A.R.E.S./SKYWARN Recognition Day!

 

TODAY IS ARES/SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY!

Elmore County Emergency Management Agency (E.M.A.) would like to recognize a group of Amateur Radio Operators, that assist with Emergency Communications when our Emergency Operation Center (E.O.C) is activated for weather events. These trained Amateur Radio Operators and Weather Enthusiast are located throughout our county from both home base stations and mobile radio units. Two operator report to the E.O.C. to assist with communications support to EMA and the others call in reports from their location over the Elmore County ARES radio frequency KC4EMG. The radio operators are all individually licensed through the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), however when activated through EMA operate as part of KC4EMG. If you are interested in these programs, please call our office at 334-567-6451.

 

Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES)

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. For more information on ARES click on the logo above.

 

SKYWARN® is a National Weather Service (NWS) program developed in the 1960s that consists of trained weather spotters who provide reports of severe and hazardous weather to help meteorologists make life-saving warning decisions. Spotters are concerned citizens, amateur radio operators, truck drivers, mariners, airplane pilots, emergency management personnel, and public safety officials who volunteer their time and energy to report on hazardous weather impacting their community.

SKYWARN® spotter reports provide vital “ground truth” to the NWS. They act as our eyes and ears in the field. Spotter reports help our meteorologists issue timely, accurate, and detailed warnings by confirming hazardous weather detected by NWS radar. Spotters also provide critical verification information that helps improve future warning services. SKYWARN® Spotters serve their local communities by acting as a vital source of information when dangerous storms approach. Without spotters, NWS would be less able to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.

For more information click on the picture below.