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
ON, KW4J, KF4JQP, W4AGA, WB4FAY, WD4IGK, KJ4DYZ, KR2RO, W4AVD, N1LF, N4HUB, and so many others who are working behind the scenes. They are all are to be commended for their efforts and sacrifice.
And,they, being on the front lines and enduring the raw emotions of the disaster and the victims, very much need our prayers also.
One ALERT “housekeeping note” I’ll pass along is that the time for ALERT elections has arrived.
If you are a paid up Operational or Supporting Member (which is a paid member interested in Amateur Radio, Skywarn or Emergency Communications, but doesn’t have a ham license (yet)) you may vote in the 2011 – 2012 ALERT leadership elections.
You have to be one of the above to vote.
In accordance with the ALERT Bylaws, the Nominating Committee recommendations were presented and published at the April meeting. Floor nominations will be accepted at May meeting and the formal election then held.
After the election, there will be a two-month transition period – from May until July when the current President reigns as a Dead Duck, or is that a Lame Duck…I seem to forget.
The New Officers will then take over at the July meeting, which is also when membership dues will also be due.
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Mark’s Almanac
May is the fifth month & third month of the Roman calendar. Since ancient times the first day of the month, “May Day” has been a time of celebration. In Rome it honored Flora, the goddess of flowers.
It isn’t celebrated as much as it once was in the United States, but I, being older than dirt, remember Maypoles, festivals & such.
On May the fifth Mexican’s celebrate Cinco De Mayo, the celebration Mexico’s 1862 victory over Napoleon III’s forces at Puebla. This is not, as many assume, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually on September 16.
Rainfall decreases in May as the Bermuda High strengthens & begins rerouting storm systems northward.
The door opens to the Gulf of Mexico & Gulf moisture spreads northward over the continent.
The center of maximum tornadic activity also shifts northward over the Nation’s Heartland. May is the peak tornado month, with a 42% increase over April’s amount.
Per SPC preliminary storm reports, as of May 2, nationwide there have been 1036 tornadoes reported. That’s nearly four times the amount this time last year – 298.
Sadly Alabama leads in the nation in tornado touchdowns. Current standings being:
Alabama 159
Mississippi 125
North Carolina 90
Tennessee 75
Texas 72
Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15, and although the North Atlantic hurricane season has not arrived, occasionally a tropical system will form in the Gulf of Mexico. In 110 years there have been 14 named storms.
May’s Full Moon is “Flower Moon” in Native American folklore.
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This month’s meeting will be on May 10 at 7PM at the National Weather Service
Forecast office at the Shelby County Airport.
I hope to see you there!
Mark / WD4NYL
President
ALERT
www.freewebs.com/weatherlynx/
