April 12 2017 CLUB MEETING Loren Lawrence – Club President N5PUV

BCRO Agenda INTRODUCTION TREASURERS REPORT OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS VISITORS MEET AND GREET TREASURERS REPORT MARK MADDOX OLD BUSINESS Storm Spotting Training Laka Atalanta Duathalon Event Goodman Missouri NEW BUSINESS May 13th Sprint the Bent May 27-28 Hickory Creek Great Ozark Open Water Swim June 17 Tour de Fun Field Day Locations 2 possible Locations now Must pick 1 tonight TRAINING PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT (Loren) Storm Spotting Highlights BCRO Agenda

Treasurers Report March 2017 Beginning Balance ----------------------------------- $ 1827.01 Income (-) (+) Dues 20.00 Expenses 83.40 Ending Balance---------------------------------------- $ 1763.61

Old Business

Storm training class, who all went? The OAK Room at NWACC at Center for Health Professionals I-49 Exit for Highway 62 Exit 86

LaKe atalanta event! Was lots of Fun!, recap Notes Was lots of Fun!, recap Yes, I used the vertical OCFD I showed you all how to build in the last meeting!!

Lake atalanta road race records Position 4 across from Monte Chicken Position 5, crossing New Hope, Position 6 near closed convenience store New Order of Race Foot Race Bike Road Race and Mountain Bikes Foot Race Again 4 6 5

Goodman, Just a few miles away….

Goodman and Rogers

Tuesday Night at 6:45pm an EF2 comes to town

https://www.facebook.com/wesweather/videos/1324134667654717/

https://weather.com/storms/severe/video/tornado-reported-in-goodman-missouri

New Business

May 13th Sprint the Bend

We need several volunteers: Sprint the Bend is a sprint distance triathlon consisting of a 500 yard open water swim, a 15 mile road ride, and a 5K run. Event DATE: May 13, 2017 Event TIME: 7:30am Location: Horseshoe Bend Park Event Schedule: 5:30 a.m. Transition Opens 6:50 a.m. Transition Closes 7:00 a.m. National Anthem and Pre race meeting 7:30 a.m. First Wave Starts We need several volunteers: 2 in Park with HT’s 4 on the road race with Mobile units on 70cm or 2 meter 1 or 2 Net Control = 7 volunteers

May 27-28th Great Ozark Water Swim – Hickory Creek

The Great Ozark Open Water Swim Festival powered by GPP Everyman Series takes place in the scenic Ozark Mountains in beautiful Beaver Lake at Hickory Creek in Springdale, AR This open water swim festival offers 4 distances for all level of swimmers! 1k, 2k 5k, and 10k. Event DATE: May 26-28 2017 Event TIME: Friday: 6pm Saturday & Sunday: 8:30am Volunteers Needed: This one is a water based event at Hickory Creek. We need Hams in Kayaks or small boats with HT’s and perhaps some in the park. 1 or 2 Net Controls Near the action. Remember this is a 3 day (evening, and two mornings) event So we will take all the volunteers we can when they can be there

June 17th Tour de Fun Rogers

Includes Downtown Rogers and Lake Atalanta for Mountain Bikes A road and mountain ride is here for this year's Tour de Fun. What else? The Beer Garden afterwards is at the GPP Cycling and Multisport Patio! All on Saturday, June 17. Includes Downtown Rogers and Lake Atalanta for Mountain Bikes The Tour de Fun is TASC's biggest annual fundraiser held every year to help TASC continue in its support of local teens.  Without your participation in this event, hundreds of teens in NWA would go without accessible counseling, resources, and service opportunities. Saturday Fun Fest 50k Bike Ride 6:45 a.m. Saturday Fun Fest 100k Bike Ride 7:00 a.m. ​Saturday Fun Fest Mountain Bike Ride 7:10 a.m. Volunteers Needed: 1-2 Net Control 2 Mobile or Walk a Ham radios or Ham Bikes 2 HT’s will work on street corners = 5

Field Day Locations we have to decide on this year

One is out toward Decator, where we had it last year 8030 La Croix Road Generators allowed RV campers allowed Long way there for most Few visitors experienced Kind of intimidating? Hard for news to find or visit They have never come

Generators allowed (Honda) Tents allowed Easy to find New Site is In Rogers! 905 S 13 street Generators allowed (Honda) Tents allowed Easy to find In Town, News can find Perhaps others can too It’s a wooded lot also Closer to town We need to decide which one is where we want to do Field day this year WE need a vote from Members!

Spotter Guidelines Presentation

Severe Weather Spotting Preparation, Safety, and Communications Steve Hilberg, N9XDC Debbie Fligor, N9DN Amateur Radio Emergency Service Introductions Why and how we got interested Why this training? How it's different from the NWS training

Attitude and Frame of Mind You are a storm SPOTTER, not a storm chaser! Your job is to provide factual, real-time information about weather conditions We all work together in the interest of public safety With title on screen - ask about experience. How many first year? How many less than five years? How many 6-10 years? Over 10 years?

Attitude and Frame of Mind Severe thunderstorms can be deadly To be an effective storm spotter you must also pay attention to your own safety! Training Awareness Training is important! NWS training every two years - recommended every year.

Awareness Know What’s Going On

Awareness Understand how the system operates Know the terminology Key to effective communication "terminology" is not necessarily jargon. In order to communicate effectively everyone must be speaking the same "language" Olympic/Curling analogy - a lot of comon words, but with completely different meaning "end" "draw", "house", "hammer" END - similar to an inning in baseball HOUSE - the scoring area DRAW - a rock that stops in front of or in the house HAMMER - the last rock of each end

Awareness Daily Convective Outlooks are issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK www.weather.gov/Tulsa

Four Levels of Risk APPROACHING SLIGHT Strong thunderstorms are possible but little or no severe weather is expected SLIGHT Well-organized severe thunderstorms are expected, but in small numbers and/or low coverage

Four Levels of Risk MODERATE HIGH A greater concentration of severe thunderstorms, and often greater magnitude HIGH A major severe weather outbreak is expected Usually “PDS” (Particularly Dangerous Situation) included in Public Severe Weather Outlooks (PWO) and watches

Convective Outlooks Day 1 issued five times a day 01:00, 08:00, 11:30, 15:00, 20:00 CDT Day 2 issued twice a day 02:30 and 12:30 CDT Day 3 issued once a day 02:30 CDT

New Experimental Outlook Day 4-8 Outlook

Watch Means the conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes to develop Issued for a period of 4 to 6 hours Area covered may be as much as 20,000 to 40,00 square miles May be trimmed, canceled, replaced, or re-issued as required

Watches

Warnings Issued by local NWS office Issued when severe weather detected by radar, observed by spotters, or observed by public safety officials Typically for periods of 15 to 60 minutes Area covered is usually one to three counties or parts of counties (polygons) Know the difference between WATCH and WARNING!

Items to have with you for safe and effective spotting Ready Kit Items to have with you for safe and effective spotting

Required County or site map Radio or other communications equipment If using H-T, be sure to have extra batteries and/or auxiliary power cable Clipboard, paper and pen Identification – ARES or ESDA ID, drivers license, vehicle placards

Strongly Suggested Report forms or a micro cassette recorder to keep logs with Wind gage, ruler, compass or GPS Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs

Recommended Binoculars or small telescope Rain coat that is bright colored or worn with orange vest

Optional Folding chair or lawn chair if you are not under lightning Snacks, non-alcoholic drinks Video or film camera, with extra tapes, batteries and film Fire extinguisher and first aid kit Spare fuses, paper towels, insect repellant

Vehicle Preparation NSSL Doppler on Wheels - the ultimate storm spotting vehicle!

At the Beginning of Storm Season, and Occasionally Thereafter Make sure the lights all work: headlights, flashers, turn signal, break/backup Check your fluid levels: oil, coolant, brake, battery and windshield cleaner Inspect your radios, coax, power connectors, antenna and antenna connector

Every Time You Go Out Fill the gas tank Check your windshield wipers – it’s going to rain on you Check your tires – tread, pressure, and spare Put a fresh coat of Rain-X on the windshield if you have time

On the Volunteer Activity Your Safety is Important!

Spotter Safety Take a partner if possible Driver concentrates on the road Spotter concentrates on spotting and navigating Always let net control know where you are

Survey Your Spotting Location Spotter Safety Survey Your Spotting Location Move completely out of traffic Be visible - parking lights (not hazard flashers) or yellow caution light Be sure you have a good field of view (at least 180o) Important for spotting and safety Are there power lines overhead?

Survey Your Spotting Location Spotter Safety Survey Your Spotting Location Too much mud? Tall dry grass - a potential fire hazard near your exhaust Avoid low spots or ditches that may flood quickly in heavy rain Know your escape routes! Have more than one escape route!

Spotter Safety Driving Safely Rural intersections can have low visibility due to crops or weather Heavy rain and hail=poor visibility and may mean you are in “wrong” part of storm! Avoid water flowing over roads - six inches can float a moving car (hydroplaning) Lightning can strike miles away - stay in your vehicle

Communications Your job is to observe and communicate CREDIBILITY is key! Be objective in your reporting Report what you observe or experience, despite what you may hear on the radio Avoid subjective and personal descriptions Observation should be communicated in something measurable or comparative Distance, direction, and movement should be a part of every report where applicable

Communications Give all reports with respect to your location Estimate wind speeds or describe damage being caused “When in doubt, don’t shout.” If not sure of what you are seeing, take extra time to observe before you report Report only what you see

Communications Avoid using the words “tornado” and “funnel cloud” unless you actually observe one! May cause unnecessary public panic May confuse other spotters Avoid mentioning specific towns or locations unless you are sure event is occurring there

Communications Know WHAT to report A thunderstorm is classified as severe if one or more of the following are observed: tornado or funnel cloud winds 58 mph or greater hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter (penny)

Communications Tornado Funnel cloud Rotating wall cloud Flash flooding URGENT Priority Tornado Funnel cloud Rotating wall cloud Flash flooding

Communications Hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter HIGH Priority Hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter Winds speeds greater than 58 mph (or damaging winds) Persistent non-rotating wall cloud Rainfall 1 inch or more per hour

Communications Hail 1/4 inch or larger Lower Priority Hail 1/4 inch or larger Winds speeds greater than 40 mph Cloud features suggesting storm organization (if you are familiar with these)

Communications Use break tags if necessary to break into existing net traffic PRIORITY – used to report important but non-life threatening info (such as damage) EMERGENCY – used only for life or property threatening or damaging incident

Communications Examples of reports we DON’T want to hear... “I have light rain at my location” “I can see lightning off in the distance!” “It’s starting to brighten up here.” “The clouds are really dark to the west.” WHY don't we want to hear these type of reports?

Communications Log all of your reports Note time, location, and what you observed If you have something to report but cannot for some reason, LOG IT! This information can be valuable in reconstructing storm events in post storm investigations.

Servere Weather Report Form

Communications Keep your radio traffic... BRIEF CONCISE ACCURATE THINK about what you are going to say before you say it!

Communications Use proper radio procedures “Hey you, It’s Me” “Net control, this is N9XDC” Repeat message back so person you are communicating with knows you understand “I copy you want me to relocate to the intersection of 1200N and 500E” “I copy your report of 1 inch hail at your location”

Network Operations & Procedures Communications Network Operations & Procedures Ask how many net copntrol operators in room?

Network Operations & Procedures Be sure to follow procedures for the particular net you participate in This is critical to effective and efficient flow of information Most nets are directed nets, i.e. all communications are directed to and through a net control station (NCS)

Network Operations & Procedures Recommended General Procedures Participating operators must check in with NCS by giving call sign and current location. If you are not available, do NOT check in! If you check in to the net, be sure to check out when you must leave Remain at check-in location until dispatched or directed by NCS

Network Operations & Procedures Recommended General Procedures Notify NCS prior to any change in location, except in case of emergency or dangerous conditions Get to safety. Report new location to NCS as soon as possible once situation is secure Report significant events only! APRS trackers are useful for keeping NCS aware of your location. However, they DO NOT replace the need for notifying net control of your location or change in location

Advanced Spotter Guide http://spotterguides.us/advanc ed/advanced02.htm www.meted.ucar.edu/spotter_tr aining Advanced Spotter Guide

Please help us put any chairs and tables up! Almost Time! Please help us put any chairs and tables up! 73! The Library wants this room to be cleared after our meetings