PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
600 AM CST FRI FEB 29 2008

...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS...

...AMATEUR RADIO AND STORM SPOTTERS...

YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE USES A VARIETY OF TOOLS AND METHODS TO HELP 
US PREDICT AND TRACK SEVERE STORMS. BUT EVEN WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY...WE STILL RELY ON HUMAN 
EYES AND EARS TO HELP US KNOW WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.

STORM SPOTTERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. MANY WORK WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES 
TO GATHER WEATHER INFORMATION TO HELP EMERGENCY MANAGERS MAKE CRITICAL LOCAL WARNING DECISIONS. 
IN MANY AREAS...STORM SPOTTERS ARE VOLUNTEERS...INTERESTED IN HELPING PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY 
FROM DEADLY STORMS. IN OTHER PLACES...THE SPOTTER GROUP IS MADE UP OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS 
FROM THE FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES...DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS HAVE HISTORICALLY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE'S 
STORM SPOTTER PROGRAM. SOMETIMES KNOWN AS HAMS...THESE PUBLIC SERVICE-MINDED MEN AND WOMEN VOLUNTEER 
THEIR TIME...EXPERTISE AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY WHEN STORMS THREATEN. ONE OF THE 
FACTORS THAT MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STORM SPOTTING AND AMATEUR RADIO A NATURAL FIT IS THE 
COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES THEY POSSESS. AMATEUR RADIO STORM SPOTTERS ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE 
DIRECTLY WITH A CONTROL STATION WHO COLLECTS REPORTS AND DISSEMINATES WEATHER UPDATES. IN SOME 
LOCATIONS...HAMS CAN TALK DIRECTLY TO OTHER HAMS AT THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

STORM SPOTTERS GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO HELP THEM SAFELY OBSERVE AND REPORT SEVERE STORMS BY 
ATTENDING ANNUAL STORM SPOTTER TRAINING SESSIONS...USUALLY CONDUCTED AS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN LOCAL 
EMERGENCY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON STORM SPOTTING...CALL YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE...OR VISIT 
THEM AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV ON THE INTERNET.