Monthly Archives: June 2013

SKYWARN

Update: TV meteorologist might have been partially responsible for tornado traffic jam

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Aerial view of traffic jam caused by people attempting to flee May 31, 2013 tornadoes near Oklahoma City
News Channel 9OKC

New information has surfaced about a massive traffic jam caused by residents of the Oklahoma City area attempting to flee a May 31 tornado. Reporter Alice Mannette of the Reuters wire service reports that Mike Morgan, chief meteorologist for Oklahoma City television station KFOR, told viewers during a tornado warning to get in their cars and drive away from a threatened storm. As Mannette writes, “The result was a ‘nightmare’ on the roads, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said.” See the full story.

I’m wondering why an 11-time weather broadcast award winner would fail to imagine what would happen if his viewers heeded such advice. I see this as a significant lapse in judgment. What do you think? Add your comment below.

Disasters

Update: Needs met, collection of supplies for flood victims ends

Associated Churches put out the following message at 2:56 p.m. today:

Thank You!
Generous Response Meets Current Needs
Dear Friends of Associated Churches,

Many of you have heard and responded to our call to come to the aid of those in need as a result of the flash flooding last weekend. Because of your generous and quick response Associated Churches Active in Disaster (ACAD) has collected the necessary resources through financial and in-kind donations. 
Now we will be working with local relief agencies to make sure families get the items they need. If you know of someone in need, please have them call our offices at 260-422-3528 and we will direct them to where they can pick up the cleaning supplies.
Should the demand for items change and we need additional support, we will let you know. 
Sincerely,
Roger Reece
Executive Pastor
Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County
“May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” ~Ruth 2:12 (NLT)
Disasters

Update: Donations for flood victims

Associated Churches Active in Disaster logo

See an important update to this story.

Donations of supplies are coming into Associated Churches for people affected by the June 1 flash flood in Fort Wayne. There are now two sites where you can drop off the supplies listed below:

  • Associated Churches, 602 E. Wayne St.
  • HearCare Audiology, 5933 E. State St.

Associated Churches is accepting donations of the items listed below, or money that can be used to buy such items. Checks should be made payable to “Associated Churches.” Every penny of money collected will go directly to the benefit of flood victims. Associated Churches is not accepting donations of clothing, furniture or other items not listed below. The only exception is that Associated Churches always accepts food items for its food pantry ministry. Donations of food go to any family in need — recipients of donated food are not limited to flood victims.

Here’s what Associate Churches is collecting:

  • Bleach – 110 gallons
  • Cleaning Gloves – 110 pairs
  • Sponges – 110 sponges
  • Laundry Detergent – 110 gallons
  • Dryer Sheets – 55 boxes
  • Dish soap – 55 bottles

Items will be distributed through the American Red Cross, which is assisting families affected by the flood. Any family who needs help should contact the Red Cross first as some agencies require a referral from the Red Cross.

Disasters

Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County solicits items for flood victims

Associated Churches Active in Disaster logo

See an important update to this story. 

Associated Churches Active in Disaster (ACAD) a ministry of Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County, has sent a message to its member congregations, appealing for donations to help victims of the June 1 flash flood.

Among the worst affected were residents of Black Bear Creek Apartments, on Reed Road. The flood resulted in:

  • 60 condemned apartments
  • 14 families moved to units within the complex
  • 41 families seeking shelter elsewhere
    • 80 adults
    • 30 children

As a member of Allen County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), ACAD has been asked to act as a collection site for the following needed items:

  • Clorox Bleach – 110 gallons
  • Cleaning Gloves- 110 pairs
  • Sponges- 110 sponges
  • Laundry Detergent- 110 gallons
  • Dryer Sheets- 55 boxes
  • Dish soap- 55 bottles

If your church can help, please drop off donations at the Associated Churches warehouse, 602 East Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, during the business hours of 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. If you would prefer to offer a cash donation, please call the Associated Churches office at 422-3528.

Associated Churches will send out an announcement when no more items are needed. Distribution of items will be coordinated with local relief agencies.

See the Associated Churches Facebook page. Follow Associated Churches on Twitter (@AssocChurches).

SKYWARN

May 31 Oklahoma tornado widest on record

Map of El Reno tornado's path

National Weather Service survey teams have determined that the El Reno, Okla. tornado of May 31, 2013 was an EF-5 with maximum wind speeds of 295 mph. The tornado was 2.6 miles wide at its widest, making it the widest tornado in U.S. history. This information is still preliminary, according to the NWS Norman, Oklahoma office. The office might adjust the storm’s statistics as more information becomes available.

This is the same storm that killed well-known tornado researcher Tim Samaras.

SKYWARN

A car is not a tornado shelter!

See an update to this story.

News Channel 9OKC

Did you see the pictures of gridlocked highways when tornadoes hit the Oklahoma City area May 31? Apparently, a large number of people thought they’d be safer on the road than in the homes or buildings they left behind. Jonathan Conder of WANE-TV posted an excellent blog entry about how to get the best chance of surviving a tornado. Check it out!

SKYWARN

Spotter network.org: Another way to report weather

Spotter Network logo

One of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) favored ways to receive severe weather reports is a Web-based service, Spotter Network (SN). Spotter Network accepts reports from members and automatically forwards those reports via Internet to the appropriate NWS weather forecast office within one minute.

One advantage of SN is software that spotters can install on their computers and/or mobile devices. That software continuously reports a spotter’s GPS location to the network. That means that when the spotter enters a report, the exact location is already on the report form. In addition, SN members can see each other’s locations on a Web page and within popular radar applications like GRLevel3 and mobile apps like Radarscope and PYKL3. You can also display SN data on Google Earth. In addition to member locations, those same applications display member reports with icons that show where the spotter was when the report was filed.

Radar display with Spotter Network spotter positions and reports
Google map depicting radar echoes, SN member locations (green dots) and SN tornado reports (tornado icons) and funnel cloud reports (funnel cloud icons)

NWS meteorologists trust reports that arrive via Spotter Network because of SN’s training requirement and on-going report audits. Anyone can join Spotter Network. But the system accepts reports only from members who complete SN’s own online training module. There’s no charge for membership or for the training. On a regular basis, Spotter Network leaders audit the reports of members. The organization suspends members who violate rules (e.g. by submitting false reports or reports that don’t meet criteria).

A disadvantage of Spotter Network is that it requires an Internet connection. But it can be used on a computer at home (no GPS required … spotters manually enter their home GPS coordinates once) or on Internet-capable mobile devices in the field. Another disadvantage is that members can be sanctioned for filing reports that don’t meet SN’s criteria, even when those reports meet the needs of a local NWS office. Also, Spotter Network prohibits members from relaying the reports of others.

Get more information, create an account and get the training at www.spotternetwork.org.

Traffic handling

The meat of the message

We send a radiogram text without introduction, except for the word, “break,” as explained in the previous article. For example, we do not say, “Break for text” or “text follows.” We spell any word that is unfamiliar or sounds like another word (e.g. “to” and “two”). In that case, we say the word, then say “I spell” and then spell the word phonetically. We introduce a single initial with the word, “initial” and then send the initial phonetically (e.g. “initial foxtrot”). An exception is when an “X” appears between sentences. In that case, we just say, “x-ray,” without saying “initial.” We transmit an acronym like “NTS” as “initials November, tango, Sierra.” When the text includes numbers like 1, 12, 123, etc., we transmit them like this: “Figure one,” or “figures one, two” or “figures one, two, three” (always saying each digit individually). Before an amateur call sign, we say “amateur call.” Then we transmit the call sign phonetically. We introduce other combinations of letters and numbers with “mixed group.” For example, we send “11th” as “Mixed group one, one tango hotel.” After the last word of the text, we say, “break.” Next week, signing off.

(This is the 14th in a series of short traffic-handling columns I submitted to the Kosciusko County ARES newsletter.)

SKYWARN

Tornado researcher Tim Samaras, WJ0G dies in Oklahoma storm

Tim Samaras portrait from Wikipedia

Update: Tim Samaras was also a licensed amateur (ham) radio operator and member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). His call sign was WJ0G. See a story about him on the ARRL website.

————————————-

The meteorological world is mourning the death of respected tornado research Tim Samaras. Samaras died May 31 while conducting tornado research in Oklahoma. Tim’s son, Paul and a team member, Carl Young, also died in the storm.

Tim was a storm chaser. But he wasn’t the kind of storm chaser about whom I sometimes complain. In other words, Tim did not chase storms solely for an adrenaline rush. And he did not put himself or his crew in danger unnecessarily.

Tim was a true scientist and engineer who designed instrumentation to gather data about tornadoes. You can read more about his great work on the website of the TWISTEX organization he founded.

Tim’s loss is a major blow to the science. I pray the blessings of comfort for his family and all those who knew and loved him.

SKYWARN

Flooding the big problem today

Audra Streetman of WFFT-TV (audrastreetman) tweeted this photo of flooding at the intersection of Clinton St. and Elizabeth St. near downtown fort Wayne.

Only a tiny part of Indiana (a sliver in the southeastern corner) has a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today, according to the Day 1 Convective Outlook that the Storm Prediction Center issued at 12:08 p.m. EDT. All of Ohio, including counties served by the northern Indiana National Weather Service office, have a slight risk until 8 a.m. EDT tomorrow. The northern Indiana office, however, does not anticipate SKYWARN spotter activation today anywhere its county warning area (see this morning’s Hazardous Weather Outlook).

The big weather story for the Fort Wayne and surrounding area today is flooding, caused by last night’s heavy rain, with more rain forecast to arrive today. The NWS issued a new flood warning for the Fort Wayne area at noon that’s in effect until 6 p.m. EDT. According to the statement, Police in the area were reporting widespread flooding across the north side of the Fort Wayne metro area and  across much of central Allen and central Whitley counties. Areas of high water will continue to slowly recede through this afternoon.

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (@fwkidszoo) tweeted this photo of flooding that closed the Zoo for the day. The tweet indicated that all animals and staff are OK.