Allen,

 AP> I'm surprised with all of the weather emergencies we have had this echo
 AP> has remained so silent.  Also with the police situation in Dallas...
 AP> much to be discussed what to do when there is an active shooter in the
 AP> streets.

  Many of the Skywarn Nets that ham radio operators do are activated ONLY
at the request of the National Weather Service. Otherwise, you've got too
many storm spotter and chaser wannabes trying to stir up a panic with the
weather.

  One of the area clubs does a Skywarn Training Net on the second Tuesday
of every month at 7pm Central Time. Yet, scores of ham radio operators
won't trouble themselves to check into that net, to learn proper net
protocol, reportable criteria, etc. -- yet, they show up when the real
thing occurs.

  We get reports such as:

1) "The Tornado Sirens Are Going Off"

2) "I have a Funnel Cloud That's Not Rotating" (they likely are seeing scud
clouds).

3) "It just started raining here"

4) "It's lightning outside"

  NONE of that is REPORTABLE criteria...which is defined by the National
Weather Service as:

A) Tornado (a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground)

B) Funnel Cloud (a violently rotating column of air NOT in contact with
the ground -- terms A and B are NOT interchangeable).

C) Wall Cloud (lowering of a rain free cloud on the southwest side of a
severe thudnerstorm.

D) Hail 1 inch in diameter or larger (the size of a U.S. 25 cent piece (a
quarter)).

E) Damaging Winds, sustained or gusts, 50 knots (58 mph) or greater.

F) Flash Flooding.

Daryl, WX1DER

... I was told "Have emergency # on vacation". I wrote "911".
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