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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
616 AM CST FRI FEB 13 2009

...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...

...AMATEUR RADIO AND STORM SPOTTERS...

YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE USES A VARIETY OF
TOOLS AND METHODS TO HELP PREDICT AND TRACK SEVERE STORMS...BUT
EVEN WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY...WE STILL RELY ON HUMAN EYES AND EARS
TO HELP US KNOW WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING.

STORM SPOTTERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. MANY WORK WITH LOCAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES TO GATHER WEATHER INFORMATION TO HELP
EMERGENCY MANAGERS MAKE CRITICAL LOCAL WARNING DECISIONS. IN MANY
AREAS...STORM SPOTTERS ARE VOLUNTEERS...INTERESTED IN HELPING PROTECT
THEIR COMMUNITY FROM DEADLY STORMS. IN OTHER PLACES...THE SPOTTER
GROUP IS MADE UP OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS FROM THE FIRE AND POLICE
SERVICES...DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY...AND OTHER CITY AND COUNTY
OFFICIALS.

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS HAVE HISTORICALLY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SPOTTER PROGRAM. SOMETIMES KNOWN AS
HAMS...THESE PUBLIC SERVICE MINDED MEN AND WOMEN VOLUNTEER THEIR
TIME...EXPERTISE AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY WHEN
STORMS THREATEN. ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN STORM SPOTTING AND AMATEUR RADIO A NATURAL FIT...IS THE
COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES THEY POSSESS. AMATEUR RADIO STORM
SPOTTERS ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH A PERSON AT A CONTROL
STATION WHO COLLECTS REPORTS AND DISSEMINATES WEATHER UPDATES. IN
SOME LOCATIONS...HAMS CAN TALK DIRECTLY TO OTHER HAMS AT THEIR LOCAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

STORM SPOTTERS GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO HELP THEM SAFELY
OBSERVE AND REPORT SEVERE STORMS BY ATTENDING ANNUAL STORM SPOTTER
TRAINING SESSIONS...USUALLY CONDUCTED AS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN LOCAL
EMERGENCY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STORM SPOTTING AND HOW YOU MIGHT GET
INVOLVED...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT...
LOUISIANA.

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