[HCRA] Fw: SKYWARN Newsletter #204

[et-n1qko@juno.com]

                               Eric Tuller   N1QKO
    flash floods+warlords+winter storms+callisto+tornados
        WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS.....AMATEUR RADIO !!
  earthquakes+monsters+hurricanes+evil gods+public service
               CT+ MD+ VT+ King Richards  Ren Faires

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Rob Macedo" <rmacedo@rcn.com>
To: <ricks1@execpc.com>, <svoros@execpc.com>,
	 <Joseph.Dellicarpini@noaa.gov>, <robert.thompson@noaa.gov>,
	 <glenn.field@noaa.gov>, <William.Babcock@noaa.gov>
Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 08:41:36 -0400
Subject: SKYWARN Newsletter #204
Message-ID: <029601c31d3b$24c06390$e8ea7ad1@skywarnmainpc>

Hello to all...

SKYWARN Training Schedule Update...
Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the NWS Taunton County Warning
Area...
Major Severe Weather Outbreak Spanning 10 Days in Central and Southeast
US...
Hurricane Presentation and P3 Plane Well Received in New Bedford, Mass...
National Hurricane Center Hurricane Awareness Week May 19th-May 23rd,
2003...
Rob Macedo-KD1CY presented with 2003 Earth Day NOAA Environmental Hero
Award...
ARRL Letter Article: Hams Help in the Wake of Midwest and Southeast US
Tornadoes...
ARRL Letter Article: Hams Wrap-Up Assistance in Wake of Tornadoes...
ARRL Bulletin: National Hurricane Center Annual Test Announced...

Newsletter Issued: 5/18/03.

SKYWARN Training Schedule Update...

We are roughly slightly more than half way through the SKYWARN Training
session and were proud to announce that 2 more training sessions are
now on the docket.

Thanks to the efforts of David Rudzik, Holyoke Emergency Management
Director, there is now an additional SKYWARN training sessions at
the Dean Technical High School in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

In addition, thanks to the efforts of Bill Ricker, N1VUX, and the MIT
Radio Club, there is now an additional SKYWARN training session at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reviews of the past SKYWARN training sessions completed to date will
be given in the next SKYWARN Newsletter.

The rest of the training sessions for 2003 along with the two additional
sites listed above are listed in the schedule below and at the following
web address:

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo/trsched.htm

Here is the complete list of remaining training sessions:

05/19/2003 7-10PM  Nashua City Hall
Mon.    229 Main Street
    Nashua, NH

05/20/2003 7-10PM  Tiger's Pride Restaurant
Tues.    Westfield Vocational Technical High School
    33 Smith Avenue
    Westfield, MA

05/31/2003 Noon-3PM Manchester Masonic Hall
Sat.    585 Wasington Street Route 117
    Coventry, RI

06/03/2003 6:30-9:30PM Dean Technical High School Cafeteria
Tues.    1045 Main Street
    Holyoke, Mass.

06/07/2003 12:30PM-3:30PM Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Room
6-120)
Sat.    182 Memorial Drive (rear) and 77th Massachusetts Avenue
    Cambridge, MA

06/09/2003 7-10PM  Worcester Emergency Management Operations Center
Mon.    50 Skyline Drive
    Worcester, MA

06/10/2003 6:30-9:30PM Nantucket Fire Department EOC
Tues.    131 Lower Pleasant Street
    Nantucket, MA

06/18/2003 7-10PM  Pioneer Valley Regional High School
Wed.    Route 10
    Northfield, MA

Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the NWS Taunton County Warning
Area...

Severe Weather Preparedness Week was this past week from May 12th-May
16th.
The National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts issued
Public Information Statements with Severe Weather and Flood Safety rules
throughout the week as the states within Southern New England and NWS
Taunton declare this week Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The Public
Information Statements will be posted all as one email to the newsletter
list.

Major Severe Weather Outbreak Spanning 10 Days in Central and Southeast
US...

A Major Severe Weather Outbreak Spanning 10 days smacked much of the
Central and Southeast United States with powerful straightline microburst
and macroburst winds, small tornadoes and several large tornadoes. A
storm
system parked itself just east of the Rockies tapped Gulf of Mexico
moisture
and that moisture, heat and humidity clashed with cooler and drier air
to bring the most severe weather to ever be seen in a 10 day period
across the Midwest and Southeast US. By the end of the period, even
parts of Central New York and Central Pennsylvania were impacted by
isolated microbursts and weak tornadoes of the F0-F1 category along
with numerous reports of large hail.

As of this newsletter writing, the number of Severe Weather Reports
and tornadoes were still being tabulated and made official but close
to 400 tornadoes occurred during this span across much of the United
States and that would make this the largest outbreak of tornadoes ever
in such a short time period. Further details with pictures and links
to data will be posted in another article in the next SKYWARN
Newsletter.

While Southern New England escaped this event, it is noted that Severe
Weather Season will most likely be starting in the next 2-4 weeks and
we have already had a couple of near misses as far as severe weather
events in the region. Now is the time to be prepared for potential
SKYWARN activations as the weather becomes more favorable for severe
weather events in Southern New England.

Hurricane Presentation and P3 Plane Well Received in New Bedford, Mass...

The P3 Hurricane Hunter Aircraft was in New Bedford, Massachusetts as
part of an Atlantic Tour of the P3 aircraft at various points across
the United States. The plane was in New Bedford on Tuesday May 6th
from 3:30-5:30 PM followed by a Hurricane Presentation by both NWS
Taunton and National Hurricane Center Officials from 7-8:30 PM hosted
by NSTAR and New Bedford Emergency Management.

Along with people that actually fly the aircraft, dignitaries from
the National Hurricane Center were also present. These
people included Hurricane Specialist, Stacey Stewart, NOAA-NHC Public
Relations Officer, Frank Lepore and Director of the National Hurricane
Center, Max Mayfield.

Despite a misty and rainy day, lines were long to get into the P3 Plane
during the day and people seemed to enjoy the visit to the plane. Several
news crews from both Boston and Providence, RI media outlets were
present at the plane viewing.

The Hurricane Presentation was held at the New Bedford High School.
Bob Thompson, Meteorologist-In-Charge, was the Master of Ceremonies.
Dave Vallee gave his usual exciting and energetic Hurricane Presentation,
alerting everyone to the threat of New England hurricanes and the long
period of time since the last hurricane hit Southern New England and
in particular that its been 50 years since a major hurricane hit the
region.

The presentation was then turned over to Max Mayfield, Director of the
National Hurricane Center. He gave an excellent presentation to the
audience on advances at the National Hurricane Center and many of the
threats hurricanes pose to the region. He told the audience that the
threats and damage pictures seen in other areas of the Southeast US
and Gulf states could easily affect Southern New England and told
people not to be complacent.

Glenn Field, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, then gave an overview
of NWS Taunton products issued when hurricanes threaten the area. He
also discussed when the NOAA WX Radio transmitters in the region will
begin to broadcast National Hurricane Center advisories on tropical
systems.

After the presentation, I had the privilege to have dinner with both
NWS Taunton forecasters and NHC Director Max Mayfield. Max Mayfield
stated that he is tremendously impressed with the capability of Amateur
Radio and his coordinators at the National Hurricane Center in Miami,
Florida, John McHugh KU4GY and Julio Ripoll WD4JR. He stated that they
can get reports from the Carribean and many other areas that they would
not get any information from otherwise. If it weren't for the Amateurs
in these situations, the National Hurricane Center would not be able
to get information needed from the affected areas where hurricanes hit.
Max Mayfield also described how even he was amazed by the destruction
of Hurricane Andrew when it hit the Southern Florida region. Certain
homes despite excellent construction were flattened by the power of
Andrew and it highlighted the awesome power of Mother Nature. As he
partially stated in his presentation but reiterated and highlighted
a specific example over dinner, the Miami building code was one of the
strictest in the nation but despite that some shortcomings in how
certain parts of homes were not tied down in certain sections
resulted in the destruction of many homes.

It was a great presentation and plane tour and it was also a great
experience to have dinner with the Director of the National Hurricane
Center.

National Hurricane Center Hurricane Awareness Week May 19th-May 23rd,
2003...

The National Hurricane Center will have its annual Hurricane Awareness
Week from May 19th-May 23rd 2003. Please check the National Hurricane
Center Web Site for information on Hurricane Hazards, Forecasting,
History
and Prepartion information for hurricanes. The NHC web site is at the
following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

Rob Macedo-KD1CY presented with 2003 Earth Day NOAA Environmental Hero
Award...

It was a busy and surprising week last week as I was awarded the NOAA
Environmental Award. It is a nationwide award that is awarded to 36
participants who assist NOAA on a volunteer basis nationwide. Also,
I was given a certificate for making the final round of nominees for
the Boston Executive Board Outstanding Federal Volunteer Award. At this
same Boston Executive Board Ceremony, Donna Dumas from NWS Taunton, made
the final round of nominees for Best Administrative Assistant and Glenn
Field, KB1GHX, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, made the final round
of nominees for Outstanding Customer Service. It was a pleasure to be
at the ceremony with Glenn Field, Donna Dumas, Bob Thompson,
Meteorologist-In-Charge for NWS Taunton and Mike Neilsen, W1MPN,
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator.

These awards were quite a honor and were quite surprising to me, however,
it would not be accomplished without the support from the hundreds
of hams and volunteer weather spotters who have been truly dedicated
to the cause of protecting life and property by timely severe weather
reporting which is the fundamental mission of the SKYWARN program. It
also could not be done without the effort of the nearly 2-3 dozen SKYWARN
Coordinators across the 4 state region that NWS Taunton. Their tireless
effort and dedication to this program is what has brought the program
to where it is today. These awards are not just a reflection on me but
a reflection among all of you who have given your dedicated support to
the SKYWARN program.

Below is a write-up from long time friend and one of two SKYWARN
Coordinators
serving the Greater Boston Area, Bill Ricker, N1VUX:

Rob Macedo, KD1CY, EMA DEC for SKYWARN and Southern New England Ham
Coordinator for NWS WFO BOX's 4-state SKYWARN program, was awarded one of
only 36 nation-wide NOAA Environmental Hero awards for Earth Day 2003.
The
award was presented by Glenn Field, Warning Coordination Meteorologist,
NWS
BOX, with the assistance of Robert Thompson, M.I.C., and Mark M. Mahoney,
New Bedford Emergency Management Director. Presentation was made as a
surprise at the annual Hurricane Workshop, at New Bedford High School,
only
a few miles from Rob's home in New Bedford. Also congratulating Rob was
the
keynote speaker, Max Mayfield, Director of the NWS Tropical Prediction
Center & National Hurricane Center. Of the 36 nation-wide awards, only 9
were NWS sponsored, and of those, only two others were SKYWARN volunteers
(Alabama & Michigan); the rest are government EMD or related staff and a
broadcast meteorologist. Of the 36, 5 were posthumous and one was
institutional.

The general citation is http://www.noaa.gov/earthday/

<<The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this year
presented its Environmental Hero Award to 35 individuals and one
organization from across the United States and around the world. Held in
conjunction with Earth Day celebrations, the award honors NOAA volunteers
for their "tireless efforts to preserve and protect our nation's
environment."

"NOAA and the nation are fortunate to have such dedicated people
volunteer so much of their time," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C.
Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere
and NOAA administrator. "They set a perfect example for others to follow
in
their communities. America needs more environmental heroes like them."

Established in 1995 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Earth
Day, the Environmental Hero award is presented to individuals and
organizations that volunteer their time and energy to help NOAA carry out
its mission. Previous recipients include oceanographers Jean-Michel
Cousteau
and Sylvia Earle, and actor Ted Danson, head of the American Oceans
Campaign.

"On behalf of the 12,500 men and women working for the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, I am pleased to present you with
this 2003 Environmental Hero Award," Lautenbacher wrote in a letter to
the
recipients. "Your dedicated efforts and outstanding accomplishments
greatly
benefit the environment and make our nation a better place for all
Americans.">>

The short-form of Rob's citation http://www.noaa.gov/earthday/#macedo
reads:

<<Robert Macedo, a full-time senior engineer with Works at EMC Corp.
in New Bedford, Mass., has been the SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS-Taunton
since 1994. He has helped the program grow from 800 weather spotters in
southern New England (1994) to 3,500 (2003). He drafts and distributes
his
own e-mail newsletter to more than 700 key spotters and emergency
managers,
organizes NWS training sessions and uses his personal time to promote the
NWS mission. Because of Macedo's efforts, the NWS receives more real-time
reports than ever before, thus having a direct, immediate and positive
impact on NWS warning operations. He has also assisted NOAA in surveying
storm damage and the implementation and testing of the new high frequency
tower/antenna now in place at NWS-Taunton. >>

NOAA Press Release:
http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2003/apr03/noaa03044.html

NOAA EarthDay homepage with award list: http://www.noaa.gov/earthday/
<http://www.noaa.gov/earthday/>

Amateur Radio Web Page Press Releases:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/
http://www.w1smh.com/pages/e_news.html

Hurricane Workshop: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/hurrHunter.shtml

ARRL Letter Article: Hams Help in the Wake of Midwest and Southeast US
Tornadoes...

The following article is from the ARRL Letter concerning the events
of the Severe Weather Outbreak across the Midwest and Southeast US:

==>AMATEURS SUPPORT TORNADO RELIEF-RECOVERY EFFORTS

Amateurs in Missouri, Kansas, and Tennessee this week continued relief
and
recovery support in the wake of a severe outbreak of deadly tornadoes May
4 that also affected other states. Oklahoma City-area amateurs responded
to assist after a tornado hit that region May 8. At week's end, the death
toll from the May 4 storms stood at 40; many more were injured, and
countless homes and other structures were damaged or destroyed. Thousands
of residents in the stricken areas were left without power or telephone
service. Those left homeless by the storms have been taking refuge in Red
Cross shelters or with friends or relatives. Amateur Radio operators have
been assisting in damage assessment as well as providing communication
support for the Red Cross and The Salvation Army's shelter and feeding
efforts.

In Kansas, ARRL Section Manager Ron Cowan, KB0DTI, reports severe damage
in two counties, with houses destroyed and utilities out in the path of
the twister. The tornado remained on the ground for 90 minutes, plowing
through Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties in Kansas before crossing the
border into Platte and Clay counties in Missouri. The funnel cloud
finally
lifted northeast of Kansas City.

"Wyandotte/Kansas City RACES was active with spotting and later damage
assessment," Cowan said. RACES went on standby on May 5. Johnson County
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) opened a VHF net, coordinated by
EC
and Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) Coordinator June
Jeffers, KB0WEQ, within 30 minutes of touchdown. SATERN members and other
ham radio volunteers assisted Salvation Army canteens that rolled in
immediately after the storm.

Cowan said Crawford County in southeastern Kansas also suffered major
damage. Most affected was the area north of Pittsburg and the communities
of Girard and Franklin, which were right in the storm's path.

In Missouri, ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Don Moore, KM0R, said
tornado damage was reported throughout the greater Kansas City area.
Moore
has been posting updates on the Missouri Section ARES Web site
<http://www.ares-mo.org/may0403storms.asp>. He said multiple
nets--including ARES, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service and
SKYWARN--relayed storm information to emergency officials on May 4 and
later assisted with damage assessment. The National Weather Service
credited ham radio operators with dozens of storm-related reports over
the
weekend.

Hams in Pierce City--in the direct path of one tornado and especially
hard
hit--were using a repeater in nearby Aurora to supplement public safety
communication. Hams in Southwest Missouri also handled health-and-welfare
inquiries via the Missouri Traffic Net (3963 kHz).

In West Tennessee, May 4 marked the second time in four years that the
Jackson-Madison County area was devastated by tornadoes. "Lives were lost
and people injured," said Madison County EC Kenny Johns, AB4EG.

Some 27,000 residents remain without power, Johns reported, adding that
the tornado made a direct hit on the emergency operations center. The
storm also did not spare the sheriff's department, the post office or the
federal building in Jackson.

"First day was shock, second day was just deciding what to do first,
third
day recovery was well under way, fourth day there was more hope, help and
a great county spirit," Johns said.

Johns said an ARES net was in operation in West Tennessee. "Right now we
are able to handle it," he said at week's end. "Hams from surrounding
counties are helping. Their efforts have been appreciated." Even as the
massive cleanup effort began, forecasters were calling for additional
severe weather in the days ahead. Flooding from continued heavy rains was
an additional complication.

In Oklahoma, ARRL Section Manager John Thomason, WB5SYT, reports that
amateurs responded "within minutes" of a tornado that struck the Oklahoma
City area May 8. They remained in place at week's end. More than 100
people reportedly were injured, and the tornado leveled or damaged
hundreds of structures, including a General Motors manufacturing plant.
Hardest hit was the suburb of Moore. The storm left more than 30,000
homes
without power.

"Emergency communication, delivering supplies to Salvation Army canteens
and helping with health and welfare are in process," Thomason said. "This
tornado hit some of the same areas as did the F5 tornado of May 1999."
The
1999 storm claimed nearly 50 lives.

To keep an open frequency for amateurs to support The Salvation Army's
relief efforts, the FCC has declared a general communications emergency
for the Oklahoma area. Effective immediately, amateurs are required to
refrain from using 3900 kHz, plus or minus 3 kHz, unless they are taking
part in the handling of emergency traffic. The order remains in effect
until rescinded.

"The Amateur Radio effort will be under way for some time," Thomason
said.
In a message to his Section, Thomason advised patience with the public,
the process and other Amateur Radio volunteers. "By pulling together
during these times the public, which desperately needs our help,
benefits," he said.

ARRL Letter Article: Hams Wrap-Up Assistance in Wake of Tornadoes...

The following is an additional article issued during the past week
as Hams wrap-up assistance in the Plains States and Southeast US:

==>HAM RADIO TORNADO RESPONSE WINDS DOWN

ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager John Thomason, WB5SYT, said this week that
the intense Amateur Radio relief and recovery effort following two
tornadoes earlier this month in the Oklahoma City area was "winding down
quickly." The FCC rescinded a general communications emergency on 3900
kHz
in the Oklahoma area last weekend. Responding amateurs in Oklahoma
supported relief activities of The Salvation Army following storms May 8
and 9. Amateurs also provided weather-spotting via the SKYWARN system and
handled emergency and health-and-welfare traffic and assisted with damage
assessment.

"Amateur Radio responded quickly and thoroughly," Thomason said, adding
that hams from the Oklahoma City area as well as other parts of the state
turned out to help in what he called "a very challenging and changing
environment." Some 50 amateurs were involved in the Oklahoma response,
Thomason said. The storms struck just a day after some 30 of the hams
involved had attended a two-day Salvation Army-sponsored disaster
conference.

The Oklahoma storms capped a week that some have been calling the worst
ever for tornado outbreaks. On May 4, tornadoes struck the both sides of
the border in the Kansas City area as well as in other parts of Kansas.
Tornadoes that spun off the same weather system also hit parts of
Tennessee and other states.

In Missouri, Section Emergency Coordinator Don Moore, KM0R, says hams
there logged more than 1000 volunteer work hours in eight days. "We have
had Amateur Radio operators active in one part of Missouri or another
since Sunday, May 4, providing communications for served agencies,
assisting in damage assessment or handling health and welfare traffic
into
and out of the affected areas," he said.

In Kansas, the Johnson County ARES Net was on the air within minutes of
the May 4 tornado. Hams used HF to maintain contact among The Salvation
Army Emergency Disaster Services headquarters in Kansas City and affected
areas south and east of Kansas City. Hams also supported Salvation Army
mobile canteens in stricken areas throughout the Kansas City metropolitan
area and rode along with damage-assessment teams. Another series of
thunderstorms swept into Kansas May 8, and a tornado hit Lawrence near
the
University of Kansas campus. There were no major injuries, but The
Salvation Army dispatched canteen units with ham radio support.

In Tennessee, hams assisted as residents dug out from a tornado that
struck the Jackson-Madison County area early on May 5. Madison County EC
Kenny Johns, AB4EG--a City of Jackson employee--found himself putting in
12-hour days in cleanup operations. As of last weekend, some 5000 homes
remained without power, and Johns said some areas may take up to a month
to restore. Nearly 200 structures were destroyed, 11 people were killed,
and hundreds were left homeless. Hams were assisting the Madison County
Emergency Management Agency as needed, Johns said.

ARRL Assistant SEC for Middle Tennessee Tom Delker, K1KY, said ARES teams
in Middle Tennessee provided daily support to served agencies daily since
tornadoes on May 5 and 11. Delker said that upward of 400 Middle
Tennessee
amateurs provided support for state and local emergency management
agencies, law enforcement, the American Red Cross and the National
Weather
Service. When damaging tornadoes struck east of Smyrna on May 11, "ham
storm spotters tracked the storm and responded to the call for assistance
immediately after touchdown," Delker said. The storm destroyed six homes
and left some 30 others with major damage. It was a similar story in
nearby Williamson County, where a tornado destroyed one home and damaged
others. ARES groups in more than 22 Middle Tennessee counties were
active,
he said.

ARRL Bulletin: National Hurricane Center Annual Test Announced...

The National Hurricane Center has announced its on-the-air station
test for Sunday June 1st, 2003 from 9 AM to 6 PM EDT (1300-2200 UTC).
The special bulletin is listed below:

ZCZC AX04
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 4  ARLX004
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 14, 2003
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX004
ARLX004 National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC announces 2003 on-the-air test

National Hurricane Center's Amateur Radio station WX4NHC (formerly
W4EHW) will conduct its 2003 hurricane season on-the-air station
test Sunday, June 1, 1300-2200 UTC. The event will mark the first
time the NHC uses its new WX4NHC call sign.

Amateur Radio Coordinator John McHugh, KU4GY, says the purpose of
the annual station test is to check out all of the WX4NHC radio,
computer and antenna equipment using as many modes and frequencies
as possible. Some RFI monitoring also will be done. Several new
operators will also receive hands-on training.

WX4NHC will operate on HF, VHF and UHF. Operation will follow this
schedule: 1300 UTC--3.911 and 7.268 SSB and VHF/UHF FM; 1400
UTC--14.325 MHz SSB, VHF 147.000 repeater/UHF 442.350 repeater; 1500
UTC--144.200 MHz SSB, 14.070 MHz PSK31; 1700 UTC--14.325 and 21.325
MHz SSB, VHF/UHF IRLP Node 9210; 1800 UTC--21.325 and 28.525 MHz
SSB; 2000 UTC--14.325 and 144.200 MHz SSB. CW operation will be on
14.035, 21.035 and 28.035 MHz (times will vary).

Stations working WX4NHC are asked to provide a signal report,
location and brief weather report. QSL cards are available via
W4VBQ. Include an SASE with QSL requests.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
SEMCARES Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503  (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929  (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo