Hi Everyone, Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors of Wednesday’s tornadoes. So many have lost their lives, so many their homes and so many are left with the stark realization that one’s entire world can be swept away in the briefest moment of time. Though we have endured the severest of blows, one can gain comfort from the example of our community, as see it rallying to the aid of our neighbors and friends. I want to thank Tom Overall WX4WIA & Stephen Moss KB4FKN who responded to the ALERT callout and manned K4NWS and to those who covered the Spotterchat system. Once the storms ended, ALERT’s role and part, which is to provide communications support to the National Weather Service, ended also. Other groups and entities continue with the ongoing response to this disaster. ARES, both local and statewide, BARC, the Sylvan Springs Club, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and many, many others continue working on the scene as I write this. WX4R Continue reading →

Hi everyone, I hope this finds every doing well. As we start this month’s newsletter I wish to thank the following members who responded to the callout of March 26 & manned K4NWS: Howard Moss KC4QJA, Ronnie King WX4RON, Ed Manley W4AGA & Johnny Knobloch. Your efforts and dedication are appreciated, both by ALERT & our served agency, the NWS. Telephones and Emergencies – Hints and Kinks “So very sad and yet amazing” – those are the words that come to mind when I think about the recent images coming from the Japanese earthquake. Here we have, for that type disaster, the most prepared nation on Earth & yet with all the technology and knowledge, once the event began they were helpless as they gazed into the eyes of a tragedy. The communications infrastructure was of course demolished. Yet a flood of messages emerged. Not via voice communications, but by internet, tweets & texting. How coul Continue reading →

Hi everyone, I hope this finds everyone doing well & having suffered no harm from the recent storms we have weathered. I want to thank Tom & Melissa Overall, WX4WIA & WX4WIC for responding to Thursday’s callout & Ed Manley, W4AGA for responding to Monday’s callout. Your dedication and efforts are deeply appreciated. You’re the tops! Pssst….Guess what? I know a little secret. (looking around making sure I’m not overheard) There is an event coming up Saturday and Sunday. Yep, the Birminghamfest is this weekend. The Zamora Shrine Temple will host the 2011 Birminghamfest. Dealer, vendors, flea market, testing, forums and againstums, they will have it all. ALERT & The NWS will have a table (exact location TBD) & there will be an ARES forum at 12:30 in Room 1 & a Skywarn Forum at 1:30 PM in Room 2. Come by the ALERT/NWS table & say “hi” & don’t be shy about manning the table for a little while, so we can go roaming around. </str Continue reading →

Hi Everyone, I hope this finds everyone safe and warm this snowy icy night. These outbreaks of global warming we keep having makes me miss mosquitoes. Our spring severe weather season is just around the corner & we flirted with an outbreak Tuesday. Many thanks to Terry Christian KJ4KZR & Ed Manley W4AGA for manning K4NWS during Tuesdays callout. As we approach our severe weather season, now is the time to prepare & ask an important question. How up to speed are you in your preparedness skills? One book I read suggested maintaining a “constant state of preparedness”. That’s not to say practice being as paranoid & as pessimistic as possible, but, merely stay tuned, brush up on your skills and don’t let your previous preparation efforts (if you have made any) decay into dust. Ask yourselves these questions: Do you have a family shelter (everyone should) & is it still ready? Is your other equipment, such as generators, inverters, etc, still ready? Batteri Continue reading →