Priorities people....

[Greg Higgins]

As a side note, at last years and some of this years SkyWarn classes, our local mets are DISCOURAGING people from calling 911 as they feel that is an inapproapriate use of the 911 system, and they (NWS) sometimes don't get the information.

 

[Mark Manchester]

As a side note, at last years and some of this years SkyWarn classes, our local mets are DISCOURAGING people from calling 911 as they feel that is an inapproapriate use of the 911 system, and they (NWS) sometimes don't get the information.

That may be the case in some areas, but I can assure you that as a 911 and Emergency Management supervisor, we welcome ANY 911 call regarding a tornado or funnel cloud, as it's obviously a serious, immediate threat to life and property.

 

[Jeff Duda]

On April 9th in NW IA, I made several attempts to either send in reports via SN or call a WFO directly, but never once could I get through or even get a connection. With all of the chasers pinging the cell towers and saturating the bandwidth, I couldn't make a single report. I've found this to be the case on several chases since I upgraded my phone last year. Granted, all of these days were those in which 50 chasers were on SN on the same cell, so having a tornado reported wasn't really an issue.

 

[Keith Hosman]

That may be the case in some areas, but I can assure you that as a 911 and Emergency Management supervisor, we welcome ANY 911 call regarding a tornado or funnel cloud, as it's obviously a serious, immediate threat to life and property.

I agree with this, at least as far as my county, because it let's us know where we need to send our emergency response. Hell I don't have a problem with my spotters calling me directly on the phone, be it my land line or cell.

 

[Jarrod Cook]

Regarding NWSchat and SN...I also monitor NWSchat sometimes when out, especially when in my local NWS area, but I'd still try and submit a report via SN as a first priority (if I'm not going to call). SN reports are more likely to get the meteorologist's attention since it's so integrated into their AWIPS system. If it's busy they may not be glued to the chat room. Not to mention, plopping an SN icon down helps others know what is going on (assuming it's a trustworthy report). And as others have said, the more reports the better. It's just like everything else, if you assume someone has already done something, they probably haven't. If there were multiple SN reports near a storm, that's different, but if there is one, it still may not hurt...increases confidence.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Regarding NWSchat and SN...I also monitor NWSchat sometimes when out, especially when in my local NWS area, but I'd still try and submit a report via SN as a first priority (if I'm not going to call). SN reports are more likely to get the meteorologist's attention since it's so integrated into their AWIPS system..

I know SN comes in to NWSChat, but in what way is it " integrated into their AWIPS system"?

I know last fall, when I emailed with the NWS Liaison for SN that around 40 offices were online with the SN system
in the manner I think your referring too.

But all, I think, get SN via NWSChat. I also see the offices monitoring NWSChat much, if not all the time
during an event. They can get reports from not only SN, but Emergency Management, media and some spotter groups.

Tim

 

[Jayson Prentice]

Even if there are numerous other SN reports from the storm it still helps out to drop another one... Say you are a few minutes later, you can let them know that it is still on the ground and perhaps provide an update on the location of the tornado. The more reports there are the better idea the guy/gal issuing the warnings will have as to where the tornado is and what it is doing...

 

[Jarrod Cook]

I know SN comes in to NWSChat, but in what way is it " integrated into their AWIPS system"?

I know last fall, when I emailed with the NWS Liaison for SN that around 40 offices were online with the SN system
in the manner I think your referring too.

But all, I think, get SN via NWSChat. I also see the offices monitoring NWSChat much, if not all the time
during an event. They can get reports from not only SN, but Emergency Management, media and some spotter groups.

Tim

Yes, SN reports do get injected into the chat rooms, but that's just a convenience. Reports from SN pop up on their workstations instantly, just like an eSpotter report would. That's what I'm referring to. Tyler or someone could explain in more detail, but that's the gist of it.

 

[Matt Hunt]

I agree that with the many ways we have available to report these days, it's not difficult to do so even among video and photography tasks. I have the local WFO numbers in my phone for a call that takes all of 30 seconds. That said, until the NWS, NOAA or public agencies start helping with chasers' funding (especially now with $4 gas prices) there is little room for any agency or office to complain about the lack of help from a chaser. Most police, fire and EMS people don't do it all for free AND pay their own way for equipment and gas. If there is a mission-critical public safety value in anything a chaser does, money should be put where the offical mouths are. Most chasers don't make profit on video even with a few good sales - breaking even on a season is near impossible. So the money-making criticism card isn't one to play for most. Just a thought.

This. It is a free country, and if people want to go out and look at a storm for the sole purpose of observing, photographing, or videographing, then they are free to do that. Spotters are VOLUNTEERS. It's a bit ridiculous IMO for these NWS mets to complain about volunteers, or lack thereof. Personally, I will call in and report what I see, especially if the storm is heading towards a populated area, but I'm not mad at anyone for being out there on the public roads at their free will to take pictures and video. Everyone chases/spots for different reasons.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Yes, SN reports do get injected into the chat rooms, but that's just a convenience. Reports from SN pop up on their workstations instantly, just like an eSpotter report would. That's what I'm referring to. Tyler or someone could explain in more detail, but that's the gist of it.

Like I said, when I last check, last fall, 40 WFOs were on board with SN. Thus the move to NWSChat for SN.
I know our local WFO does not have them pop up anywhere. Just in NWSChat.
I thought there was an place on the SN website that showed what WFOs were participating?

Tim

 

[Danny Neal]

FWIW the met. in question replied in my facebook thread about it.... he said....

Great writeup Danny, I hope you didn't feel like you were lumped into that group. @Steve, there was no one else on the storm that reported it to our office. We only learned of the actual TOR when the dust had cleared and damage was reporte...d. We weren't getting any reports of TORs, so our radar operator was getting a little worries that he was trigger happy and was about to stop putting out TORs. Luckily he didn't, but it would have been nice to hear about in realtime...for our sake and letting the public know that yes...there is a tornado out there and not just Mr. Doppler seeing it. Whoops, wasn't done...meant to write more..stupid enter. ANYways, this was just our local incident and I'm sure its happened a bunch of times before. We are (and I have) been very appreciative of what media we have thanks to these and oth...er chasers, but I care much more about getting word out that a TOR is coming when people's lives are on the line compared to entertaining people in a spotter session. Our WCM contacted the rep from the chasing crew to ask why they didn't call us and the response was, "They know they should have called." So, like Danny writes...you have no idea how vital those realtime reports of TORs are for us and a HUGE thank you to those that do report them.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...d=57382434896#!/DNeal14/posts/113748798708309

 

[Joshua Nall]

The whole point of this blog was to remember why we are out there and to repeat the Mapleton/Atoka County scene, not the Arkdale one. Please people... remember why we are really out here. Please pick up the phone or submit that report!

I just wanted to address the "why we are out there" comment. I'm not out there to assist with the warning process. And if most were honest with themselves, they would admit its not "why" they are out their either. It is something they do on the side. And please notice I said MOST. Maybe there are those whose main purpose for pursuing severe weather is warning the public. My purpose is to do something I love to do... being out on the raod, BY MYSELF photographing severe weather. Now if I see someone in need or can help someone along the way, I do it, I love doing that. I try to live by "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"...

But honestly, I would not expect a person that is out to experience and photograph severe weather, to make reports or for that matter drive into town with the intent of helping in disaster relief. I certainly wouldn't expect him to be trained in CPR and carry fancy gear and try to revive me...or drive into my town and "clear houses" after a tornado struck. I wouldn't expect him to call in reports. There just seems to be a lot of pressure here lately to the point I'm getting bogged down in thinking about all of this instead of just enjoying my trips. Having said that, I always stop when I see a car in the ditch or someone in need. Just do what you would have others do for you, that's it.

 

[Jason Foster]

Years ago many chasers mentality was "get in, get out". I'm sure if someone wanted to spend the time to search previous threads (and paper editions of ST) for examples, they could find a good number of ideas around that. Things change. For instance, the amount of firefighters, policemen (policewomen?), emergency managers and those around the rescue services that have become involved with chasing has increased significantly in the recent decade. They have also been some of the more vocal people in the community. So this may explain the change.

In general, from reading things in the past before I started and then up to around 2001-2002, it was a basic understanding that there is an ethical obligation to report (when reporting is possible), but it was NOT "expected". As usual, I try to find what those before me did (and do now) as my guide if not already obvious. Granted the 'community' was smaller, less diverse in it's make up in those days.

Personally, I just find I am still of that general idea..."get in & get out". I don't report often. While chasing, I'm usually busy as hell, as exampled by this past event with 60mph storms. However, I haven't been in the plains (with slower storms) since things like SN existed. Ham Radio never seem to be easy to make a report because finding the local net was difficult. If the past high risk event was any indication though...I think anytime we considered sending in a report (and failed to do so), we found "spotters" had done so. I can't say whether our report would have helped or not, confirmation is sometimes good, but cluttered reports is bad.

I don't think realistically anyone should be too concerned if they are not reporting. I think at the very least, the underlying message of understanding priorities is key. A reminder of sorts. It is good to remind ourselves that life is precious and while we may want to focus more on imagery and the chase experience, the value of life should always be high on our minds.

 

[Danny Neal]

I just wanted to address the "why we are out there" comment. I'm not out there to assist with the warning process. And if most were honest with themselves, they would admit its not "why" they are out their either. It is something they do on the side. And please notice I said MOST. Maybe there are those whose main purpose for pursuing severe weather is warning the public. My purpose is to do something I love to do... being out on the raod, BY MYSELF photographing severe weather. Now if I see someone in need or can help someone along the way, I do it, I love doing that. I try to live by "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"...

But honestly, I would not expect a person that is out to experience and photograph severe weather, to make reports or for that matter drive into town with the intent of helping in disaster relief. I certainly wouldn't expect him to be trained in CPR and carry fancy gear and try to revive me...or drive into my town and "clear houses" after a tornado struck. I wouldn't expect him to call in reports. There just seems to be a lot of pressure here lately to the point I'm getting bogged down in thinking about all of this instead of just enjoying my trips. Having said that, I always stop when I see a car in the ditch or someone in need. Just do what you would have others do for you, that's it.

So basically you are saying, that I am asking to much for you to take 20 seconds out of your time to dial 911 when you see a tornado when you are the only one around. It's like guy that sees someone's house on fire in the middle of the night and shrugs and says "Meh I am not a firefighter" and keeps driving. You want to take photos and stay out of ground zero....fine more power to you. But I would think everyone agrees that if you see a tornado on an unwarned storm heading for civilization; you lose the "that's not what I'm out here for" attitude and pick up the phone.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

Please people... remember why we are really out here. Please pick up the phone or submit that report!

As stated above - most of the "we" (I assume a reference to chasers) who are out there are not out there specifically to report, we are out there to document. There might be hundreds of chasers on a storm, and only one or two reports - that should tell you right there that "we" are not out there to report. Yes, some (including myself) do report, but it's not "the reason we are out there".