National Weather Service Forecast Office Gray, Maine

Transcription

1 National Weather Service Forecast Office Gray, Maine SKYWARN Operations Manual For 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 January 2017 Edition 1

2 Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION & ORGANIZATION 1.1 Purpose of This Manual This manual is designed to be used as a reference guide for SKYWARN operations in the jurisdictions under the National Weather Service (NWS) Gray, ME, Forecast Office's warning area of responsibility. As a reference, it will never be complete and it is expected that individual counties will supplement this manual with their own internal policies and procedures, keeping the bi-directional flow of critical information moving smoothly and un-impeded. NWS Gray SKYWARN has a large area of responsibility which roughly extends from mid Somerset County in Maine to near Portsmouth, NH, and from the Vermont-New Hampshire border to the Maine coast and encompassing Western Maine. Training cannot, and should not take place on the job during severe weather. Proper training is essential for the effective flow of information between SKYWARN spotters and the NWS and/or emergency management personnel. This includes training for spotters as well as net control volunteers. To be effective, everyone in the SKYWARN system needs to know their roles BEFORE severe weather strikes. 1.2 Purpose of SKYWARN SKYWARN is the NWS national program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters. SKYWARN volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather and flood reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens. SKYWARN, formed in the 1970's, has historically provided critical weather information to the NWS in time to get the appropriate warnings issued. Thus, the key focus of the SKYWARN program is to save lives and property through the use of the observations and reports of trained volunteers. Each NWS forecast office runs its own SKYWARN program. It is a goal and a challenge to continually improve the SKYWARN system and to integrate new technologies and procedures to best fulfill SKYWARN's mission of saving lives and property. This includes but is not limited to: linked repeater systems, APRS, DMR, and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). 1.3 Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN Amateur Radio has been, and always will be, a critical component of the NWS Gray SKYWARN program. In Northern New England, we are extremely fortunate to have a number of trained SKYWARN spotters who are also amateur radio operators. This dual role for amateur radio operators is a natural result of their inherent interest and fascination with natural and scientific phenomena (such as weather, or radio wave propagation) and with cutting-edge technologies. When this fascination is combined with the ability and desire to 2

3 communicate severe weather observations via amateur radio in a professional and effective manner, the synergy is hard to duplicate. Finally, amateur radio operators have a long history of using their training, skills and equipment in uncompensated public service to their communities which is precisely the focus of the SKYWARN system. 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 SKYWARN Amateur Radio operations: 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 a NWS request. For example, amateurs have often been asked to monitor river and creek flooding situations at certain points, or to investigate storm-related damage. 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 have been interrupted. The NWS has lost normal communications services in the past and it is likely that the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net would be activated in future communication emergencies. 3. To disseminate warnings and weather statements issued by the NWS to the Amateur Radio community. Every attempt is made to read special and severe weather statements issued by the NWS over the SKYWARN Net, as well as updated storm movement information to keep amateurs informed about 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 may be available to assist in emergency net operations. This preparedness training is critical if the SKYWARN system is to be expected to operate reliably during true emergency situations. 1.4 Organizational Structure of SKYWARN SKYWARN is not a club, but it is a team of public service volunteers whose membership is open to all who wish to participate. All reports of severe weather through the SKYWARN system are appreciated. Scripts have been set up to outline the NWS criteria for severe weather on which observations are requested so that untrained observers may participate. Despite the scripts, all net participants are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the excellent, interesting and FREE training provided by the NWS, covering basic and advanced SKYWARN training as well as specialized courses on winter storms and floods. 3

4 1.4.1 SKYWARN Management Each forecast office organizes its' SKYWARN program to best meet its' own needs and to best utilize available NWS and volunteer personnel. In some areas, the NWS does not become very involved with the actual amateur radio communications processes and operations. In other areas, the relationship between the amateurs and the NWS is more tightly woven. Regardless of the relationship, it is important that the program is organized to provide the most service with the least bureaucracy! The suggested structure of SKYWARN under the Gray NWS jurisdiction is as follows: SKYWARN Program Manager Usually, the SKYWARN Program Manager is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist. Whoever it is, it is important to have at least two NWS personnel involved in the SKYWARN program management to provide "institutional memory" and continuity should a NWS staff member get transferred to another office, which is a common occurrence. SKYWARN Program Manager Contact Info: Name: Mike Cempa Call Sign: KC1DFP Spotter Number: NWS Gray, P.O. Box 1208, 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME Tel (H): Home Tel (W): (207) Work mike.cempa@noaa.gov Tel (Cell): SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator On the amateur radio side, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is chosen by the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager as the point person with whom the SKYWARN Program Manager coordinates SKYWARN activities. Regardless of how the appointment is made, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator position is a volunteer position, and it is a critical position for the Amateur Radio side of the SKYWARN equation. It is a matter of some importance that the Amateur Radio Coordinator and his/her assistant coordinators be able to physically get to the NWS Forecast Center in a relatively short period of time, if needed. People listen to what the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator says, and treat this information as official information from the NWS. Accordingly, it is critically important for the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator to be extremely careful in what he or she says and how he or she acts as poor judgment will reflect poorly on both the amateur radio community and on the NWS. 4

5 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator Contact Info: Name: Tom Berman Call Sign: N1KTA Spotter Number: Address: 25 Bartlett Street, Portland, ME Tel (H): Home Tel (W): (207) Work Tel (Cell): (207) SKYWARN Training Coordinator A well-organized SKYWARN program will include the position of SKYWARN Amateur Radio Training Coordinator. This position is held by someone who is experienced in the operation of the SKYWARN program and can conduct classes in net control procedure and acts as an overall trouble shooter. It is highly recommended that a net control training and certification program be established by the Training Coordinator. SKYWARN Training Coordinator Contact Info: Name: Dave Lowe Call Sign: WE1U Spotter Number: Address: 68 High Street, Apt. 2, Auburn, ME Tel (H): (207) Home we1u.david@gmail.com Work Tel (W): Tel (Cell): SKYWARN Assistant Coordinator It is a good idea to have about two-three other assistant coordinators who will run the net when the main coordinator is unavailable and will generally act as leaders when things need to be done. The Amateur Radio Coordinator, the Training Coordinator and the Assistant Coordinators are ideally all on a group , or setup on an SMS message group, so that one action from the NWS will reach all of them. The Amateur Radio Coordinator calls the NWS in response to this message, and the others check in on the main SKYWARN repeater. Should the Amateur Radio Coordinator not check in to the main repeater, one of the Assistant Coordinators will call the NWS. This system gives organization, efficiency and redundancy to activations and has worked extremely well and professionally. SKYWARN Assistant Coordinator Contact Info: Name: Thom Watson Call Sign: W1WMG Spotter Number: CU175 Address: 16 Hope Drive, Gorham, ME Tel (H): (207) Home w1wmg@yahoo.com Tel (W): (207) Work Tel (Cell): (207)

6 SKYWARN Assistant Coordinator Contact Info: Name: Tim Watson Call Sign: KB1HNZ Spotter Number: YO183 Address: 11 Lyman Avenue, Saco, ME Tel (H): (207) Home Tel (W): (207) Work Tel (Cell): (207) SKYWARN Assistant Coordinator Contact Info: Name: Ryan Michaelson Call Sign: KB1YTR Spotter Number: CU193 Address: 7 Brookwest Lane, Westbrook, ME Tel (H): Home kb1ytr@arrl.net Tel (W): Work Tel (Cell): (207) SKYWARN Assistant Coordinator Contact Info: Name: Scott Reynolds Call Sign: KC2JCB Spotter Number: Address: 22 Hassel Brook Road, Nashua, NH Tel (H): (603) Home kc2jcb@comcast.net Tel (W): (603) Work scott.reynolds@noaa.gov Tel (Cell): (603) SKYWARN Assistant Coordinator Contact Info: Name: Jerry Hume Call Sign: K1WTX Spotter Number: AN36 Address: P.O. Box 17, Turner, ME Tel (H): (207) Home wxman46@megalink.net Tel (W): Work Tel (Cell): Role of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, as assisted by the Amateur Radio Training Coordinator, and Assistant Coordinators, organizes the operation of the entire SKYWARN Amateur Radio program to ensure operation in accordance with the goals of the NWS. Specific duties of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator include, but are not limited to: 1. Ensuring that SKYWARN net liaisons go the forecast office when requested by the NWS. 6

7 Net liaisons are experienced amateur radio operators who go to the NWS forecast office, pull the important severe weather information from the SKYWARN net and give it to the forecasters and gets updated weather information and warnings from the forecasters and places this information on the main net. The liaison also coordinates directly with subnets as necessary. Liaisons should ideally be relieved and replaced every 3-4 hours. Assistant Coordinators often serve as Net Liaisons in NWS centers where space is limited. Where this is necessary, be careful of not over-scheduling personnel in terms of consecutive hours served. 2. Creating and updating a set of recommended protocols and an operating manual for net operation. 3. Coordinating simple, effective and efficient procedures for passing traffic between local weather nets, SKYWARN Sub-Nets, the Master Net Control Station, and the NWS forecasters. 4. Sharing information, ideas, and protocols with other SKYWARN programs throughout the region and country to develop the best possible local SKYWARN program. 5. Coordinating the activities of SKYWARN with ARES, RACES, REACT, and other agencies, to best fulfill SKYWARN's goals. This volunteer position is usually appointed by the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager to ensure that the person chosen can work well with the NWS forecasters and management and to ensure some stability in the position. The person chosen for this position must maintain at least a general class amateur radio license, possess superior coordination and communication skills and should be readily available to the NWS. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is also responsible for making sure that at least one "coordinator" is on duty at all times to receive the NWS call, text, or and to bring up the net as requested by the NWS. This will often involve passing the SKYWARN activation instructions and trained net control volunteer lists from coordinator to coordinator when an out of town trip is expected. (This task may also take place online). It is imperative that the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator position be covered at ALL TIMES! Regional Activation Lists The Amateur Radio Coordinator will maintain a list of active SKYWARN volunteers in the various regions covered under the Gray Forecast Office s Area of Responsibility. These lists, and a flow chart of the GYX SKYWARN Amateur Radio Network, are available as separate documents, which can be downloaded at or SKYWARN Regional/County Coordinators If deemed necessary, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator may appoint SKYWARN Regional/County Coordinators, especially in areas that do not have direct analog VHF communication with the WX1GYX station 7

8 in Gray. The SKYWARN Regional/County Coordinator organizes the operation of the entire SKYWARN Amateur Radio community within their region or county to ensure operation in accordance with the goals of the NWS. Specific duties of the SKYWARN Regional/County Coordinator include, but are not limited to: 1. Keeping a set of recommended protocols and an up-to-date Operating Manual. 2. Keeping a list of personnel in their Region or County. 3. Coordinating simple, effective, and efficient procedures for passing traffic between local SKYWARN nets and NWS Gray. 4. Sharing information, ideas, and protocols with other SKYWARN programs throughout the country to develop the best possible local SKYWARN program. 5. Coordinating the activities of SKYWARN with ARES, RACES, CERT, and other government agencies to best fulfill SKYWARN s goals. 6. The SKYWARN Regional/County Coordinator is also responsible for making sure that at least one Coordinator is on duty at all times to receive NWS notifications and to take appropriate action as requested by the NWS. This includes monitoring the Hazardous Weather Outlook and other products published by NWS. Chapter 2. ACTIVATION of SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO NET 2.1 SKYWARN Activation SKYWARN operations support may be initiated in several ways. Once NWS forecasters have made the decision to activate SKYWARN, the following actions may be taken by the forecasters: 1. The Hazardous Weather Outlook message is updated and the Spotter Information Statement is changed accordingly with activation information naming specific counties to be activated. The Hazardous Weather Outlook message is a permanent part of the 24-hour NOAA Weather Radio broadcast cycle and is also on each NWS Forecast Office web page. Generally, if there is a threat of severe weather, it will be contained in the first segment of the message and the Spotter Information Statement will state that SKYWARN activation may be necessary later in the day. It is issued routinely around 5AM daily and is updated as necessary. A request for radio spotting assistance may read as follows: SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN THEIR REPORTS. This message alerts SKYWARN spotters and emergency managers to be on the lookout for severe weather and to be ready to pass reports to NWS by phone if nets are not in operation. 8

9 2. NWS may contact the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or other SKYWARN leadership, who will then assess the weather situation and staff the Net Control station as needed. In most cases, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator will give notice via to the ham radio community of the potential of severe weather, in which case, radio spotters should be ready to send in weather reports, start local nets, or operate as Net Liaison at the NWS office. 3. NWS may contact an EC, ARES Liaison, or SEC for support during long term or widespread events, such as hurricanes or severe winter storms. 4. Self-Activation: In the event of a sudden severe weather event (such as a pop-up severe thunderstorm), SKYWARN spotters are encouraged to self-activate and begin making immediate reports directly to NWS until a net is formed. In some cases, these are so sudden or localized, that a full-scale net will not be established. Full-Scale SKYWARN Activation For wide-scale events when telephone and reporting is not possible, reports may be passed through SKYWARN subnets or ARES nets to a liaison station within VHF range of NWS Gray. In the case of concurrent ARES and SKYWARN activation, SKYWARN reports should be routed through the ARES system to a direct SKYWARN liaison station participating in the Section nets. Network Operations SKYWARN nets may be formal or informal as dictated by traffic volume and number of stations participating. In most cases, call-ups for reports are made on a rotating basis on repeaters that are in or near the affected area. The area of attention often changes as the storm progresses. Net Liaisons A single NWS liaison should be appointed to each county or region to collect and pass reports to NWS to reduce radio or telephone traffic to the NWS office. These operators may do simple call-ups on local repeaters to collect reports, or they may start more formal subnets. Similarly, during ARES activations, a single NWS liaison should be appointed for each ARES net to collect and pass reports to the NWS office. In some cases, these will be the same individuals. The liaison should be an NWS trained weather spotter. Methods of NWS Contact Always use the most efficient communications method available to deliver weather reports to the NWS. Radio contacts with WX1GYX are often the most effective way of delivering reports when a net liaison is present at the weather office, or when communications infrastructure is effected by storm outages, but amateur radio is not the only method available. 9

10 At times, especially during severe thunderstorms, a net liaison may not be present at the weather office, or may be en route. If this occurs, and reports are collected that are of a critical or time-sensitive nature, they should be delivered directly to the NWS by telephone. Similarly, if reports are collected that are less time-sensitive, such as snowfall totals, they may be sent directly by . Reporting Guidelines All reports should be first hand observations, not hearsay or scanner reports, unless requested, which should then be identified as such. SKYWARN-trained spotters should quickly evaluate reports from untrained observers and ask appropriate questions in order to improve accuracy. In general, reports should include only the data requested by NWS. During thunderstorms, for example, forecasters may only want information such as wind speed and direction, hail size, damage from wind or lightning strikes, flooding, and closed roads. Temperature and humidity may not be relevant to that event. Tornados Active tornado reports are true Emergency traffic and have first priority. Immediately report funnel clouds and tornados already on the ground by the fastest means possible. Try to note the exact location and direction of travel. If you are not in direct communication with NWS or the State EOC, use the next fastest means still working. If this means calling the local or state police, dialing 9-1-1, direct dialing the NWS office for your area, or calling the State EOC, do whichever is fastest. If phones are out in your area, ask someone else on the net to make the call. Time is of the essence. 2.2 Activation Time Frames and Requested Staffing For short lead time events (i.e. severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods), SKYWARN is activated when the WATCH is issued. The lead time may vary from zero (0) to six (6) hours. Thunderstorms often change rapidly and are life-threatening situations. Net control volunteers are always requested to activate the SKYWARN Amateur Radio net during thunderstorms and during other similar fast moving and rapidly changing weather situations. Because of the nature of thunderstorms occurring spontaneously and sometimes effecting very localized areas, SKYWARN spotters are encouraged to self-activate when a net is not heard. This involves making requests for reports, collecting them, and forwarding them directly to NWS. If formed, a SKYWARN net will usually remain activated for three to six hours for short term events. During long lead time severe weather events, such as hurricanes, stream and river flooding, and winter storms, SKYWARN is activated when the WARNING is issued. Lead time may be anywhere from zero (0) to twelve (12) hours. Requests to staff the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station will depend on the forecaster's assessment of the 10

11 nature of the storm and the storm's potential to cause wide-spread damage and infrastructure outages. Longterm events may cause SKYWARN to be activated for extended periods of time, possibly measured in days. 2.3 NWS SKYWARN Net Activation Steps BY NWS FORECASTERS WHEN TO ACTIVATE: It is the lead forecaster's responsibility to see that SKYWARN is ACTIVATED whenever a WATCH or WARNING affects the NWS county warning area of responsibility (covering 2 or more counties), OR he/she feels that a critical weather situation is developing that threatens life and/or property and SKYWARN reports are needed (i.e. flood, hurricane, winter storm, etc.) 2.4 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator Activation Steps TYPICAL EXAMPLE STEPS: 1. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or his/her designate, will receive a call or from a forecaster, or notices a request for activation is posted to the Hazardous Weather Outlook. 2. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator contacts the NWS and is briefed by a forecaster on: The nature of expected severe weather Expected onset of severe weather (immediate or later in the day) Expected duration of event; and, Are there any special communication needs (such as HF radio)? 3. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator asks the forecaster: To turn on the VHF radio number to memory channel number 1, ( MHz) to enable NWS to immediately listen to the net; and, To ask if a "SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED" message has been placed on NOAA weather radio. 4. If necessary, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator arranges to bring up the net IMMEDIATELY from a remote site such as a house or a car. 5. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator assesses the situation and takes the following steps: Contacts amateur radio net liaisons to staff the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station at the NWS, if necessary. Requests subnet activation by sending out an alert or calling designated net liaisons. Monitors the net and periodically checks with forecasters to track the progress of the storm and makes adjustments in staffing of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station as required. 11

12 2.4.1 Concept of Operation Full-scale SKYWARN activation occurs only when requested by NWS. Once NWS has made a request for SKYWARN activation, the Amateur Radio Coordinator should take the appropriate steps to activate. SKYWARN nets, if possible, should remain active until the storm has passed. SKYWARN Coordinators, their designates, or Net Control stations, however, are not expected to risk their own safety to run a net. Net Control Stations and spotters should be prepared to switch to the SKYWARN Simplex Frequency, MHz, should the SKYWARN repeater(s) within their area go down. Spotters should be aware that if a net is not operational within their county, they should use whatever means are available to pass ground truth information to NWS. This could include use of the telephone, internet spotter report forms, or checking into SKYWARN nets in other counties. If spotters are willing to do so, they are encouraged to make call-ups on local repeaters or simplex in their area for the purpose of collecting further reports. Spotters with HF capability, are encouraged to monitor the SKYWARN HF frequencies: 3965 khz (Night), 3860 khz Alternate (Night), 7277 khz (Day), or the Hurricane Watch Net (when active) on MHz. HF is only used during full-scale activations and as a backup for VHF/UHF. Spotters with DMR capability should monitor TS2 / Call Group: 8 (Region North), for SKYWARN call-ups. With the addition of a 50W DMR transceiver at NWS Gray, the use of DMR is expected to be more common, especially to reach areas outside of analog VHF range. Spotters with VoIP capability may check into the *NEW-ENG* ARES/SKYWARN Echolink Conference Node #9123, or the SKYWARN Hurricane Net (when active), via the *WX_TALK* Echolink Conference Node #9219. Spotters should be encouraged to report situational awareness and disaster intelligence that comes to their attention concerning the communities where they reside. This information should be passed on to NWS so they can be passed on to Emergency Management and other disaster relief agencies. Net Control Stations should be aware that some SKYWARN frequencies may be utilized by ARES in support of communications for regional and local EOC s. This will require sharing of the frequencies and arrangement of times for net call-ups so as not to interfere with other nets. Other agencies including FEMA, the Red Cross, and local community EOC s may request weather information from SKYWARN nets in order to assist them in disaster response. Every effort should be made to provide such information when requested Net Control Operator Personnel List The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator will prepare and continually update a list of Net Liaisons certified to run a SKYWARN net (both from the NWS and remotely). The goal is to have about Certified Net Control operators on the list, many of whom are likely to be available in the afternoons to cover SKYWARN activations for thunderstorms. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator must be able to contact Net Control operators at any time and should have the volunteers address, home phone, work phone, or cell phone. 12

13 This list is available as a separate document, which can be downloaded at or NWS Communication Emergency Procedure If the telephones are NOT working and there is an IMMINENT DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY (i.e. tornado, very severe thunderstorm) and there is NO time to find another telephone: Check to make sure the coax switch is in the analog position. Turn on the power supply and the FT8900 VHF transceiver and select Channel 1. Press the button on the microphone and say: "THIS IS NWS GRAY, MAINE. WE HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM. CAN SOMEONE CONTACT ( HAVE THEM CONTACT US ON THIS FREQUENCY? ) AND Or Possibly: CAN SOMEONE TEMPORARILY START UP THE SKYWARN NET? WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING SITUATION (READ WATCH OR WARNING). THESE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PERMITTED BY THE FCC, AS DEFINED BELOW: (Authority: 47 Code of Fed. Reg. (CFR) ): "SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROTECTION OF PROPERTY" "No provision of these rules (part 97 amateur radio rules) prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available." This last emergency procedure has become more important with the telephone system getting increasingly overloaded. This procedure was put in place after the NWS communication system at one Forecast Office was severed when a contractor cut a fiber optics cable nearby. It has only been used once that we know of; where tornadoes were touching down and causing damage and injury and the NWS telephone system was overloaded with spotter and media calls and an eyewitness to a funnel cloud touching down was calling the NWS on amateur radio to report a funnel cloud location and direction of movement. This procedure is to only be used in emergencies, which may need to be justified, as above, but it is an important backup communication resource should normal NWS communication systems fail or become overloaded. 13

14 Chapter 3. NET CONTROL OPERATOR PROCEDURES 3.1 Behavioral Rules and Preparedness Avoiding Distractions The NWS Forecast Office is NOT the place for children, sightseers, or visitors during emergencies. The NWS operations area is not large and is filled with expensive and delicate equipment. Please DO NOT bring people to the NWS who will distract you or the NWS from doing the best possible job. The NWS would be pleased to give your family a tour of the NWS facility at a quiet weather time and upon prior arrangement. The same basic rules apply to running a net from your home. Do not be afraid to say "No" to a Net Control assignment if you cannot avoid distractions. Perhaps you can eliminate the source of distractions and join as a relief operator later on. If unavoidable and unexpected distractions should arise while you are acting as the NCS ask for relief immediately! NWS Forecast Office Operating Conditions When SKYWARN is activated the NWS is usually operating in a high tension and critical weather mode due to weather conditions. This means: Any distractions or interruptions of NWS or SKYWARN operations may mean the loss of life or property. Sensitive information such as severe damage or loss of life may be openly discussed and should not be repeated by SKYWARN volunteers outside the NWS. TV and/or news crews may be present in the forecast office. Please remember, if you are asked to give a statement, that you represent the entire amateur radio community. Please think before you speak! Words are hard to retract! It is best to decline to give a statement at all. "I don't know." is always a good answer. Leave comments to the Public Information Officials No More Than Three (3) Volunteers at One Time In most instances, no more than three (3) SKYWARN volunteers should be in the forecast office at one time. If, for some reason, there are more than three (3) volunteers at the NWS, please take shifts. Off-duty Amateurs may monitor other nets from the NWS lunch room or from their cars in the parking lot. Feel free to establish a simplex radio link to the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station. 14

15 3.1.4 Preparations for Extended Activation SKYWARN amateur radio volunteers should be prepared for an extended stay at the NWS if SKYWARN is activated for a hurricane or for severe long-duration winter storms. Volunteers are responsible for bringing food, medications and personal hygiene supplies to maintain themselves for the duration of their stay at the NWS. Please be prepared to be as self-sufficient as possible. The following "NWS Survival Hints" were written by George KD4DGQ shortly after arrival home from serving as Net Control at the NWS for a thirty two (32) hour duration during the Blizzard of '93 on March 13-14, 1993: A. FOOD (to be placed in one cooler and/or one paper bag) No stove is available. Only take food that can be eaten cold or microwaved. Although the NWS has a refrigerator, do not count on space being available. Bring a cooler with two or three reusable freezer packs to be refrozen as necessary. Bring change for the soda machine. Keep meals simple as time and facilities will be in short supply. Suggest cold sandwiches (i.e. peanut butter and jelly); cold vegetables, fruits, cookies and snacks and your favorite beverage. All cooking and eating implements (cup, plate, bowl, knife, fork, spoon, can opener) B. SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS and CLOTHING (one duffel bag) Sleeping bag with mattress pad and a REAL pillow. Blanket (it may be cold!) or Fan (it may be hot!) Enough shirts, socks and underwear for the time you expect to be there, plus a few more things, just in case! Comfortable pants, you will be sitting for a long time. (Loose fitting or sweat pants will work best) Comfortable inside shoes. Alarm Clock to get you up for your next shift. Toiletry kit and medications for your stay Packages of facial tissue Aspirin or Substitute. You will need it! C. RADIO EQUIPMENT and GENERAL GEAR (one backpack) Handy talkie and additional batteries. Speaker-mike. Earphone (small and lightweight), with adapters for 1/4 & 1/8 A copy of your license & the SKYWARN Operations Manual Pen and Pencils and legal pad with hard back or clip board Keep State Police Phone Numbers at hand: 15

16 D. STATE POLICE CONTACT INFO: Maine State Police Gray Office: (207) or 1 (800) Augusta Office: (207) or 1 (800) Orono Office: (207) or 1 (800) Houlton Office: (207) or 1 (800) More Info: New Hampshire State Police Concord Office: (603) or FAX: (603) Laconia Office: (603) or FAX: (603) Emergency Toll Free: 1 (800) (State-wide) TTY/TDD Relay: (800) (State-wide) More Info: How to Volunteer for Net Control Duty DO NOT GO RUNNING TO THE NWS OR CALL THE NWS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF BAD WEATHER. To be a wellcoordinated and effective operation we must follow protocol: NWS forecasters will determine a need for SKYWARN activation and alert the Amateur Radio Coordinator or assistants either directly or through the Hazardous Weather Outlook. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or designate, calls the NWS to get briefed by the weather forecasters and to determine their staffing needs. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or designate, will contact Net Control operators to go to the NWS, if necessary. Trained Net Control operators may also contact the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or net scheduler, to inform of their availability. Please feel free to indicate your availability to Net Control at a quiet time in net operations. Please do not be insulted if your services are not needed at that time. As the weather situation changes, staffing needs may also change Interaction with the Forecasters The forecaster who briefs the Net Liaison operator upon arrival at the NWS will most likely be the contact person until the NWS shift changes. Please follow your instincts on how to pass information to the forecasters. If the information is CRITICAL and POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING, bring this information to the forecaster IMMEDIATELY. Otherwise you will need to gauge the situation as to whether the information is important enough to bring to the forecaster's attention immediately or if it can wait five or ten minutes until a forecaster comes to the amateur radio station as part of his or her duties. It is a delicate balance to make this critical part of Net Control operation successful and it must be handled with discretion, tact and diplomacy by the Net Liaison operator. The same may be said of Sub-Net reports to the Master Net Control Station. A Sub-NCS should carefully gauge the nature and priority levels of information ready to be passed to MNCS against the severity of whatever the MNCS is handling at any given moment. 16

17 3.1.7 Handling Non-Severe Weather Reports No matter how hard you try to eliminate it, many of the reports received over any SKYWARN net will be for nonsevere weather. There is no room for direct criticism of any operator or reporting technique during SKYWARN nets. Please be courteous to the report giver and note the amateur's location as you may need to contact that operator if the storm moves in their direction. If the problem persists, read the net instructions from your script again; as time permits. As the moment dictates, it may be necessary in periods of extremely severe weather to only take reports from specific areas of interest to the NWS or only reports of severe weather. If the situation arises, please do not be shy about informing net participants of the exact nature of the information needed and that the only report you will take must meet the severe weather criteria. Please indicate when the net is reopened for all traffic. Your net scripts should contain instructions designed to ask participants to refrain from giving non- severe weather traffic on the net. 3.2 Operating Rules Briefing upon Arrival at the NWS Upon arrival at NWS Gray, immediately identify yourself to the lead forecaster as a SKYWARN amateur radio operator and ask the lead forecaster for a briefing on the severe weather situation. You should get the following information from the forecaster: Where storm(s) are located and in which direction(s) they are traveling. Characteristics and history of the storm(s) (i.e. hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, snow, etc.); What geographic locations are of primary concern to the forecasters; and, The latest severe and/or special weather statement(s) to be read over the net Net Liaison Initial Setup After receiving the briefing, the Net Liaison (Master Net Control Station) operator should take the following steps to bring up the net: Take a deep breath and calm down! Size up the situation and make a plan of attack Scripts, Log Sheets, and Severe Weather Report forms can be found in the file organizer. Find pens. Be familiar with the current Operations Manual. 17

18 The NWS is primarily concerned with storm damage reports that meet the official NWS criteria. This information is initially used in issuing warnings and later in storm damage reports and in locating possible tornado touchdowns and damage. **NOTE: The scripts are available in Appendix E of this manual, but a laminated set is also available at the WX1GYX station. Set up the radio. Usually you will start with memory one (1) of the Yaesu FT8900 transceiver, which should be set for the primary repeater frequency. Read any watches and warnings. Pass on briefings from the forecasters to the net. Obtain reports of severe weather and pass them to the forecasters. Read new watches and warnings from either the display boards at NWS or online. Please date the sheet and WRITE LEGIBLY! Remote Master Net Control Stations Very often, Master Net Control Stations will be run on a rotating basis by volunteers located throughout the SKYWARN area of responsibility but physically away from the NWS. SKYWARN Master Net Control Stations will may run the net from their homes and offices, from scripts, on a 45- minute rotating basis. They will write down all severe weather information and will make sure that the Net Liaison station at the NWS receives the information. If a Liaison is not present, as is usually the case when Remote Net Controls are required, he/she should gather reports as they are received and forward those directly to the NWS by either phone or . If phone and is down, then an effort should be made to go to the NWS, as long as it is safe to do so. Remote Net Control stations will also keep a list of all current watches and warnings and will brief the next Net Control Station at the end of each shift. 3.3 Closing the SKYWARN Net When the severe weather situation calms down, a forecaster will indicate to the Net Liaison volunteer that it is time to secure the net, or parts of the net. At that time the Net Liaison volunteer should perform the following net shutdown steps: 1. Inform other Net Control station(s) of the net, or subnets to be deactivated. 2. The Net Control volunteer will make a final call for severe weather reports. At the end of snow storms, the Net Control station should poll various areas within the warning area for a final snow fall report. 3. Upon hearing no further reports of severe weather, the Net Control volunteer should read the closing script and thank the repeater licensee and amateur radio community. 18

19 4. The Net Control volunteer should place the repeater back into normal operation at this time. 5. The Net Control station should indicate to anyone listening on the net that any further reports of severe weather must be telephoned or ed directly to NWS. 6. Every attempt should be made to contact and thank the subnets for their participation (if activated), and to inform them of the closing of the primary SKYWARN Net. This is usually done by the Net Liaison station from the NWS. Should contact NOT be made, the backup signal of the primary net's closure is the return of the primary repeater to normal mode. 7. The station MUST be left in a clean condition READY for the next activation. In other words, please make sure that everything is back where it belongs. 8. Complete a log sheet, including the date and a brief description of the weather events of the day, and file the page in the appropriate place in the WX1GYX station log book. The WX1GYX log records date back to 1986 and we d like to continue to maintain an accurate record of station activity. 9. Before leaving, please collect all remaining reports and statements, and hand them to the lead forecaster! 3.4 SKYWARN Subnet Procedures A SKYWARN sub-net is an official local area net whose goal is to obtain and consolidate reports of severe weather from a specific area and, using primary SKYWARN Net procedures, to relay these severe weather reports to the primary SKYWARN Net. It may be necessary to arrange, as part of your operations planning, to set up designated and dedicated Liaison Relay Stations which can access both the primary repeater AND local repeaters SIMULTANEOUSLY. The following is a brief list of the steps of how a SKYWARN Sub-Net should be organized: NWS Gray s Area of Responsibility is organized into 9 Regional Hubs. Five of these locations do not have reliable direct communications with WX1GYX on analog VHF, therefore it is necessary to call upon Regional Sub Nets to gather reports and make sure that the NWS is informed of this information by the fastest means possible. The Amateur Radio Coordinator may designate Regional/County Coordinators in these areas and make sure a system is in place to activate Sub Nets from these locations when notified. It is preferable that all nets use the same protocols for consistency. The Sub-Net Liaisons should not be concerned with finding means to relay traffic by amateur radio to WX1GYX unless normal communications have failed and there is an absolute necessity to do so. Their purpose is to consolidate reports and deliver that information to NWS by the fastest means possible (telephone and are acceptable). This being said, it is essential to test relays and radio-only 19

20 communications occasionally to make sure we have the ability to do so when it becomes necessary, but these tests should never take place during SKYWARN activations. A SKYWARN Sub-NCS may place the sub-net in standby mode if severe weather is not occurring. However, SKYWARN Sub-NCS should not secure operations until given permission to do so by the NWS forecasters or Master Net Control Station, indicating that the severe storm threat in that area has passed. To be effective, the participants, and especially the Net Control operators in a SKYWARN Sub-Net, should have completed SKYWARN spotter and net control training Each official SKYWARN sub-net will be given a designator, such as Cheshire County SKYWARN. In some cases, especially during thunderstorms or flash floods, a sub-net may Self Activate without any prior request from NWS, or the SKYWARN Amateur Radio coordinator Liaison Relay Stations Liaison Relay and Sub-Net volunteers are also trained and experienced in SKYWARN Net procedures. The purpose of a Liaison Relay Station is to fill a communication gap between the NWS and a participating NCS. Liaison Stations are nearly always assigned to a particular net. Their specific job is to perform a bi-directional relay of priority information and observations at the request of either of two Net Control Stations that are out of each other's range. Liaisons may also be assigned to other nets, such as ARES, RACES, or CERT. LOCAL LIAISON STATIONS The use of Sub-Net Local Liaison Stations is to be encouraged if you feel you are in danger of losing control as Local, Sub-Net NCS. When event traffic gets hot and heavy, don't be afraid to ask for a Local Liaison station to help out. They can handle telephone calls and other duties for you. As NCS, you will know when it is time to make this request... a sense of panic will set in. Putting excited spotters on "hold" while you try to make a difficult contact on a different frequency or make a telephone call to NWS, can really add to everyone's stress levels in a fast-moving net. A Local Liaison Station absorbs a lot of duties that can disrupt the smooth operation of a Sub-Net NCS; like making phone calls and handling time-consuming minor logistical problems. If the level of disruptive duties continues to grow, NCS should request that a Local Resource or Tactical Support net be formed. Local Liaison Relay Stations usually will not be participating in their own Sub-Net. They will be "lurking" in the background and waiting for either reportable observations or instructions from their Sub-Net NCS. In a very large and wide spread event a Liaison Sub-Net could become absolutely necessary. If a Local Liaison Station becomes necessary, the operator would become responsible to make notes of all reports of severe weather in the standard format, and relay this information to either the Net Liaison Operator/MNCS at the NWS, or directly to NWS by telephone or . 20

21 Local Liaison Relay Stations must have strong receiving and transmitting capabilities with strong signals on busy frequencies. The ability to monitor separate frequencies on the same band and/or different bands, is extremely desirable; as is an auxiliary power source. The Liaison Station normally operates from his or her home. 3.5 Remote Net Control Remote Net Control Stations perform the same tasks as the MNCS, follow the same procedures, and carry the same responsibilities. They do the same exact same job as MNCS. The only difference is location and area of responsibility. Remote Net Control Stations can be used on a temporary or long term basis. Remote Net Control volunteers are trained and experienced in SKYWARN Net Control procedures. The remote Net Control volunteer coordinates with the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator and runs the net from his or her home or other location. The remote net control volunteer makes notes of all reports of severe weather on the standard reporting forms and passes the severe weather information the NWS or a Net Liaison Station at NWS. It is important to note that in some rural and suburban NWS jurisdictions, the Amateur Radio Station located at the NWS facility is, quite often, not acting as an active Master Net Control Station. It is acting as the "bucket" below an information funnel. A Centralized Remote Net Control may or may not be used. In either case, the NWS Station is primarily acting as a final reporting point for filtered information from several regional and local Sub-Nets. If called-upon, these Sub-Nets report priority observations directly to the NWS Station when direct communication is possible. If direct communication is not possible, the Sub-Nets report through preset, prearranged Liaison Relay Station links. These links, sometimes called "Key Stations", may be in the form of individual strong stations. Key Station communications can also be accomplished through cross-banded or dedicated repeater links. Remote Net Control stations pass control of the net from one to another as needed, usually on a 45-minute basis per a prearranged schedule. It is important that all severe weather reports be promptly ed to the NWS for their records. If a Temporary Remote Net Control station determines that a severe weather report, such as a funnel cloud, needs to be made known to the forecasters IMMEDIATELY, and the NWS Liaison volunteer has not arrived at the NWS, please make sure that the NWS is informed of this priority traffic by telephone. Remote Net Control operators must use a different introduction to the scripts that indicates that: (1) the remote Net Control station is not at the NWS, and (2) the remote Net Control station is in contact with the NWS. During long term duration storms (heavy rain/flooding, snow storms etc.) it is recommended to hold hourly "check-in" activities (usually on the hour) with the SKYWARN Net Control station monitoring the frequency when the net is not in active session. This is an effective way to pick up reports from subnets (which were not relayed during the last formal main net session) and priority or emergency reports that cannot wait until the next formal net session. 21

22 3.6 Local Weather Nets The weather is very difficult to predict! Local severe weather, such as flooding or severe thunderstorms, may develop suddenly without the NWS issuing a watch or warning, or be too localized for the NWS to activate a SKYWARN net. The following is the recommended procedure for implementing local area weather nets: The activation of a local area weather net should be coordinated on the local level with the repeater licensee, preferably in advance of the weather emergency. Please do not have multiple local nets or multiple amateurs calling the NWS. To be successful and to serve the NWS in the best possible manner, the program needs to be self-policing. Therefore, the structure should be similar to a main SKYWARN net activation where there is one net control station and one assistant (Key Station) to make sure that reportable severe observations are relayed to the forecasters. Upon receiving reports of a serious local weather situation developing, the Net Control station should contact the NWS lead forecaster by telephone to: Relay the weather information. Confirm that the main NWS SKYWARN net is not activated (AFTER having listened to the primary repeater and NOT hearing the repeater in SKYWARN net mode) Receive a request from the lead forecaster that a localized area of severe weather is in your location and that reports are needed. Please give the lead forecaster your name, call sign, and telephone number and indicate that you are the contact person for running a local weather net on a particular frequency in a particular area. The forecasters may wish to listen to the net "live 'Please designate the net as a "local area weather net" and not as a SKYWARN Net. This notifies participants that any critical weather information needs to be relayed to the NWS by telephone and not by amateur radio as, most likely, there is no one listening to the Amateur Radio Station at the NWS. If SKYWARN is activated by the NWS and the MNCS/Liaison Station is activated while a local area weather net is in progress, the local area net should declare the activation, become a SKYWARN Sub-Net and where applicable, the Liaison Relay Station should be brought on line. To be effective, the participants in the local area weather net should have completed SKYWARN Basic Spotter Training. 3.7 Switching Net to Alternate Repeaters It may become necessary from time to time to switch the net to alternate frequencies for technical or other reasons. The procedure is as follows: 22

23 Verify the net has permission to use the alternate repeater. Permission may be received over the radio if necessary. If possible, assign a station to remain on the initial frequency (simplex if necessary) to tell stations checking in of the change in frequency. Thank all repeater groups and licensees for the use of the repeater. 3.8 Interfacing with Other Groups The NWS is often asked to communicate with other groups in addition to amateur radio operators. Every attempt should be made to have the broadest possible inclusion into the SKYWARN Net. The Amateur Radio operator s participation in the SKYWARN program is formally acknowledged and encouraged in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the NWS. This agreement indicates that the ARRL will encourage its local volunteer groups operating as the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) to provide the NWS with spotters and communicators as requested by the NWS during times of severe weather. Many civil disasters are a direct result of severe weather and/or are exacerbated by severe weather. Accordingly, the NWS may utilize the SKYWARN amateur radio operators not only to obtain and disseminate severe weather observations and warnings, but may also use the amateur radio operators to maintain close coordination with Emergency Managers under Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams (REACT) also supports SKYWARN. REACT nets may take reports of severe weather and relay them to the NWS either by normal communications modes (phone, Internet etc.) or by linking up with a REACT member who is also an amateur radio operator who can relay the severe weather information to a SKYWARN Net Control through the SKYWARN amateur radio frequencies. Although it may take some creativity and organization, the goal is to include all groups in the SKYWARN systems who wish to participate. 3.9 Put Your Amateur Radio Bias Aside Too often we have encountered hams who are insistent on using only amateur radio to deliver reports. These hams are an impediment to our efforts. As SKYWARN radio operators, our goal is to assist in COLLECTING SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION, and passing this information on to the NWS in the most efficient way possible. Our most important job is to extract severe weather reports and observations from the amateur radio community, and elsewhere, using radio as a tool to help facilitate the collection of these reports. Amateur Radio also serves as a backup form of communications when other systems fail. 23

24 Chapter 4. HURRICANE WATCH and/or WARNING SKYWARN will be activated when a hurricane is anticipated to strike the New Hampshire Seacoast and Maine Coastal areas. The SKYWARN amateur radio net may be activated any time a hurricane threatens the East Coast (particularly the New England Region). In an event such as Hurricane Sandy, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) in Camp Springs, MD acts as the back-up hurricane center to the NWS's National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Coral Gables, FL. SKYWARN may be asked to help support NMC and NWS with amateur radio communications. SKYWARN amateur radio support may also be requested to assist with backup communications to other NWS offices threatened by hurricanes, including Taunton, MA, and to assist in gathering severe weather and damage reports from areas impacted by the storm where normal communications are inoperative. In such situations, HF will most likely be required. It may be necessary to plan staffing for many 24- hour periods. If there is a possibility of a hurricane passing within 100 miles of Portland, ME, net control volunteers need to arrive at NWS prepared for a long stay in the event that roads are closed. Volunteers should also be certain that their family is prepared before departing to the NWS. It is also important to coordinate with local ARES and RACES groups. 4.1 Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Contact should be made with the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) to coordinate efforts. They may need to use the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station to relay ground truth (actual observations) reports into the NWS system. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) operates in cooperation with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in much the same manner that SKYWARN operates with the National Weather Service Forecast Office, in Gray, ME. The purpose of the HWN is to: Disseminate hurricane advisory information to marine interests, Caribbean Island nations, Emergency Operating Centers (EOC s) and other interests for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific as promulgated by the NHC in Coral Gables, Florida. Obtain weather information for the NWS from reporting stations who are not part of the routine network of the World Meteorological Organization and forward the information to the NHC. Function as a backup communications link for the NHC, EOC's and NWS and other vital interests involved in the protection of life and property before, during and after hurricane events. Relay initial hurricane damage assessments to the NHC. 24

25 HWN operations normally commence anytime a hurricane is within 350 nautical miles of an inhabited land mass and will continue in operation until the storm is no longer a threat. The net DOES NOT handle health and welfare type communication. Operation will normally take place on MHz +/-, however the operation may shift frequency at the request of stations in the hurricane affected area or to take advantage of shifting propagation conditions. Priority is given to those stations representing the NWS and emergency management organizations. The net control volunteer of the SKYWARN station should identify that they are located at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Gray, ME when checking into the HWN. The Dade County, Florida Amateur Radio Public Service Corps operates station W4EHW located in the forecast office of the NHC. Most traffic is passed to this station via the HWN or through a landline computer link to Southern Region, NWS. If these links are not available, SKYWARN may be asked to pass the information via NWS facilities located in the WSFO. Additional information, such as primary and secondary HWN frequencies, and websites, are listed below: On the web: HWN Website: WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station: Frequencies: MHz USB Primary HF MHz LSB Secondary HF (Daytime) MHz LSB Secondary HF (Night) Chapter 5. SKYWARN HF OPERATIONS The Weather Service Forecast Office, in Gray, is fortunate to have a permanent HF station installed. There should be an effort to monitor the designated HF frequencies during Full-scale SKYWARN activations, however, HF will not be used during every SKYWARN activation, as it is mostly intended to be a backup for when VHF/UHF and other communications systems fail. The HF station allows us to fulfill our commitment to provide backup communications to NWS Taunton, in case of a widespread communications outage, as well as establish direct HF communications with the adjacent NWS forecast offices in Caribou, Albany, and Burlington. WX1GYX HF Frequencies: MHz LSB Primary HF (Daytime), MHz LSB Primary HF (Night), MHz LSB Secondary HF (Night). Chapter 6. PUBLICITY and PUBLIC RELATIONS An important facet of SKYWARN operations is public relations. SKYWARN provides ample opportunities to demonstrate the unique capabilities of amateur radio as well as the volunteer and public spirit of amateur radio 25

26 operators. If you speak with the press, please be extremely careful what you say because you represent the entire amateur community as well as the SKYWARN program. If you have any questions, please contact a forecaster BEFORE speaking with the press. If there's any doubt, "I don't know." is a good answer. SKYWARN provides an identifiable and extremely visible opportunity for putting amateur radio in its best light. Severe weather is always of interest to the media, and when a SKYWARN activation is successful, an effort should be made to report our efforts to the local media outlets via a short press release, , or phone call. Below are some local media contacts: Newspapers Radio Television Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) news@pressherald.com Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME) Tel: (207) Kennebec Journal (Augusta, ME) Tel: (207) mmiliken@centralmaine.com Journal Tribune (Biddeford, ME) Tel: (207) jtcommunity@journaltribune.com Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, NH) Tel: (800) news@seacoastonline.com Foster s Daily Democrat (Dover, NH) Tel: (603) news@fosters.com Nashua Telegraph (Nashua, NH) Tel: (603) news@nashuatelegraph.com WLOB 1310 AM (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) newstalkwlob@yahoo.com WEZR 1240 AM (Auburn, ME) news@gleasonmedia.com WVQM (Augusta, ME) Tel: (207) wvom@blueberrybroadcasting.com WGAN 1400 AM (Biddeford, ME) news@560wgan.com WGIR 930/610 AM (Manchester, NH) Tel: (603) WTSN 1270 AM Tel: (207) WNNH 99.1 FM (Henniker, NH) Tel: (603) news@nh1.com WCSH 6 (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) newscenter@wcsh6.com WMTW 8 (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) wmtw@wmtw.com WGME 13 (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) tvmail@wgme.com WMUR 9 (Manchester, NH) Tel: (603) newspics@wmur.com WYCN 13 (Nashua, NH) Tel: (603) info@tv13nashua.com WBIN 18 (Manchester, NH) Tel: (603) NWS works closely with FEMA, the American Red Cross, and the FCC in Emergency Broadcast Communications and with numerous state and local emergency management agencies. Therefore, SKYWARN has been, and will continue to be, an important vehicle to showcase amateur radio to the agencies involved in the allocation of privileges and frequencies. SKYWARN has developed a large following of scanner enthusiasts, emergency managers and amateur radio operators. Let us continue to put amateur radio's "best foot forward. 26

27 Chapter 7. WX1GYX SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO STATION The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station consists of three radios the first being a Yaesu FT-8900 Quad- Band FM Transceiver, a Kenwood TS-570D HF/6m all-mode transceiver, and a Connect Systems CS801 VHF DMR transceiver. 7.1 Yaesu FT8900 Yaesu FT-8900 The FM Transceiver has the ability to monitor two channels simultaneously, and will always be used in the memory mode, which features pre-programmed repeater and simplex frequencies. This radio is used to establish the primary SKYWARN Net and to seek reports from areas in which the forecasters have expressed an interest because of indications of severe weather. Identify as WX1GYX, National Weather Service - Gray After operations, leave the radio on and so non-licensed staff can turn the radio on to monitor remote nets or incoming operators who are called in to activate the station. Visit: to download the radio's manual. It s good to be familiar with the radio functions BEFORE operating during a deployment. 27

28 7.2 Kenwood TS570 HF Transceiver SKYWARN HF frequencies will be listed in this manual and also on laminated cards near the station. It is usually recommended to use 40 meters for daytime operations and 80 meters at night, although the radio can be tuned up on several of the HF bands. Visit: to download the radio s manual. 28

29 7.3 Connect Systems CS801 DMR Transceiver BEFORE USE: If you re using the CS801 installed at NWS Gray, always check the coax position switch, mounted behind and to the left of the radio, and be sure it s in the DMR position. POWERING ON: First, be sure the power supply is on. To power the radio on, hold down the round red power button for 2-3 seconds. The LCD screen should glow amber and display the call sign briefly, before returning to a screen displaying a frequency, time slot, and talk group. Please refer to the CS801 Channel guide to find the desired repeater and Talk Group. The knob on the left is used to adjust the volume. Changing between Talk Groups Use the arrow buttons, located to the right of the display, to toggle between Talk Groups. Using these arrows will only toggle between pre-programed Talk Groups or frequencies within the selected Zone. Changing between Zones (Repeaters) Use the P2 and P3 buttons to change the pre-programmed frequencies. These buttons are similar to the arrow buttons, except they allow you to scroll through the different repeaters that are programmed in the radio, instead of only the Talk Groups. Once you find one, select an appropriate Talk Group, using the arrow keys. 29

30 If you know the specific Zone that you want to go to, choose by pressing P4, then P3 to move to the second position, and then press P4 again to select. Most of the time, you should keep the radio on: TS2 Regn, which is the Falmouth, ME repeater, on Time Slot 2, Talk Group 8 (Region North). Chapter 8. NWS Information 8.1 NWS Gray, ME Weather Forecast Office Contact Information & Directions The NWS Gray, Maine Forecast Office is located on Route 231, near Pineland Farms. From the Maine Turnpike exchange in Gray, take a right onto ME-4/ US-202 / ME-115 (Gray Road), and take a slight right onto ME-115 (Yarmouth Road) at the first intersection. Continue about 1.8 miles, and take a left onto Depot Road. In about 2.8 miles, turn right onto ME-231 S. Follow for about.4 miles and take a right onto Weather Lane. Destination will be on the left. GPS Address: 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME Local Telephone number: (207) To report severe weather, call: 1 (800) , or gyx.skywarn@noaa.gov Please use the severe weather hotline numbers ONLY for making reports of severe weather. Please do not ask questions at the end of your report and please keep your reports brief. Someone may be trying to reach the NWS with a critical report that may save a life, even if it's sunny where you are. When calling the administrative (local) number please try to do so during good weather as the staff is extremely busy during severe weather. 30

31 8.2 Contacts by Area of Responsibility 31

32 8.3 Adjacent National Weather Service Forecast Offices ALY (Magenta) Albany, NY BTV (Violet) Burlington, VT GYX (White) Gray, ME CAR (Yellow) Caribou, ME BOX (Red) Taunton, MA 32

33 8.4 Adjacent NWS Forecast Offices / SKYWARN Contact Info NWS Forecast Office Gray/Portland, ME: P.O. Box 1208, 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME (207) Burlington, VT: Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT (802) Taunton/Boston, MA: Myles Standish Boulevard, Taunton, MA (508) Albany, NY: Fuller Road, Suite B-300, Albany, NY (518) Caribou, ME: Main St., Caribou, ME (207) Regional SKYWARN Websites WX1GYX - WX1BTV - WX1BOX - WX2ALY - WX1CAR - CANWARN: 33

34 Chapter 9. NOAA Weather Radio Broadcast Stations Serving Maine & New Hampshire 9.1 Maine Station Listing Site Name Transmitter Name Call Sign Frequency Power WFO Falmouth Blackstrap Hill KDO Gray, ME Ellsworth Ellsworth KEC Caribou, ME Milo Milo KHB Caribou, ME Frenchville Frenchville KHB Caribou, ME Meddybemps Meddybemps KHC Caribou, ME Greenville Greenville WNG Caribou, ME Jonesboro Jonesboro WNG Caribou, ME Sugarloaf Mtn. Sugarloaf Mtn. WNG Gray, ME Dresden Blinn Hill WSM Gray, ME Caribou Mars Hill WXM Caribou, ME Springfield Lakeville WXN Caribou, ME 34

35 9.2 New Hampshire Station Listing Site Name Transmitter Name Call Sign Frequency Power WFO Deerfield Saddleback Mtn. KZZ Gray, ME Mt. Washington Mt. Washington KZZ Gray, ME Clarksville Ben Young Hill WNG Gray, ME Holderness Mt. Prospect WNG Gray, ME Hanover Moose Mtn. WNG Gray, ME Pack Monadnock Peterborough WNG Taunton, MA Concord Plausawa Hill WXJ Gray, ME 35

36 Chapter 10. Frequencies 10.1 WX1GYX Yaesu FT-8900R Channel Frequency List MHz Offset PL Tone County Location Oxford Buckfield, ME Primary SKYWARN Repeater Cumberland Gray, ME Secondary SKYWARN Repeater Cumberland Falmouth, ME WSSM-ECT Primary SIMPLEX WSSM-ECT Primary SIMPLEX SKYWARN Primary, WSSM-ECT Secondary SIMPLEX WSSM-ECT Tertiary SIMPLEX ARES Cumberland Primary SIMPLEX ARES Waldo Primary SIMPLEX ARES York Secondary SIMPLEX ARES Androscoggin Primary SIMPLEX ARES Sagadohoc Primary SIMPLEX ARES Oxford Tertiary SIMPLEX ARES Maine Statewide / 2m Calling SIMPLEX ARES Cumberland Tertiary SIMPLEX ARES Oxford Primary SIMPLEX ARES Sagadohoc Tertiary SIMPLEX WSSM-ECT Primary SIMPLEX SKYWARN Primary, WSSM-ECT Secondary SIMPLEX ARES Somerset Primary SIMPLEX ARES Oxford Secondary SIMPLEX ARES Mt. Washington Valley Primary SIMPLEX ARES NH Statewide SIMPLEX ARES Cumberland Secondary SIMPLEX ARES Knox Primary SIMPLEX ARES Sagadohoc Secondary SIMPLEX ARES York Primary NG1P Echolink SIMPLEX WSSM-ECT Tertiary Essex Gloucester, MA Chittenden Bolton, VT 36

37 York Cornish, ME TSQ Suffolk Boston, MA Suffolk Boston, MA Androscoggin Wales, ME W1PIG Link Franklin Wilton, ME W1PIG Link York Alfred, ME Carroll North Conway, NH Mt. Washington Valley ARES Addison Warren, VT Knox Washington, ME Androscoggin Auburn, ME Androscoggin County ARES Oxford Woodstock, ME Coos Mt. Washington, NH Mt. Washington Valley ARES Kennebec Augusta, ME KQ1L Link System Kennebec Litchfield, ME Rockingham Northwood, NH Cumberland Falmouth, ME Orleans Jay Peak, VT Kingdom Weather Net Cumberland Gray, ME Windsor Mt. Ascutney, VT Merrimack Pittsfield, NH N1IMO Net York Sanford, ME Knox Camden, ME KQ1L Link System Cumberland Naples, ME Rockingham Derry, NH Penobscot Dixmont, ME KQ1L Link System Belknap Alton, NH Oxford Buckfield, ME KQ1L Link System Androscoggin Leeds, ME Berkshire Mt. Greylock, MA Hancock Ellsworth, ME Oxford Rumford, ME York Arundel, ME Cumberland Yarmouth, ME Franklin Sugarloaf Mt., ME Worcester Paxton, MA 37

38 Lincoln Wiscasset, ME Belknap Gilford, NH Central NH ARES Primary Rockingham Deerfield, NH Oxford Hiram, ME Carroll Ossipee, NH Cumberland Gray, ME WSSM ECT Secondary Knox Washington, ME Cumberland Falmouth, ME WSSM-ECT Primary Cumberland Brunswick, ME Rockingham Salem, NH Franklin Farmington, ME York Sanford, ME KQ1L Link System Cumberland Brunswick, ME Rockingham Derry, NH Merrimack Pembroke, NH Androscoggin Livermore Falls, ME Knox Hope, ME Kennebec Gardiner, ME Waldo Knox, ME Cumberland Westbrook, ME Merrimack Franklin, NH Androscoggin Poland Spring, ME Cumberland Brunswick, ME York Alfred, ME York County ARES Primary Cumberland Portland, ME Carroll Moultonborough, NH SIMPLEX ARES Maine Statewide SIMPLEX ARES NH Statewide SIMPLEX WSSM-ECT Cross-band York Sanford, ME Carroll Ossipee, NH Oxford Hiram, ME Franklin Farmington, ME Kennebec Kents Hill, ME Belknap Alton, NH 38

39 Cumberland Scarborough, ME - OFF Cumberland Brunswick, ME Cumberland Westbrook, ME Knox Washington, ME Cumberland Windham, ME - Linked to Belknap Center Barnstead, NH Belknap Gilford, NH W1JY Link System Rockingham Derry, NH Coos Mt. Washington, NH Oxford Hiram, ME Merrimack Bow, NH York Alfred, ME Carroll North Conway, NH W1MWV Coos Mt. Washington, NH Kennebec Belgrade Lakes, ME Rockingham Deerfield, NH York Biddeford, ME SIMPLEX ARES Maine Statewide, SKYWARN, 6m Calling SIMPLEX ARES NH Statewide Carroll Ossipee, NH Strafford Dover, NH Kennebec Litchfield, ME Hillsborough Goffstown, NH Hillsborough Goffstown, NH Oxford Woodstock, ME Berkshire Mt. Greylock, MA York Biddeford, ME Echolink Worcester Mt. Wachusett, MA Worcester Mt. Wachusett, MA Oxford Hiram, ME Knox Washington, ME Carroll Ossipee, NH Orange Williamstown, VT Rockingham Derry, NH SIMPLEX ARES Maine Statewide, 10m Calling 39

40 Suffolk Boston, MA Varies Providence Providence, RI Dallas Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX Cumberland Windham Hill, ME - Linked to MURS MURS MURS Blue Dot Green Dot Marine Channel Marine Channel APRS Voice Alert 10.2 WX1GYX Connect Systems CS801 Channel Frequency List FM DMR Zone 1 SIMPLEX Zone FM SIMPLEX CALLING Cape Ann, MA DMR SIMPLEX Bolton, VT DMR SIMPLEX Kensington, NH PSQ Mt. Greylock, MA CBL Sanford, ME WAL Boston, MA YORK Boston, MA (TS) AND Wales, ME KNOX Mt. Equinox, VT SAG Alfred, ME OXF Mt. Cranmore, NH CBL Fitchburg, MA OXF Danvers, MA HAN North Adams, MA ECT Washington, ME SKYWARN / ECT Auburn, ME 40

41 Zone 2 SIMPLEX 2 Zone SOM Woodstock, OXF Mt. Washington, NH PSQ Augusta, ME WAL Bedford, MA KEN Bedford, MA (TS) HAN Plymouth SIMPLEX Litchfield, ME LIN Holyoke, MA CBL Falmouth, ME KNOX Jay Peak, VT SAG Mt. Ascutney, VT PEN Gray, ME YORK Scituate, ECT Scituate, (TS) Pittsfield, NH Zone Zone Sanford, ME Derry, NH Camden, ME Phippsburg, ME Naples, ME Gardiner, ME Shaftsbury, VT Livermore Falls, ME Dixmont, ME (KQ1L System) Pembroke, NH Alton, NH Knox, ME Killington, VT Westbrook, ME Streaked Mt. (KQ1L System) Toppsfield, MA Mt. Greylock (TS) Franklin, NH Mt. Greylock Poland Spring, ME Rumford, ME Manchester, NH Arundel, ME Alfred, ME Mt. Mansfield, VT Alfred, ME (TS) Mt. Tom, MA Portland, ME Mt. Tom, MA (TS) Barre, VT Mt. Sugarloaf, ME Moultonboro, NH Zone Zone Shapleigh, ME Paxton, MA TS1 WW Worldwide Paxton, MA (TS) TS1 WWE Worldwide English Gilford, NH TS1 NA North America 41

42 Saddleback (Deerfield), NH TS1 NEst Northeast Hiram, ME TS2 NE New England Ossipee, NH TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) NWS Gray, ME TS2 Regn Region North Washington, ME TS2 ME Maine Statewide Falmouth, ME TS2 Loc Local Repeater Brownville, TAC113 TAC channel Grafton, NH TAC123 TAC channel Brunswick, ME TAC310 Standard TAC channel Belfast, ME TAC311 TAC channel York, ME SIMPLEX Ringe, NH SIMPLEX Zone Wakefield, NH Zone Topsham, ME TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 NEst Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel EWARN EWARN TAC123 TAC channel MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel SIMPLEX TAC310 Standard TAC channel SIMPLEX TAC311 TAC channel Zone Falmouth, ME Zone Rochester, NH TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) 42

43 TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide TAC113 TAC channel TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC123 TAC channel MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group TAC310 Standard TAC channel EWARN EWARN TAC311 TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel SIMPLEX TAC123 TAC channel SIMPLEX TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel Zone Madbury, NH Zone Mt. Washington, NH TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX Zone Ossipee, NH Zone Gilford, NH TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel 43

44 EWARN EWARN TAC123 TAC channel MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel SIMPLEX TAC310 Standard TAC channel SIMPLEX TAC311 TAC channel Zone Chester, NH Zone Augusta, ME TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX Zone Blinn Hill, ME Zone New Sharon, ME TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel 44

45 SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX Zone Knox, ME Zone Corinna, ME TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX Zone Black Cap, ME Zone Sanbornton, NH TS1 WW Worldwide S TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English S TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America S TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast S TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England S TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (Also NH Statewide) S TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North S TS2 Regn Region North TS2 ME Maine Statewide S TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater S TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel S TAC113 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel S TAC123 TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel S TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel S TAC311 TAC channel SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX 45

46 Zone Derry, NH Zone Chelmsford, MA D TS1 WW Worldwide C TS1 WW Worldwide D TS1 WWE Worldwide English C TS1 WWE Worldwide English D TS1 NA North America C TS1 NA North America D TS1 Nest Northeast C TS1 Nest Northeast D TS2 NE New England C TS2 NE New England D TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) C TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) D TS2 Regn Region North C TS2 Regn Region North D TS2 ME Maine Statewide C TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide D TS2 Loc Local Repeater C TS2 ME Maine Statewide D TAC113 TAC channel C TS2 Loc Local Repeater D TAC123 TAC channel C TAC113 TAC channel D TAC310 Standard TAC channel C TAC123 TAC channel D TAC311 TAC channel C TAC310 Standard TAC channel SIMPLEX C TAC311 TAC channel SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX Zone Manchester, NH Zone Marblehead, MA M TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide M TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English M TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America M TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast M TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England M TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) M TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North M TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide M TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater M TAC113 TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel M TAC123 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel M TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel M TAC311 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX 46

47 Zone Boston, MA Zone Buckfield, ME TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America TS1 NA North America TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) TS2 Regn Region North TS2 Regn Region North TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide TS2 ME Maine Statewide TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Loc Local Repeater TAC113 TAC channel TAC113 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC123 TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX SIMPLEX Zone Acton, NH Zone Eastham, MA TS1 WW Worldwide E TS1 WW Worldwide TS1 WWE Worldwide English E TS1 WWE Worldwide English TS1 NA North America E TS1 NA North America EWARN EWARN E TS1 Nest Northeast TS1 Nest Northeast E TS2 NE New England TS2 NE New England E TS2 Regn Region North TS2 NNE N New England (NH Statewide) E TS2 Loc Local Repeater TS2 Regn Region North E TAC113 TAC channel TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide E TAC123 TAC channel TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide E TAC310 Standard TAC channel TS2 Loc Local Repeater E TAC311 TAC channel MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group SIMPLEX TAC113 TAC channel SIMPLEX TAC123 TAC channel TAC310 Standard TAC channel TAC311 TAC channel 47

48 10.3 Maine ARES / RACES Frequencies County Primary Secondary Tertiary Primary Repeater Secondary Repeater Simplex Simplex Simplex Androscoggin / / Aroostook / NO PL Cumberland / Cumberland ECT / UHF x-band: Franklin / Hancock / Kennebec / Knox / 91.5 Lincoln / Oxford / Penobscot / 67.0 Piscataquis / / 71.9 Sagadahoc / Somerset / 91.5 Waldo / Washington / York / Statewide Coord KQ1L Link System Statewide DMR SKYWARN (Gray) KQ1L Link System / SKYWARN (Caribou) / NO PL khz khz khz Unassigned Night Day Night Day Statewide HF Coordination. 1900L: MECN (Sun); SGN (M-Sat). 0900L: MPSN (Sun) Digital Modes (NBEMS) Hz Olivia 8/500 keyboard net ops; Thor 50x1 file transfer An updated PDF of this chart is available here: 48

49 10.4 New Hampshire ARES / RACES Frequencies County Primary Simplex NBEMS Simplex Backup Simplex Primary Repeater Secondary Repeater Capital Area NBEMS / / Capital Area (Henniker) NBEMS / Central (Guilford) NBEMS / / Central (Franklin) NBEMS / / Cheshire NBEMS / Coos (Berlin) NBEMS / / Coos (Whitefield) NBEMS / / Eastern Rockingham NBEMS / / 88.5 Western Rockingham (100.0) NBEMS (100.0) / / Greater Manchester NBEMS / / Hillsborough NBEMS / / 88.5 Mt. Washington Valley NBEMS / / Southern Grafton NBEMS / / Strafford NBEMS / / 88.5 Sullivan (Claremont) NBEMS / Statewide Coord NBEMS (State EOC & Section) State EOC Team khz khz khz khz Primary Night Primary Day Primary Backup Statewide HF Coordination. Net: Saturday at 8:30am local NH ARES Digital (PSK125 pri) NH ARES Digital (PSK125 pri) An updated PDF of this chart is available here: Nets&Frequencies.pdf 49

50 10.5 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Network 50

51 10.6 Adjoining Sections & Traffic Nets Frequency Net Name & Location Mode Offset / PL Local Time Net Manager Notes 3539 VT/NH CW Traffic Net CW 7:00 pm Joe Burke W1INC Daily 3539 VT/NH CW Traffic Net CW 4:00 pm Joe Burke W1INC Daily Granite State Traffic Net (NTS) FM - / :00 pm Peter Storher K1PJS Daily Granite State Traffic Net (NTS) FM + / VT RACES HF Phone LSB Night 7280 VT RACES HF Phone LSB Day VT RACES UHF Linked System FM - / As Needed VT RACES UHF Linked System FM + / As Needed /55 VT RACES 2m Simplex FM Simplex As Needed 3976 VT ARES HF Phone LSB Night 7275 VT ARES HF Phone LSB Day 3940 ME ARES HF Phone LSB Night 7275 ME ARES HF Phone LSB Day ME ARES VHF FM - / KQ1L System ME ARES Statewide Coord. FM Simplex Coordination 3943 EMA ARES HF Phone LSB Primary 7228 EMA ARES HF Phone LSB Backup 7245 EMA ARES HF Phone LSB Backup 3948 NTS 1 st Region Net Cycle 2 LSB 1:45 pm N1UMJ Daily 3948 NTS 1 st Region Net Cycle 2 LSB 3:30 pm N1UMJ Daily 3570 NTS 1 st Region Net Cycle 3 CW 6:30 pm W1KX Daily 3598 NTS 1 st Region Net Cycle 4 CW 7:45 pm W1UD Daily 3598 NTS 1 st Region Net Cycle 4 CW 9:30 pm W1UD Daily 3915 Massachusetts ARES HF Phone LSB As Needed 3937 WMA ARES HF Phone LSB As Needed 3965 Connecticut ARES HF Phone LSB As Needed 3945 NH ARES HF Phone LSB Night 7273 NH ARES HF Phone LSB Day 3993 Eastern NY ARES HF Phone LSB As Needed 3958 Northern NY ARES HF Phone LSB As Needed New York RACES HF Phone LSB As Needed 7245 New York RACES HF Phone LSB As Needed 3925 New York State Emergency LSB Night 7230 New York State Emergency LSB Day 3913 New York State Emergency LSB Backup 3960 Northeast Coast Hurricane LSB As Needed 3915 Rhode Island Emergency LSB Primary 51

52 Appendix A WX1GYX 2 Meter FM Simplex Coverage 52

53 Appendix B Logsheet 53

54 Appendix C SKYWARN Severe Weather Report Form 54