ARRL at National Severe Weather Workshop

Three ARRL representatives attended the 2005 National Severe Weather Workshop (NSWW), held March 3-5 in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

Sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the NSWW is a national forum for emergency management and media to exchange needs and
ideas on severe weather safety.

Oklahoma Section Manager John Thomason, WB5SYT; Assistant SM Eddie Manley, K5EMS, and - from ARRL
Headquarters - Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, staffed an ARRL exhibit and responded to questions.

Some of the more than 250 attendees also completed a survey. All of those who responded said Amateur Radio is essential for emergency communication, and 86 percent said they consider Amateur Radio a community service.

Half of the respondents said they considered radio amateurs to be "reliable" and "very motivated." Eighty-six percent of those completing the survey said their emergency communication is via Amateur Radio voice or Morse code,
while just 14 percent included Amateur Radio e-mail.

Nearly two thirds of those surveyed reported that Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is offered to everyone - including hams - in their area, while a third said such training was just becoming available.

The top emergency communication priorities cited included interoperability (43 percent), safety (36 percent), equipment (29 percent), back-up power (21 percent) and adequate personnel (21 percent).

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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