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Jim Aguirre (call sign KM6GUE) conducts digital communications from the tailgate of his pickup truck at the National Weather Service facility in Oxnard. Aguirre was participating in a Dec. 3 ham radio readiness exercise. Courtesy photo
Skywarn Recognition Day was observed Dec. 3 at National Weather Service locations across the United States.
Amateur ham radio volunteers set up temporary operations from forecasting headquarters and made contacts with other stations to demonstrate their readiness to operate in emergency conditions and to act as observers for the weather service.
Locally, operations were conducted at the Los Angeles area NWS office in Oxnard. Volunteers set up six stations on different radio frequencies and operated through the day under simulated emergency conditions.
“The exercise with the National Weather Service is another way ham radio operators provide support for agencies that serve the public in times of need,” said ham operator Jeff Reinhardt of Agoura Hills. “Events like this sharpen the operators’ skills and strengthen the bonds with supported agencies,” he said.
“As was recently demonstrated after the recent hurricanes in the southeast, when all else fails, ham radio operators are ready to serve.”
Volunteers from Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark and Agoura Hills participated in the exercise, Reinhardt said.
The Skywarn function of ham radio uses the resources of volunteer operators to assist the NWS with real-time observations of adverse weather conditions that pose a threat to life and property.
The alerts may include tornadoes and waterspouts, damaging hail, blizzard conditions, sleet, strong winds, heavy rainfalls and flooding, dust storms, damage assessment and other anomalies.
NWS personnel can use information from the radio operators to issue alerts or assess threat levels to areas that may be affected by the conditions.
Amateur radio operators are volunteers who buy and maintain their own equipment and stand ready to use their resources during emergencies. Licensed by the FCC, they polish their skills through drills, field exercises and by supporting public safety at community events such as parades, foot and bicycle races, street fairs, air shows and festivals.
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