SKYWARN Operations

* A SKYWARN net is established when weather conditions indicate the need for a net.  Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warnings usually trigger a net.  Occasionally we do not establish a net during a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.  This is usually because the storm will be out of the county soon.  If highly dangerous, we will alert via SMS texting, otherwise we will continue self-alerting.

* When a net is established, please transmit only at the direction of net control. 

* All amateurs may check in to the net, and submit reports.  Persons with documented SKYWARN training within the last two (2) years are considered "trained spotters" and their reports will be passed on as such.

* A liason station will need to check into the GRR NWS net 145.270- 94.8 if one is operational.  Spotter reports will be passed to NWS via that system.  In select situations, the person in charge of the net may elect to telephone NWS, or utilize the MPSCS 800MHz system in order to speak directly to the designated communications meteorologist for detailed coordination.

* If you are spotting from a mobile station, net control or the person overseeing net operations will try to keep you safe while also providing information on storm location to allow optimum spotting.  You should try to stay to the right of (as viewed from the storm looking forward) and ahead of the storm cell for best viewing and greatest safety.  If your situation becomes unsafe, either leave the area or seek sturdy shelter.

* Submit reports as directed by net control.  The key elements are Time, Event, and Location.  At times general storm reports are welcome.  At other times, reports will be limited to reports of severe weather, flooding, or damage.  Please await acknowledgement from net control in case part of your transmission was unreadable.

* The preferred format for a location report is in latitude and longitude (GPS coordinates) in dd.ddddd format.  Other formats can be converted if necessary.  If not occurring directly overhead, please indicate direction you are looking.

* If you check in to the net, please check out if you must leave.  We often do status checks and may waste time looking for you if you leave without checking out.  You do not need permission to leave the net, simply indicate that you must check out.

* We may also engage in post-event damage assessment in support of the National Weather Service's INVEST program.  There is an on-line course to receive INVEST training.  Emergency Management may also use this information to gain a clearer understanding of the event.

* If significant damage has occurred or other major disruptions, we will prepare to activate the RACES function in support of Emergency Management.

* Primary frequency:  Allegan repeater 147.240 + offset, tone 94.8.  If the repeater becomes unusable or goes down, switch to the output of the repeater: 147.240 with no offset.  We may transfer operations to the Bravo 147.140 repeater.  If needed, additional simplex frequencies may be used.