[FARC] Skywarn Basic Class

[N3HTA at aol.com]

Below is an announcement for a Basic Skywarn training class to be held at  
the National Emergency Training Center (Fire Academy) in Emmitsburg, MD.   
Every ham that is interested in assisting the National Weather  Service 
during times of extreme and/or dangerous weather conditions should  attend at a 
minimum the Basic Spotter Class.  Contact information is in the  announcement 
and be sure to register for admittance to the NETC site (security  
requirements).  There is no cost for the training.
 
Jim Ridgley N3HTA
Frederick Co. MD Skywarn Sub-net Coordinator
 
 
Skywarn Spotter  Classes 

Skywarn  Spotter Classes are offered free of charge from the combined 
efforts of the  Baltimore / Washington National Weather Service Forecast Office 
and National  Emergency Training Center. A National Weather Service 
meteorologist will teach  the class and bring related materials. This class is open 
to all NETC staff and  the Public.   
When:    February 24,  2010    2:30 PM     or   6:30  PM 
Where:   National Emergency Training  Center 
16825 S Seton  Avenue 
Emmitsburg,  MD 21727 
You MUST be registered to be admitted on the NETC  campus.  To register, 
contact Barry Thoma at 301-447-1422 or Mary Leslie at  301-447-1475. 
The classes are designed to educate the public on weather  threats in this 
area, as well as strengthen the ties between the NWS and the  local 
community. The more spotters the NWS has out there, the faster vital  ground truth 
information gets to the NWS forecasters who make the decisions to  issue life 
saving weather warnings.  
The class that is  offered: 
SKYWARN Basics  I 
This course is a  prerequisite for all other courses. Basics I is a good  
general overview of severe weather for the general public. Upon completion of 
 the course, you will be registered in the program by the NWS. You will 
receive a  spotter code from the NWS within 6 weeks. Training in Basics I  
includes:  
·       The basic  organization of the National Weather Service  
·       The role and  importance of the Skywarn spotter  
·       NWS Products and the  Watch/Warning/Advisory system  
·       Thunderstorms   
·       Thunderstorm  threats:  
O       Lightning   
O       Flooding   
O       Hail   
O       Tornadoes   
O       Downbursts   
o       How to report vital  info to the NWS  
The role of amateur short-wave (HAM) radio in the Spotter  Program