristics that make them ideal members of the SKYWARN team.

It is the desire of the National Weather Service to utilize, to the fullest possible extent, all the capabilities and technologies that amateur radio has to offer. The SKYWARN Radio Desk and all equipment is either donated by public service-minded amateurs or has been purchased by the National Weather Service. All equipment is maintained by amateur radio operators volunteering their time and expertise. The close working relationship between the NWS and the amateur radio community provides many special benefits to each group. These benefits are highlighted in the following goals for the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team:

1. To provide the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports via amateur radio. This includes both incoming reports of severe weather per the NWS criteria and amateur radio operators making observations at specific locations in response to NWS requests.

2. To create and maintain an organized communication network for passing critical severe weather traffic in a timely fashion to and from the NWS in the event that normal communications are disrupted. The NWS has lost normal communications in the past and it is likely the SKYWARN Radio Desk would be activated in future communication emergencies.

3. To disseminate warnings, statements, and other products issued by the NWS to the amateur radio community. Every attempt is made to disseminate all statements and warnings issued by NWS over the SKYWARN Net to keep amateurs informed of developing situations and to practice for situations when normal communication channels fail.

4. To organize and train amateur radio operators to prepare themselves and their families for disaster or emergency weather related situations so that they make be available to assist in emergency net operations. This preparedness training is critical if the SKYWARN system is to operate reliably during true emergency situations.

5. To maintain a Spotter network that is transparent to jurisdictional and political boundaries and operates uniformly across the entire CWA. The Team is not directly affiliated with any club, group, or organization.

1.4. SKYWARN and Storm Chasers

Local perspectives on storm chasing continue to evolve with time. As the National Weather Service finds increasing value in the contributions of qualified storm chasers, the SKYWARN amateur radio network must evolve to support those needs.

Storm chasing remains a secondary focus at best, and we continue to maintain a position in line with the NWS Gray Forecast Office. That is, we do not recommend, endorse, or encourage storm chasing. However, we will communicate with, and provide reporting channels for, qualified storm chasers who wish to participate in our nets.

For purposes of this program, the term “storm chasing” shall be applied to the intentional pursuit of severe weather, regardless of whether such activities are for purposes of severe weather reporting, photography, videography, research, or thrill.

The National Weather Service and the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team consider the safety of all SKYWARN volunteers to be of paramount importance. SKYWARN Spotters and other persons who choose to engage in storm chasing do so at their own risk and completely independent of their involvement in the SKYWARN program. The National Weather Service and the SKYWARN program accept no responsibility for the decisions of SKYWARN program participants with regard to storm chasing and can assume no liability for damages arising from the use of SKYWARN reports in storm chasing or any other activities.