Extra eyes, ears help weather bureau
By Nick Dutro, ndutro@advertiser-tribune.comWhen storms approach Seneca County, many residents look to the sky to see what is coming. The trained spotters of SKYWARN take it a step further by reporting their findings to the National Weather Service.
Scott Rosenberger, SKYWARN coordinator, said the program is a network of trained individuals who report their observations to the National Weather Service, which uses the information to make forecasts and inform the public.
Many SKYWARN spotters are amateur radio operators, or hams, who use the radio for reporting and to communicate with other spotters.
"You don't have to be a ham to do that. Obviously being a ham helps, but we love to have people out there just to watch and have them call in," said Jim Yoder, public information officer.
SKYWARN works in conjunction with the Seneca County Emergency Management Agency. Director Dan Stahl said the EMA became involved with SKYWARN in the early 1990s. Amateur radio operators were especially helpful then because cell phones were not widely used.
Yoder said SKYWARN is an interesting addition for amateur radio operators, allowing them to give back to the community.
He added that Seneca County has a "very active group of hams" and they have a good relationship with the EMA.
"People ask why we have all these hams out there," Yoder said. "Well, you never have enough eyes and ears, and our public safety folks cannot be everywhere, so we help in that area. We don't take charge and we certainly don't get in their way. We're additional eyes and ears for them."
"We all work together," Stahl said.
"Very well. It's kind of a natural marriage," Yoder said.
Stahl usually researches local media and checks forecasts to see whether there is a severe weather day is in the future. When a storm is on its way, he informs public safety officials and requests the Seneca County Sheriff's Office tone SKYWARN.
Spotters and operators relay information using a specific radio frequency.
"It's not just a bunch of us gaggling on a party line and that's something that amateur radio brings to the table," Yoder said.
Spotters go out into the field, usually armed with portable radios and GPS, to provide on-site information. Rosenberger said safety is important, and spotters are trained to keep out of danger in a storm.
"We're not trained to be tornado chasers," Rosenberger said.
"And encouraged not to," Yoder added.
SKYWARN uses the EMA office as a base to coordinate information and relay it to public safety officials.
"As the storm gets worse, it gets pretty intense up here with all the information coming through," Stahl said. "It's a really well organized method of information dispersion."
During a two-hour class, spotters learn what to look for and how to keep safe in the field.
"It's like a first-aid course for weather," Rosenberger said.
Stahl said the program has had a lot of interest. This year, the class is to be held at Sentinel Career Center because they filled the EMA office last year.
"That's nothing but success as far as I'm concerned," Stahl said.
SKYWARN spotter training is to be held at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Sentinel Career Center, 793 E. TR 201, with registration starting at 5:30 p.m. The course is free and open to the public.
