SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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

August 2017 Edition 1

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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.

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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 Email: Tel (W): (207) 688-3216 Work Email: [email protected] 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.

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

SKYWARN© Amateur Radio Coordinator Contact Info:

Name: Tom Berman Call Sign: N1KTA Spotter Number: Address: 25 Bartlett Street, Portland, ME 04103 Tel (H): Home Email: [email protected] Tel (W): (207) 688-3216 Work Email: [email protected] Tel (Cell): (207) 838-8188

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 04210 Tel (H): (207) 783-1759 Home Email: [email protected] Tel (W): Work Email: 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 email, 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 04038 Tel (H): (207) 839-0402 Home Email: [email protected] Tel (W): (207) 839-0402 Work Email: Tel (Cell): (207) 274-9342

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

SKYWARN© Assistant Coordinator Contact Info:

Name: Tim Watson Call Sign: KB1HNZ Spotter Number: YO183 Address: 11 Lyman Avenue, Saco, ME 04072 Tel (H): (207) 710-2200 Home Email: [email protected] Tel (W): (207) 883-5568 Work Email: [email protected] Tel (Cell): (207) 831-8132

SKYWARN© Assistant Coordinator Contact Info:

Name: Call Sign: Spotter Number: Address: Tel (H): Home Email: Tel (W): Work Email: Tel (Cell):

SKYWARN© Assistant Coordinator Contact Info:

Name: Scott Reynolds Call Sign: KC2JCB Spotter Number: Address: 22 Hassel Brook Road, Nashua, NH 03064 Tel (H): (603) 880-3020 Home Email: [email protected] Tel (W): (603) 879-6698 Work Email: [email protected] Tel (Cell): (603) 203-8569

SKYWARN© Assistant Coordinator Contact Info:

Name: Jerry Hume Call Sign: K1WTX Spotter Number: AN36 Address: P.O. Box 17, Turner, ME 04282 Tel (H): (207) 255-3886 Home Email: [email protected] Tel (W): Work Email: Tel (Cell):

1.4.2 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.

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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 email 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!

1.4.3 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 http://www.wx1gyx.org or http://www.maineskywarn.com.

1.4.4 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

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX 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.

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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 email 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 email 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.

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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 email.

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

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX nature of the storm and the storm's potential to cause wide-spread damage and infrastructure outages. Long- term 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 email 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, (146.880 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 email 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.

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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, 146.595 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 14.325 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.

2.4.2 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 10-20 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’ email address, home phone, work phone, or cell phone. 12

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

This list is available as a separate document, which can be downloaded at http://www.wx1gyx.org or http://www.maineskywarn.com.

2.4.3 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 ( ) AND HAVE THEM CONTACT US ON THIS FREQUENCY? 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) 97.403):

"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.

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Chapter 3. NET CONTROL OPERATOR PROCEDURES

3.1 Behavioral Rules and Preparedness

3.1.1 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!

3.1.2 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.

3.1.3 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.

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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:

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D. STATE POLICE CONTACT INFO:

Maine State Police New Hampshire State Police

Gray Office: (207) 657-3030 or 1 (800) 228-0857 Concord Office: (603) 271-6911 or FAX: (603) 271-6609 Augusta Office: (207) 624-7076 or 1 (800) 452-4664 Laconia Office: (603) 527-2069 or FAX: (603) 527-2073 Orono Office: (207) 866-2122 or 1 (800) 432-7381 Emergency Toll Free: 1 (800) 806-1242 (State-wide) Houlton Office: (207) 532-5400 or 1 (800) 924-2261 TTY/TDD Relay: 9-1-1 (800) 806-1242 (State-wide) More Info: www.maine.gov/dps/msp/ More Info: www.nh.gov/

3.1.5 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 well- coordinated 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.

3.1.6 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.

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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 non- severe 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

3.2.1 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.

3.2.2 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.

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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!

3.2.4 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 email. If phone and email 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

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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 emailed 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 email are acceptable). This being said, it is essential to test relays and radio-only 19

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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.

3.4.1 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 email.

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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 emailed 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

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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:

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• 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.

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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.

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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 14.325 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: Frequencies: 14.325 MHz USB – Primary HF HWN Website: http://hwn.org 7.268 MHz LSB – Secondary HF (Daytime) WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station: http://w4ehw.fiu.edu 3.950 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: 7.277 MHz LSB – Primary HF (Daytime), 3.965 MHz LSB – Primary HF (Night), 3.860 MHz LSB – Secondary HF (Night), 28.455 MHz USB –Tertiary HF (Alternate).

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

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX 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, email, or phone call. Below are some local media contacts:

Newspapers Radio Television

Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME) WLOB 1310 AM (Portland, ME) WCSH 6 (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) 791-6500 Tel: (207) 775-1310 Tel: (207) 828-6666 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME) WEZR 1240 AM (Auburn, ME) WMTW 8 (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) 689-2802 [email protected] Tel: (207) 835-3888 http://www.sunjournal.com/submit/newstip [email protected]

Kennebec Journal (Augusta, ME) WVQM 101.3 (Augusta, ME) WGME 13 (Portland, ME) Tel: (207) 621-5732 Tel: (207) 623-9000 Tel: (207) 797-1313 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Journal Tribune (Biddeford, ME) WGAN 1400 AM (Biddeford, ME) WMUR 9 (Manchester, NH) Tel: (207) 282-1535 [email protected] Tel: (603) 669-9999 [email protected] [email protected]

Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, NH) WGIR 930/610 AM (Manchester, NH) WYCN 13 (Nashua, NH) Tel: (800) 439-0303 Tel: (603) 625-6915 Tel: (603) 883-7435 [email protected] http://wgiram.iheart.com/contact/ [email protected]

Foster’s Daily Democrat (Dover, NH) WTSN 1270 AM WBIN 18 (Manchester, NH) Tel: (603) 742-4455 Tel: (207) 742-0987 Tel: (603) 845-1000 [email protected] http://am1270wtsn.com/ http://wbintv.com/contact/station- contacts

Nashua Telegraph (Nashua, NH) WNNH 99.1 FM (Henniker, NH) Tel: (603) 882-2741 Tel: (603) 230-9000 [email protected] [email protected]

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.”

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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 146.880 and 147.045 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: http://www.wx1gyx.org/manuals/ft8900r.pdf to download the radio's manual. It’s good to be familiar with the radio functions BEFORE operating during a deployment.

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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: http://www.wx1gyx.org/images/wxlibrary/TS-570D_S%20Manual.pdf to download the radio’s manual. 28

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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

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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: 145.340 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 04039 Local Telephone number: (207) 688-3216

To report severe weather, call: 1 (800) 482-0913, or Email: [email protected] 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.

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8.2 Contacts by Area of Responsibility

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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

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8.4 Adjacent NWS Forecast Offices / SKYWARN Contact Info

NWS Forecast Office Regional SKYWARN Websites

Gray/Portland, ME: http://www.weather.gov/gyx/ P.O. Box 1208, 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME WX1GYX - http://www.weather.gov/gyx/skywarn_skywarn.htm (207) 688-3216

Burlington, VT: http://www.weather.gov/btv/ WX1BTV - http://www.weather.gov/btv/skywarn 1200 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05407 (802) 862-2475

Taunton/Boston, MA: http://www.weather.gov/box/ - http://www.weather.gov/box/skywarnprogram#tab2 445 Myles Standish Boulevard, Taunton, MA 02780 WX1BOX (508) 828-2672

Albany, NY: http://www.weather.gov/aly/ 251 Fuller Road, Suite B-300, Albany, NY 12203 WX2ALY - http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn (518) 435-9580

Caribou, ME: http://www.weather.gov/car/ 810 Main St., Caribou, ME 04736 WX1CAR - http://www.weather.gov/car/Outreach_Spotters (207) 492-0170

CANWARN: http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo- weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=82ADE061-1

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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 KDO95 162.550 500 Gray, ME Ellsworth Ellsworth KEC93 162.400 1000 Caribou, ME Milo Milo KHB54 162.550 1000 Caribou, ME Frenchville Frenchville KHB55 162.475 300 Caribou, ME Meddybemps Meddybemps KHC47 162.425 300 Caribou, ME Greenville Greenville WNG542 162.425 300 Caribou, ME Jonesboro Jonesboro WNG543 162.450 1000 Caribou, ME Sugarloaf Mtn. Sugarloaf Mtn. WNG547 162.450 300 Gray, ME Dresden Blinn Hill WSM60 162.475 300 Gray, ME Caribou Mars Hill WXM77 162.525 200 Caribou, ME Springfield Lakeville WXN28 162.500 1000 Caribou, ME

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

9.2 New Hampshire Station Listing

Site Name Transmitter Name Call Sign Frequency Power WFO Deerfield Saddleback Mtn. KZZ40 162.450 300 Gray, ME Mt. Washington Mt. Washington KZZ41 162.500 300 Gray, ME Clarksville Ben Young Hill WNG544 162.400 300 Gray, ME Holderness Mt. Prospect WNG545 162.550 300 Gray, ME Hanover Moose Mtn. WNG546 162.525 300 Gray, ME Pack Monadnock Peterborough WNG575 162.525 300 Taunton, MA Concord Plausawa Hill WXJ40 162.400 300 Gray, ME

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Chapter 10. Frequencies

10.1 WX1GYX Yaesu FT-8900R Channel Frequency List

MHz Offset PL Tone County Location 1 146.880 - 100.0 Oxford Buckfield, ME – Primary SKYWARN Repeater

2 147.045 + 103.5 Cumberland Gray, ME – Secondary SKYWARN Repeater 3 147.090 + 100.0 Cumberland Falmouth, ME – WSSM-ECT Primary 4 146.580 SIMPLEX – WSSM-ECT Primary 5 146.595 SIMPLEX – SKYWARN Primary, WSSM-ECT Secondary 6 147.585 SIMPLEX – WSSM-ECT Tertiary 7 146.415 SIMPLEX – ARES Cumberland Primary 8 146.430 SIMPLEX – ARES Waldo Primary 9 146.445 SIMPLEX – ARES York Secondary 10 146.460 SIMPLEX – ARES Androscoggin Primary 11 146.490 SIMPLEX – ARES Sagadohoc Primary 12 146.505 SIMPLEX – ARES Oxford Tertiary 13 146.520 SIMPLEX – ARES Maine Statewide / 2m Calling 14 146.535 SIMPLEX – ARES Cumberland Tertiary 15 146.550 SIMPLEX – ARES Oxford Primary 16 146.565 SIMPLEX – ARES Sagadohoc Tertiary 17 146.580 SIMPLEX – WSSM-ECT Primary 18 146.595 SIMPLEX – SKYWARN Primary, WSSM-ECT Secondary 19 147.420 SIMPLEX – ARES Somerset Primary 20 147.435 SIMPLEX – ARES Oxford Secondary

21 147.495 SIMPLEX – ARES Mt. Washington Valley Primary 22 147.510 SIMPLEX – ARES NH Statewide 23 147.525 SIMPLEX – ARES Cumberland Secondary 24 147.540 SIMPLEX – ARES Knox Primary 25 147.555 SIMPLEX – ARES Sagadohoc Secondary 26 147.570 100.0 SIMPLEX – ARES York Primary – NG1P Echolink 27 147.585 SIMPLEX – WSSM-ECT Tertiary 28 145.130 - 107.2 Essex Gloucester, MA 29 145.150 - 100.0 Chittenden Bolton, VT

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

30 145.210 - 156.7 York Cornish, ME 31 145.230 - 88.5 TSQ Suffolk Boston, MA 32 145.230 - 88.5 Suffolk Boston, MA 33 145.290 - 100.0 Androscoggin Wales, ME – W1PIG Link 34 145.390 - 100.0 Franklin Wilton, ME – W1PIG Link 35 145.410 - 103.5 York Alfred, ME 36 145.450 - 100.0 Carroll North Conway, NH – Mt. Washington Valley ARES 37 145.470 - 100.0 Addison Warren, VT 38 145.490 - 91.5 Knox Washington, ME 39 146.610 - 88.5 Androscoggin Auburn, ME – Androscoggin County ARES 40 146.640 - 103.5 Oxford Woodstock, ME 41 146.655 - 100.0 Coos Mt. Washington, NH – Mt. Washington Valley ARES 42 146.670 - 100.0 Kennebec Augusta, ME – KQ1L Link System 43 146.685 - 100.0 Hillsborough Bedford, NH 44 146.700 - 88.5 Rockingham Northwood, NH 45 146.730 - 100.0 Cumberland Falmouth, ME 46 146.745 - 100.0 Orleans Jay Peak, VT – Kingdom Weather Net 47 146.760 - 100.0 Cumberland Gray, ME 48 146.760 - 110.9 Windsor Mt. Ascutney, VT 49 146.790 - 88.5 Merrimack Pittsfield, NH – N1IMO Net 50 146.805 - 103.5 York Sanford, ME 51 146.820 - 100.0 Knox Camden, ME – KQ1L Link System 52 146.835 - 103.5 Cumberland Naples, ME 53 146.850 - 85.4 Rockingham Derry, NH 54 146.850 - 100.0 Penobscot Dixmont, ME – KQ1L Link System 55 146.865 - 88.5 Belknap Alton, NH 56 146.880 - 100.0 Oxford Buckfield, ME – KQ1L Link System 57 146.895 - 103.5 Androscoggin Leeds, ME 58 146.910 - 162.2 Berkshire Mt. Greylock, MA 59 146.910 - 151.4 Hancock Ellsworth, ME 60 146.910 - 100.0 Oxford Rumford, ME 61 146.925 - 103.5 York Arundel, ME 62 146.940 - Cumberland Yarmouth, ME 63 146.970 - 100.0 Franklin Sugarloaf Mt., ME 64 146.970 - 114.8 Worcester Paxton, MA 37

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

65 146.985 - 100.0 Lincoln Wiscasset, ME 66 146.985 - 123.0 Belknap Gilford, NH – Central NH ARES Primary 67 147.000 - 100.0 Rockingham Deerfield, NH 68 147.015 + 103.5 Oxford Hiram, ME 69 147.030 + 88.5 Carroll Ossipee, NH 70 147.045 + 103.5 Cumberland Gray, ME – WSSM ECT Secondary 71 147.060 + 91.5 Knox Washington, ME 72 147.090 + 100.0 Cumberland Falmouth, ME – WSSM-ECT Primary 73 147.135 + 103.5 Cumberland Brunswick, ME 74 147.165 + Rockingham Salem, NH 75 147.180 + 123.0 Franklin Farmington, ME 76 147.180 + 131.8 York Sanford, ME – KQ1L Link System 77 147.210 + 100.0 Cumberland Brunswick, ME 78 147.210 + 107.2 Rockingham Derry, NH 79 147.225 + 100.0 Merrimack Pembroke, NH 80 147.225 + 123.0 Androscoggin Livermore Falls, ME 81 147.240 + 110.9 Knox Hope, ME 82 147.255 + 114.8 Kennebec Gardiner, ME 83 147.270 + 136.5 Waldo Knox, ME 84 147.270 + 103.5 Cumberland Westbrook, ME 85 147.300 + 88.5 Merrimack Franklin, NH 86 147.315 + 103.5 Androscoggin Poland Spring, ME 87 147.330 + 100.0 Cumberland Brunswick, ME 88 147.345 + 123.0 York Alfred, ME – York County ARES Primary 89 147.360 + 100.0 Cumberland Portland, ME 90 147.390 + 123.0 Carroll Moultonborough, NH 91 446.000 SIMPLEX – ARES Maine Statewide 92 446.075 SIMPLEX – ARES NH Statewide 93 446.500 SIMPLEX – WSSM-ECT Cross-band 94 441.600 + 203.5 York Sanford, ME 95 442.100 + 71.9 Carroll Ossipee, NH 96 442.200 + 82.5 Oxford Hiram, ME 97 442.400 + 123.0 Franklin Farmington, ME 98 443.200 + 88.5 Kennebec Kents Hill, ME 99 444.050 + 88.5 Belknap Alton, NH 38

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

100 444.100 + 82.5 Cumberland Scarborough, ME - OFF 101 444.400 + 88.5 Cumberland Brunswick, ME 102 444.600 + 82.5 Cumberland Westbrook, ME 103 444.900 + 91.5 Knox Washington, ME 104 444.950 + 146.2 Cumberland Windham, ME - Linked to 29.680 105 446.475 - 88.5 Belknap Center Barnstead, NH 106 447.775 - 123.0 Belknap Gilford, NH – W1JY Link System 107 447.825 - 88.5 Rockingham Derry, NH 108 448.225 - 88.5 Coos Mt. Washington, NH 109 448.575 - 71.9 Oxford Hiram, ME 110 448.675 - Merrimack Bow, NH 111 448.725 - 103.5 York Alfred, ME 112 448.775 - 100.0 Carroll North Conway, NH – W1MWV 113 448.975 - 141.3 Coos Mt. Washington, NH 114 449.275 - 88.5 Kennebec Belgrade Lakes, ME 115 449.450 - 123.0 Rockingham Deerfield, NH 116 449.825 - 103.5 York Biddeford, ME 117 52.525 SIMPLEX – ARES Maine Statewide, SKYWARN, 6m Calling 118 51.600 SIMPLEX – ARES NH Statewide 119 51.640 - 71.9 Carroll Ossipee, NH 120 53.030 - 131.8 Strafford Dover, NH 121 53.050 - 136.5 Kennebec Litchfield, ME 122 53.070 - 100.0 Hillsborough Goffstown, NH 123 53.070 - 151.4 Hillsborough Goffstown, NH 124 53.090 - 71.9 Oxford Woodstock, ME 125 53.230 - 162.2 Berkshire Mt. Greylock, MA 126 53.290 - 136.5 York Biddeford, ME – Echolink 127 53.310 - 71.9 Worcester Mt. Wachusett, MA 128 53.310 - 100.0 Worcester Mt. Wachusett, MA 129 53.370 - 136.5 Oxford Hiram, ME 130 53.550 - 91.5 Knox Washington, ME 131 53.770 - 71.9 Carroll Ossipee, NH 132 53.870 - 100.0 Orange Williamstown, VT 133 53.970 - 71.9 Rockingham Derry, NH 134 29.600 SIMPLEX – ARES Maine Statewide, 10m Calling 39

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

135 29.620 - 100.0 Suffolk Boston, MA 136 29.630 - Varies 137 29.640 - 67.0 Providence Providence, RI 138 29.660 - 192.8 Dallas Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX 139 29.680 - 173.8 Cumberland Windham Hill, ME - Linked to 449.950 140 151.820 MURS 1 141 151.880 MURS 2 142 151.940 MURS 3 143 154.570 Blue Dot 144 154.600 Green Dot 145 156.450 Marine Channel 9 146 156.800 Marine Channel 16 147 144.390 100.0 APRS Voice Alert

10.2 WX1GYX Connect Systems CS801 Channel Frequency List

FM DMR

Zone 1 SIMPLEX Zone 130-610

146.520 FM SIMPLEX CALLING 145.130 Cape Ann, MA 145.510 DMR SIMPLEX 145.150 Bolton, VT 145.790 DMR SIMPLEX 145.150 Kensington, NH 146.400 PSQ 1 145.210 Mt. Greylock, MA 146.415 CBL 1 145.210 Sanford, ME 146.430 WAL 1 145.230 Boston, MA 146.445 YORK 2 145.230 Boston, MA (TS) 146.460 AND 1 145.290 Wales, ME 146.475 KNOX 2 145.390 Mt. Equinox, VT 146.490 SAG 1 145.410 Alfred, ME 146.505 OXF 3 145.450 Mt. Cranmore, NH 146.535 CBL 3 145.450 Fitchburg, MA 146.550 OXF 1 145.470 Danvers, MA 146.565 HAN 1 145.490 North Adams, MA 146.580 ECT 1 145.490 Washington, ME 146.595 SKYWARN / ECT 2 146.610 Auburn, ME

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Zone 2 SIMPLEX 2 Zone 640-790

147.420 SOM 1 146.640 Woodstock, 147.435 OXF 2 146.655 Mt. Washington, NH 147.450 PSQ 2 146.670 Augusta, ME 147.465 WAL 1 146.685 Bedford, MA 147.480 KEN 1 146.685 Bedford, MA (TS) 147.495 HAN 1 146.685 Plymouth 147.505 SIMPLEX 146.700 Northwood, NH 147.510 LIN 1 146.715 Holyoke, MA 147.525 CBL 2 146.730 Falmouth, ME 147.540 KNOX 1 146.745 Jay Peak, VT 147.555 SAG 2 146.760 Mt. Ascutney, VT 147.565 PEN 1 146.760 Gray, ME 147.570 YORK 146.760 Scituate, 147.585 ECT 3 146.760 Scituate, (TS) 146.790 Pittsfield, NH

Zone 805-970 Zone 210-390

146.805 Sanford, ME 147.210 Derry, NH 146.820 Camden, ME 147.210 Phippsburg, ME 146.835 Naples, ME 147.225 Gardiner, ME 146.835 Shaftsbury, VT 147.225 Livermore Falls, ME 146.850 Dixmont, ME (KQ1L System) 147.225 Pembroke, NH 146.865 Alton, NH 147.270 Knox, ME 146.880 Killington, VT 147.270 Westbrook, ME 146.880 Streaked Mt. (KQ1L System) 147.285 Toppsfield, MA 146.910 Mt. Greylock (TS) 147.300 Franklin, NH 146.910 Mt. Greylock 147.315 Poland Spring, ME 146.910 Rumford, ME 147.330 Manchester, NH 146.925 Arundel, ME 147.345 Alfred, ME 146.940 Mt. Mansfield, VT 147.345 Alfred, ME (TS) 146.940 Mt. Tom, MA 147.360 Portland, ME 146.940 Mt. Tom, MA (TS) 147.390 Barre, VT 146.970 Mt. Sugarloaf, ME 147.390 Moultonboro, NH

Zone 970-195 Zone Shapleigh, ME

146.970 Paxton, MA 145.110 TS1 WW Worldwide 146.970 Paxton, MA (TS) 145.110 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 146.985 Gilford, NH 145.110 TS1 NA North America 41

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

147.000 Saddleback (Deerfield), NH 145.110 TS1 NEst Northeast 147.015 Hiram, ME 145.110 TS2 NE New England 147.030 Ossipee, NH 145.110 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 147.045 NWS Gray, ME 145.110 TS2 Regn Region North 147.060 Washington, ME 145.110 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 147.090 Falmouth, ME 145.110 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 147.105 Brownville, 145.110 TAC113 TAC channel 147.105 Grafton, NH 145.110 TAC123 TAC channel 147.135 Brunswick, ME 145.110 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 147.165 Belfast, ME 145.110 TAC311 TAC channel 147.180 York, ME 145.510 SIMPLEX 147.195 Ringe, NH 145.790 SIMPLEX

Zone Wakefield, NH Zone Topsham, ME

145.280 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.190 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.280 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.190 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.280 TS1 NA North America 145.190 TS1 NA North America 145.280 TS1 NEst Northeast 145.190 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.280 TS2 NE New England 145.190 TS2 NE New England 145.280 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.190 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.280 TS2 Regn Region North 145.190 TS2 Regn Region North 145.280 TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide 145.190 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.280 TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide 145.190 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.280 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.190 TAC113 TAC channel 145.280 EWARN EWARN 145.190 TAC123 TAC channel 145.280 MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group 145.190 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.280 TAC113 TAC channel 145.190 TAC311 TAC channel 145.280 TAC123 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.280 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.280 TAC311 TAC channel

Zone Falmouth, ME Zone Rochester, NH

145.340 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.240 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.340 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.240 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.340 TS1 NA North America 145.240 TS1 NA North America 145.340 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.240 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.340 TS2 NE New England 145.240 TS2 NE New England 145.340 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.240 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE)

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

145.340 TS2 Regn Region North 145.240 TS2 Regn Region North 145.340 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.240 TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide 145.340 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.240 TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide 145.340 TAC113 TAC channel 145.240 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.340 TAC123 TAC channel 145.240 MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group 145.340 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.240 EWARN EWARN 145.340 TAC311 TAC channel 145.240 TAC113 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.240 TAC123 TAC channel 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.240 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.240 TAC311 TAC channel

Zone Madbury, NH Zone Mt. Washington, NH

145.180 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.120 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.180 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.120 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.180 TS1 NA North America 145.120 TS1 NA North America 145.180 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.120 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.180 TS2 NE New England 145.120 TS2 NE New England 145.180 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.120 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.180 TS2 Regn Region North 145.120 TS2 Regn Region North 145.180 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.120 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.180 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.120 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.180 TAC113 TAC channel 145.120 TAC113 TAC channel 145.180 TAC123 TAC channel 145.120 TAC123 TAC channel 145.180 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.120 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.180 TAC311 TAC channel 145.120 TAC311 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

Zone Ossipee, NH Zone Gilford, NH

147.075 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.360 TS1 WW Worldwide 147.075 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.360 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 147.075 TS1 NA North America 145.360 TS1 NA North America 147.075 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.360 TS1 Nest Northeast 147.075 TS2 NE New England 145.360 TS2 NE New England 147.075 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.360 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 147.075 TS2 Regn Region North 145.360 TS2 Regn Region North 147.075 TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide 145.360 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 147.075 TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide 145.360 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 147.075 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.360 TAC113 TAC channel

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

147.075 EWARN EWARN 145.360 TAC123 TAC channel 147.075 MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group 145.360 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 147.075 TAC113 TAC channel 145.360 TAC311 TAC channel 147.075 TAC123 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 147.075 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.790 SIMPLEX 147.075 TAC311 TAC channel

Zone Chester, NH Zone Augusta, ME

145.190 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.170 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.190 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.170 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.190 TS1 NA North America 145.170 TS1 NA North America 145.190 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.170 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.190 TS2 NE New England 145.170 TS2 NE New England 145.190 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.170 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.190 TS2 Regn Region North 145.170 TS2 Regn Region North 145.190 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.170 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.190 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.170 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.190 TAC113 TAC channel 145.170 TAC113 TAC channel 145.190 TAC123 TAC channel 145.170 TAC123 TAC channel 145.190 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.170 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.190 TAC311 TAC channel 145.170 TAC311 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

Zone Blinn Hill, ME Zone New Sharon, ME

145.430 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.140 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.430 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.140 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.430 TS1 NA North America 145.140 TS1 NA North America 145.430 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.140 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.430 TS2 NE New England 145.140 TS2 NE New England 145.430 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.140 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.430 TS2 Regn Region North 145.140 TS2 Regn Region North 145.430 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.140 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.430 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.140 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.430 TAC113 TAC channel 145.140 TAC113 TAC channel 145.430 TAC123 TAC channel 145.140 TAC123 TAC channel 145.430 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.140 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.430 TAC311 TAC channel 145.140 TAC311 TAC channel

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

145.510 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

Zone Knox, ME Zone Corinna, ME

145.420 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.220 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.420 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.220 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.420 TS1 NA North America 145.220 TS1 NA North America 145.420 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.220 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.420 TS2 NE New England 145.220 TS2 NE New England 145.420 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.220 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.420 TS2 Regn Region North 145.220 TS2 Regn Region North 145.420 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.220 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.420 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.220 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.420 TAC113 TAC channel 145.220 TAC113 TAC channel 145.420 TAC123 TAC channel 145.220 TAC123 TAC channel 145.420 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.220 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.420 TAC311 TAC channel 145.220 TAC311 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

Zone Black Cap, ME Zone Sanbornton, NH

145.310 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.180S TS1 WW Worldwide 145.310 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.180S TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.310 TS1 NA North America 145.180S TS1 NA North America 145.310 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.180S TS1 Nest Northeast 145.310 TS2 NE New England 145.180S TS2 NE New England 145.310 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.180S TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.310 TS2 Regn Region North 145.180S TS2 Regn Region North 145.310 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.180S TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.310 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.180S TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.310 TAC113 TAC channel 145.180S TAC113 TAC channel 145.310 TAC123 TAC channel 145.180S TAC123 TAC channel 145.310 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.180S TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.310 TAC311 TAC channel 145.180S TAC311 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Zone Derry, NH Zone Chelmsford, MA

145.310D TS1 WW Worldwide 145.180C TS1 WW Worldwide 145.310D TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.180C TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.310D TS1 NA North America 145.180C TS1 NA North America 145.310D TS1 Nest Northeast 145.180C TS1 Nest Northeast 145.310D TS2 NE New England 145.180C TS2 NE New England 145.310D TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.180C TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.310D TS2 Regn Region North 145.180C TS2 Regn Region North 145.310D TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.180C TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide 145.310D TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.180C TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.310D TAC113 TAC channel 145.180C TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.310D TAC123 TAC channel 145.180C TAC113 TAC channel 145.310D TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.180C TAC123 TAC channel 145.310D TAC311 TAC channel 145.180C TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.180C TAC311 TAC channel 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

Zone Manchester, NH Zone Marblehead, MA

145.220M TS1 WW Worldwide 145.310 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.220M TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.310 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.220M TS1 NA North America 145.310 TS1 NA North America 145.220M TS1 Nest Northeast 145.310 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.220M TS2 NE New England 145.310 TS2 NE New England 145.220M TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.310 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.220M TS2 Regn Region North 145.310 TS2 Regn Region North 145.220M TS2 ME Maine Statewide 145.310 TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide 145.220M TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.310 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.220M TAC113 TAC channel 145.310 TAC113 TAC channel 145.220M TAC123 TAC channel 145.310 TAC123 TAC channel 145.220M TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.310 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.220M TAC311 TAC channel 145.310 TAC311 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Zone Boston, MA Zone Buckfield, ME

146.430 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.320 TS1 WW Worldwide 146.430 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.320 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 146.430 TS1 NA North America 145.320 TS1 NA North America 146.430 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.320 TS1 Nest Northeast 146.430 TS2 NE New England 145.320 TS2 NE New England 146.430 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.320 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 146.430 TS2 Regn Region North 145.320 TS2 Regn Region North 146.430 TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide 145.320 TS2 ME Maine Statewide 146.430 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.320 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 146.430 TAC113 TAC channel 145.320 TAC113 TAC channel 146.430 TAC123 TAC channel 145.320 TAC123 TAC channel 146.430 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 145.320 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 146.430 TAC311 TAC channel 145.320 TAC311 TAC channel 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.510 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX 145.790 SIMPLEX

Zone Acton, NH Zone Eastham, MA

146.420 TS1 WW Worldwide 145.360E TS1 WW Worldwide 146.420 TS1 WWE Worldwide English 145.360E TS1 WWE Worldwide English 146.420 TS1 NA North America 145.360E TS1 NA North America 146.420 EWARN EWARN 145.360E TS1 Nest Northeast 146.420 TS1 Nest Northeast 145.360E TS2 NE New England 146.420 TS2 NE New England 145.360E TS2 Regn Region North 146.420 TS2 NH NH Statewide (NNE) 145.360E TS2 Loc Local Repeater 146.420 TS2 Regn Region North 145.360E TAC113 TAC channel 146.420 TS2 CT Connecticut Statewide 145.360E TAC123 TAC channel 146.420 TS2 MA Massachusetts Statewide 145.360E TAC310 Standard TAC channel 146.420 TS2 Loc Local Repeater 145.360E TAC311 TAC channel 146.420 MIT USA MIT USA Talk Group 145.510 SIMPLEX 146.420 TAC113 TAC channel 145.790 SIMPLEX 146.420 TAC123 TAC channel 146.420 TAC310 Standard TAC channel 146.420 TAC311 TAC channel

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

10.3 Maine ARES / RACES Frequencies

County Primary Secondary Tertiary Primary Repeater Secondary Repeater Simplex Simplex Simplex Androscoggin 146.460 147.540 146.430 146.610 - / 88.5 145.290 - / 100.0 Aroostook 146.475 147.510 146.505 146.730 - / NO PL Cumberland 146.415 147.525 146.535 146.730 - / 100.0 Cumberland ECT 146.580 146.595 147.585 147.090 - / 100.0 UHF x-band: 446.500 Franklin 146.535 147.570 146.580 147.180 + / 123.0 Hancock 146.565 147.495 146.535 146.910 - / 151.4 Kennebec 147.480 146.475 147.450 145.390 - / 100.0 Knox 147.540 146.475 147.450 145.490 - / 91.5 Lincoln 147.510 146.505 147.450 146.985 - / 100.0 Oxford 146.550 147.435 146.505 146.880 - / 100.0 Penobscot 147.565 146.550 147.555 145.450 - / 67.0 Piscataquis 146.400 147.450 146.565 147.105 + / 103.5 147.150 + / 71.9 Sagadahoc 146.490 147.555 146.565 147.210 + / 100.0 Somerset 147.420 146.430 147.525 146.730 - / 91.5 Waldo 146.430 147.465 146.460 147.270 + / 136.5 Washington 147.525 146.460 147.570 147.330 + / 118.8 York 147.570 146.445 147.540 147.345 + / 123.0 Statewide Coord. 52.525 146.520 223.500 446.00 KQ1L Link System Statewide DMR 145.790 145.510 SKYWARN (Gray) 146.595 KQ1L Link System 147.045 + / 103.5 SKYWARN (Caribou) 146.475 146.730 - / NO PL

3940.0 kHz Night Statewide HF Coordination. 7262.0 kHz Day 1900L: MECN (Sun); SGN (M-Sat). 0900L: MPSN (Sun) 3583.0 kHz Night Digital Modes (NBEMS) Unassigned Day +1000 Hz Olivia 8/500 keyboard net ops; Thor 50x1 file transfer

An updated PDF of this chart is available here: http://maine-ares.org/Frequency_Chart_Jan_05_2017.pdf

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

10.4 New Hampshire ARES / RACES Frequencies

County Primary NBEMS Backup Primary Secondary Simplex Simplex Simplex Repeater Repeater Capital Area 147.450 145.750 NBEMS 146.940 - / 114.8 147.225 + / 100.0 Capital Area (Henniker) 147.450 145.750 NBEMS 146.895 - / 100.0 Central (Guilford) 147.540 145.670 NBEMS 146.985 - / 123.0 147.390 + / 123.0 Central (Franklin) 147.540 145.670 NBEMS 147.300 + / 88.5 147.390 + / 123.0 Cheshire 147.540 145.530 NBEMS 146.805 – 100.0 146.760 - / 110.9 Coos (Berlin) 147.420 145.710 NBEMS 146.580 146.685 - / 100.0 146.655 - / 100.0 Coos (Whitefield) 147.420 145.710 NBEMS 146.580 145.370 - / 114.8 146.655 - / 100.0 Eastern Rockingham 147.465 145.550 NBEMS 145.150 - / 127.3 146.700 - / 88.5 Western Rockingham 147.435 (100.0) 145.690 NBEMS 445.550 (100.0) 146.850 - / 85.4 147.210 + / 107.2 Greater Manchester 146.535 145.730 NBEMS 147.135 + / 100.0 146.685 - / 141.3 Hillsborough 147.405 145.610 NBEMS 146.730 - / 151.4 449.375 - / 88.5 Mt. Washington Valley 147.495 145.590 NBEMS 145.450 - / 100.0 448.975 - / 141.3 Southern Grafton 146.580 145.630 NBEMS 145.330 - / 100.0 146.760 - / 110.9 Strafford 147.570 145.510 NBEMS 147.000 - / 100.0 146.685 - / 88.5 Sullivan (Claremont) 147.555 145.650 NBEMS 147.285 + / 103.5 Statewide Coord. 147.510 446.075 51.600 NBEMS (State EOC & Section) 145.570 State EOC Team 446.075

3945.0 kHz Primary Night Statewide HF Coordination. Net: Saturday at 8:30am local 7273.0 kHz Primary Day 3582.0 kHz Primary NH ARES Digital (PSK125 pri) 7072.0 kHz Backup NH ARES Digital (PSK125 pri)

An updated PDF of this chart is available here: http://nhradio.org/nh-ares/CommPlan/AttachmentB- Nets&Frequencies.pdf

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

10.5 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Network

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

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 146.940 Granite State Traffic Net (NTS) FM - / 114.8 9:00 pm Peter Storher K1PJS Daily 147.225 Granite State Traffic Net (NTS) FM + / 100.0 3980 VT RACES HF Phone LSB Night 7280 VT RACES HF Phone LSB Day 448.125 VT RACES UHF Linked System FM - / 110.9 As Needed 444.700 VT RACES UHF Linked System FM + / 110.9 As Needed 146.520/55 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 146.880 ME ARES VHF FM - / 100.0 KQ1L System 146.520 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 1st Region Net – Cycle 2 LSB 1:45 pm N1UMJ Daily 3948 NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 2 LSB 3:30 pm N1UMJ Daily 3570 NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 3 CW 6:30 pm W1KX Daily 3598 NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 4 CW 7:45 pm W1UD Daily 3598 NTS 1st 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 3993.5 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

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Appendix A

WX1GYX 2 Meter FM Simplex Coverage

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Appendix B

Logsheet

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Appendix C

SKYWARN® Severe Weather Report Form

SKYWARN© Operations Manual - GYX

Appendix D Instructions for Linking & Unlinking Repeaters on the KQ1L System

Thanks to Dave WE1U, for compiling these notes.

REMEMBER the codes work only on the repeater to link/unlink and NOT through the link.

The repeater IDs are 67, 88, 85, 82, 97, 35, etc.

1=listen to link only 2=connect to the link 3=to end the link

For example, to put Buckfied 146.880 (- / 100Hz) into the link system, the tones are 882.

1. You must be on the 88. 2. Press the PTT 3. Say "This is sending tones " 4. Release the PTT 5. You should hear the repeater state "Transmit"

To unlink 88 1. You must be on the 88. 2. Check to see if anyone need to use the 88 linked if you can. 3. Press the PTT 2. Say "This is sending tones " 4. Release the PTT 5. You should hear the repeater state "OFF"

Appendix E SKYWARN NET CONTROL SCRIPTS

WEATHER STATEMENT

THIS IS WX1GYX, FOR SKYWARN. ARE THERE ANY STATIONS WITH EMERGENCY OR PRIOROTY TRAFFIC? THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A < READ STATEMENT OR WARNING >, WHICH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL ______(Local Time).

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, YOUR LOCAL MEDIA, OR VISIT: http://www.weather.gov/gyx FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. THIS IS WX1GYX. CLEAR.

SKYWARN INTRODUCTION SCRIPT #1 – SUMMER (GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)

If a conversation is already in progress when you access a repeater, please wait for a break in the conversation and break into the conversation by giving your call sign and the proword "SKYWARN". When acknowledged by the user of the repeater, say the following:

THIS IS (call sign), NET CONTROL FOR THE ______COUNTY SKYWARN NET. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE MAY BE SEVERE WEATHER IN THE AREA OF THIS REPEATER. WOULD YOU MIND IF WE WERE TO ASK FOR SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS AT THIS TIME? OVER.

Upon receiving the okay to proceed, state the following:

THIS IS (call sign), NET CONTROL FOR THE ______COUNTY SKYWARN NET. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE MAY BE SEVERE WEATHER IN THE OPERATING AREA OF THIS REPEATER.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME INCLUDING:

1. TORNADOES, FUNNEL CLOUDS, OR ROTATING WALL CLOUDS

2. HAIL (QUARTER SIZE OR LARGER)

3. WIND FIFTY (50) MILES PER HOUR OR GREATER

4. FLOODING

5. RAIN ACCUMULATION IN EXCESS OF ONE (1) INCH

6. DAMAGE BY WIND OR LIGHTNING, OR

7. DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS (call sign). OVER.

Once you have received all reports available, read the following:

I PLAN TO PERIODICALLY CHECK IN ON THIS REPEATER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT. ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, GRAY, MAINE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE AND THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, I THANK THE REPEATER LICENSEE FOR USE OF THE REPEATER AND THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY. THIS IS (call sign), NET CONTROL FOR THE ______COUNTY SKYWARN NET. CLEAR.

SKYWARN Script #2 – SUMMER

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)

READ EVERY 30 MINUTES

THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN GRAY, MAINE, NEAR PORTLAND.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME INCLUDING:

1. TORNADOES, FUNNEL CLOUDS, OR ROTATING WALL CLOUDS

2. HAIL (QUARTER SIZE OR LARGER)

3. WIND FIFTY (50) MILES PER HOUR OR GREATER

4. FLOODING

5. RAIN ACCUMULATION IN EXCESS OF ONE (1) INCH

6. DAMAGE BY WIND OR LIGHTNING, OR

7. DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS (call sign). OVER.

SKYWARN Script #3 – SUMMER

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER)

READ WITH EVERY 30 minutes

THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN GRAY, MAINE.

ON BEHALF OF THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ______REPEATER FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY.

WHEN SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT IS NOT TAKING TRAFFIC, THE REPEATER MAY BE USED BY AMATEURS. IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRANSMISSIONS BE KEPT SHORT AND BREAKS GIVEN TO PERMIT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO REACH SKYWARN.

ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS WX1GYX. OVER.

SKYWARN Script #4 – SUMMER

STANDBY NET

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)

READ EVERY 30 MINUTES

THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN GRAY, ME.

SKYWARN IS IN A STAND-BY MODE DUE TO A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER. REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE TAKEN ON THE HOUR AND ON THE HALF HOUR. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MAY FULLY ACTIVATE SKYWARN IF SEVERE WEATHER OCCURS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME INCLUDING:

1. TORNADOES, FUNNEL CLOUDS, OR ROTATING WALL CLOUDS

2. HAIL (QUARTER SIZE OR LARGER)

3. WIND FIFTY (50) MILES PER HOUR OR GREATER

4. FLOODING

5. RAIN ACCUMULATION IN EXCESS OF ONE (1) INCH

6. DAMAGE BY WIND OR LIGHTNING, OR

7. DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS WX1GYX. OVER.

(BREAK)

HEARING NO FURTHER SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS AT THIS TIME, SKYWARN WILL RESUME TAKING REPORTS AT ______(Local Time). THIS IS WX1GYX, CLEAR.

SKYWARN INTRODUCTION SCRIPT #1 - WINTER

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)

Upon receiving the okay to proceed, state the following:

THIS IS (call sign), NET CONTROL FOR THE ______COUNTY SKYWARN NET. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE MAY BE SEVERE WEATHER IN THE OPERATING AREA OF THIS REPEATER. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME INCLUDING:

1. SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF TWO (2) INCHES

2. SEVERE ICING ON TREES, STREETS, OR POWER LINE

3. SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN

4. WIND IN EXCESS OF THIRTY (30) MILES PER HOUR

5. DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

6. IMPASSABLE OR CLOSED ROADS

ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS (call sign). OVER.

Once you have received all the reports available, read the following:

I PLAN TO PERIODICALLY CHECK BACK IN ON THIS REPEATER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT. ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, GRAY, MAINE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE AND THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, I THANK THE REPEATER LICENSEE FOR USE OF THE REPEATER AND THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY FOR

GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY. THIS IS (call sign), NET CONTROL FOR THE ______COUNTY SKYWARN NET. CLEAR.

SKYWARN Script #2 - WINTER

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)

READ EVERY 30 MINUTES

THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN GRAY, ME, NEAR PORTLAND.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME INCLUDING:

1. SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF TWO (2) INCHES

2. SEVERE ICING ON TREES, STREETS, OR POWER LINE

3. SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN

4. WIND IN EXCESS OF THIRTY (30) MILES PER HOUR

5. DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

6. IMPASSABLE OR CLOSED ROADS

ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS WX1GYX. OVER.

SKYWARN Script #3 - WINTER

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER) READ WITH EVERY 30 MINUTES THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN GRAY, ME.

ON BEHALF OF THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ______REPEATER GROUP FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN. OVER.

SKYWARN Script #4 - WINTER

STANDBY NET

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS READ EVERY 30 MINUTES)

THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN GRAY, ME.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME INCLUDING:

1. SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF TWO (2) INCHES

2. SEVERE ICING ON TREES, STREETS, OR POWER LINE

3. SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN

4. WIND IN EXCESS OF THIRTY (30) MILES PER HOUR

5. DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

6. IMPASSABLE OR CLOSED ROADS

ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS WX1GYX. OVER.

HEARING NO FURTHER SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS AT THIS TIME, SKYWARN WILL RESUME TAKING REPORTS AT ______(Local time). THIS IS WX1GYX. CLEAR.

SKYWARN Net Closing Script:

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER AND AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY)

READ ON CLOSING THE NET

THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN GRAY, ME.

ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ______REPEATER GROUP FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY AND FOR PARTICIPATING IN SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER NETS.

PLEASE PASS ALL FURTHER SEVERE WEATHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY TELEPHONE. THE SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS: 1-800- 482-0913. REPEATING, THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS: 1-800-482-0913. THIS HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO REPORT THE OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE WEATHER.

THIS IS WX1GYX, NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN. THE SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO SEVERE WEATHER NET IS NOW SECURED AT ______(Local time). THE REPEATER IS RETURNED TO NORMAL SERVICE.

NOTE: Please email all reports of severe weather to the NWS at: [email protected]

SKYWARN Training Net Script:

(5 Minutes Prior to Net): THIS IS (Call Sign), NET CONTROL FOR THE SKYWARN TRAINING NET. THIS NET WILL BEGIN IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND WE ASK THAT ANY STATION NEEDING TO MAKE A CALL, PLEASE DO SO NOW. ANYONE WHO CAN, PLEASE BRING UP ANY UNLINKED REPEATERS. THE SKYWARN TRAINING NET WILL BEGIN IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. (Call Sign). CLEAR.

(Net Opening): DO WE HAVE ANY STATIONS WITH EMERGENCY OR PRIORITY TRAFFIC?

THIS IS, (Call Sign, Name & Location), NET CONTROL FOR THE SKYWARN TRAINING NET. THIS NET MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 PM AND SATURDAY AT 7:30 PM ON THE KQ1L REPEATER SYSTEM. THE PURPOSE OF THIS NET IS TO SHARE TRAINING AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO THE SKYWARN PROGRAM. ALL ARE WELCOME TO CHECK IN.

TO STATIONS NEW TO THE KQ1L SYSTEM, PLEASE BE SURE TO USE A 100HZ PL TONE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 145.170, ISLAND FALLS REPEATER, WHICH USES A 123 HZ PL. WHEN YOU KEY UP, PAUSE FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS, STATE YOUR CALL, NAME, AND LOCATION, AND UNKEY.

DO WE HAVE ANY SHORT-TIME STATIONS? DO WE HAVE ANY STATIONS ON EMERGENCY POWER? DO WE HAVE ANY CHECK INS FROM THE NWS, ARES, RACES, OR EMA STATIONS?

NOW TAKING CHECK-INS BY REPEATER: NORTHERN LINK 145.170 (PL 123 HZ) ISLAND FALLS, .000- LINCOLN, .670-MUSQUASH, .670-AUGUSTA, .350-NEW SHARON, .820-CAMDEN, .850-DIXMONT, .880-BUCKFIELD. ANY REPEATER.

(Net Closing): THIS IS (Call Sign), NOW CLOSING THE SKYWARN TRAINING NET. THIS NET MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 8:30 PM AND SATURDAY AT 7:30 PM ON THE KQ1L REPEATER SYSTEM. THANKS TO ALL WHO CHECKED IN, DAVE, KQ1L, FOR THE USE OF THE REPEATER SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL REPEATER OWNERS FOR PROVIDING US WITH SUCH A GREAT SYSTEM.

THE SKYWARN TRAINING NET IS NOW CLOSED AND THE REPEATERS ARE RETURNED TO NORMAL AMATEUR USE. 73 DE (Call Sign).