[Skywarn] Skywarn "shortcomings"

[Jay Cafasso]

Greg,

Sorry I got caught up in the moment...:-)

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=pah&storyid=102356&source=0

Jay Cafasso
12559 N400E
Wheatfield, IN 46392 USA
Cell: 479.866.9579 Fax: 651-691-2608
Home GPS - Lat 41.19509, Long -86.96737

www.facebook.com/jay.cafasso.7
http://robinstorm/blogspot.com  - A WRN Ambassador

WRN SVR WX Info Sheets
http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/activities/weather-ready-nation/newis/

David Prevatt's Wind Hazards
http://windhazard.davidoprevatt.com/blog/

"The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the
wrong reason."   Murder in the Cathedral - St. Thomas Becket.

Skywarn® and the Skywarn® logo are registered trademarks of the National
Weather Service "used with permission".
On Jun 2, 2014 7:01 PM, "Gregg Hendry" <gregghendry at frontier.com> wrote:

> Jay,
>
> If the safety seminar from PAH will be available online, please post the
> information.  For me, I work this Thursday eve but will try to "tune in" if
> I can.  Always good to hear things from a different perspective - it
> sometimes makes a subject jump out that you've missed before.  If you want
> to hear from some of the folks better experienced with tornadoes and severe
> weather, the Norman, Oklahoma NWS Office offers online seminars.
>
> Keep in mind, each Office tailors their presentation to the predominant
> threat for the area.  For example, here in the Charleston area it is flash
> floods while Norman's area is certainly intense thunderstorms and
> tornadoes.
> While we rarely mention it, Skywarn is useful during winter weather events
> too.  This is the reason NWS encourages Skywarn volunteers to attend
> training from their local NWS Office.
>
> I'll second Jay's comments about people being storm chasers.  Skywarn is
> not, never was, and never will be, intended to be a "storm chaser" program.
> The purpose is SAFELY reporting what is occurring AT ONE GIVEN POINT.
>  Never
> put yourself in harm's way to make a report.  That includes staying off the
> landline telephone or radio with outdoor antenna while thunderstorms are in
> progress.  As we saw last year near Oklahoma City, tornadoes can catch and
> kill seasoned professionals using the latest and greatest storm chasing
> equipment.
>
> Gregg Hendry, W8DUQ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Skywarn [mailto:skywarn-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jay
> Cafasso
> Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 7:24 PM
> To: Bradly L. McGarr
> Cc: skywarn at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Skywarn] Skywarn "shortcomings"
>
> Skywarn like many things is all "local"... There are many good groups and
> then again there are the others.
>
> The big issues I have with Skywarn are, ego and purpose. If anyone here
> thinks they know it all or is an expert when its comes to storms or
> emergency/disaster response is plainly fooling himself and " Son, your ego
> is writing checks your body can't cash".
>
> Don't get me wrong, there are very knowledgeable people, very experienced,
> but experts? No way.."Some" of the experienced guy's need to learn to be
> teachers not kings, while there are a great deal of older spotters who are
> excellent teachers. You just have to search them out.
>
> The second issue is purpose. Why are you a spotter? Save lives? Believing
> your own bull, eh? Chaser? For who? Media outlets? NWS? You supporting your
> WCM that includes reporting properly? Learning the science? You know why
> tornadoes do the things they do? Or are you doing it because you get a kick
> out of watching mother nature destroy things?
>
> I don't mean to be a smarty pants but many spotters and chaser have lost
> control and purpose.
>
> By the way, Rick Shanklin out of Paducah WFO has a very good safety program
> coming up. I recommend everyone sign up for it...
>
> "Secondly please be aware that we will be having a "Mobile Spotter
> Training"
> Webinar this Thursday June 5 at 6:30 PM. For details see
> http://ow.ly/xwjIy
> "
>
> Lastly, call your WCM and talk to him about the issues you have. That's the
> only way you can begin the change the process if you have a issue. If you
> don't have a Skywarn group in your area call your WCM and start one...
>
> But remember, Skywarn is subservient to NWS they are our bosses....
>
> Be safe out there!
> Jay
>
>