ALERT Newsletter – April 2012

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

1155 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

…WFO PEACHTREE CITY GA IS ISSUING ALL PRODUCTS FOR WFO

BIRMINGHAM…

WFO PEACHTREE CITY GA IS PERFOMING SERVICE BACKUP FOR WFO BIRMINGHAM

DUE TO THE LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE BIRMINGHAM OFFICE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE SOUTHERN REGION OPERATIONS

CENTER AT TELEPHONE NUMBER 817-978-1100 EXT 147.

The Calera office had suffered a total communications failure – internet, telephone, everything. Even the NOAA All Hazard radio system was knocked out. While temporary emergency communications were established on the BMXEMAChat using a laptop and an air card, for all practical purposes the Birmingham WFO was dead in the water.

Severe weather was not an issue, fortunately but what if severe weather had been occurring? What would we do?

Well the answer is still ALERT. ALERT members – Johnny KJ4OPX, Ronnie WX4RON and myself were already monitoring the chat system (because we are weather junkies). We simply brought up the Peachtree City Chat up, just as if severe weather was in progress.

If this same situation were to occur during severe weather, we would simply post the stormspotter reports on the Peachtree City Chat and if they were to go down, then on the Huntsville Chat. This is nothing new. In past events if I received information that was in another WFO’s County Warning Area, I would just post the information on their chat. The last time I did this was in March & the Huntsville office indicated they were very appreciative of the reports.

This just goes to illustrate again why the Spotterchat’s are considered offsite operations. If everything was clustered at K4NWS and the Birmingham WFO went down, K4NWS would sink with it and then we would be in a very dismal situation. Hence the wisdom of having the chats monitored offsite, usually by multiple operators at different sites.

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Another fact that reinforced itself that day is that you need multiple ways of obtaining severe weather information.

NOAA All Hazards radio is by far best method of receiving emergency information. But, always have a backup system, for any manmade system can and will fail.

I can recommend the two FREE backup systems which I use. The first are text and email Alerts from WBRC FOX6. These alerts include watches, warnings and advisories. They are timely and you can select which counties you wish information for. I selected Jefferson, Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties. This method, with a few occasional hiccups, has proven to be a reliable resource.

You may sign up for these at http://www.myfoxal.com/category/216843/preference-center

Teresa, KQ4JC, introduced me to the second backup method I use, which is the new Alabama SAF-T-Net, provided by Baron services. This is the company, which developed the VIPIR Radar system, which FOX6 uses. With SAF-T-Net you can receive alerts via phone, email or text messaging for up to four locations. The system provides enhanced location-based storm alerts to recipients. The Alabama SAF-T-Net is a multi-source site-specific network, which includes:

1. National Weather Service storm-based (polygon) tornado, severe thunderstorm, and flash flood warnings.

2. Baron patented advisories for strong or dangerous twisting storms approaching designated locations

3. Mitigation messaging from Emergency Management

4. Breaking weather updates from media partners

One message I received stated:

“SAF-T-Net Weather Alert: Dangerous storm approaching your home and your workplace, BTI:2.2 http://now.baronservices.com/01073”

A few minutes after receiving this I received quarter sized hail.

A sample message for a possible tornadic storm is:

“SAF-T-Net Weather Alert: Twisting storm approaching your home, BTI: 5.6”

The “BTI” in the messages is the Baron Tornado Index, which determines the storm’s ability to produce the tornado. The color-coded legend for the BTI is:

Baron Tornado Index BTI or Vipir Tornado Index VTI

0 – 2 Minimal Risk

2 – 4 Low Risk

4 – 6 Moderate Risk

6 – 7 Possible

7 – 8 Probable

8 – 10 Likely

To sign up for this service you may either do so with Fox6 at http://www.myfoxal.com/safe

or directly with Baron Services at http://saftnet2.baronservices.com/alabama

These are resources well worth obtaining.

I did, and so should you.

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Another thing you should do is send me some items for the newsletter so I won’t publish recipes. Or, should I say publish ANY MORE recipes, such as this month’s feature (which I found while visiting the rural church of a friend).

Southern Fried Rattlesnake!

INGREDIENTS:

1 egg

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. seasoning salt mix