4/30/2002: Ominous stormfront

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by MaggieL


There's a bunch of weather weenies in ham radio, especially those involved in Skywarn, that would consider this photo delightfully pornographic. ...snip

Thanks for the opportunity to plug Skywarn, ARES and RACES.

Each of these are Ham radio based services that provide information. Yes, some of the folks get off on this stuff, some are trying to provide a service.

Skywarn are weather spotters trained to report into the National Weather service - you do NOT have to be a ham for this

ARES - the Amateur Radio Emergency Service provide emergency communications for various agencies when the agencies equipment is not up to the task. Often they are the only people who can provide communications between agencies with incompatible radio. They were called out for the AutoTrain Crash, and were very active with the American Red Cross in NYC post 9/11 providing almost all the communication between shelters

RACES (Radio Amateur Communication Emergency Service) are a bunch of radio folks who work with FEMA - in case of war they would be the only folks allowed on the air. They are activated at the behest of the President, usually by FEMA - when the are activated, they can not talk with other people

There is also MARS - the Military Affiliated Radio Service - they provide radiophone calls back from overseas to the US

All of these programs are strictly volunteer

Disclaimer:
I am the Queens County NY Assistant Emergency Coordinator for NYC ARES

73
KC2IXE