Muskegon County Emergency Communication  Services, INC.

           SKYWARN is a special national joint effort between the American Radio Relay League's   (ARRL) Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Weather Service (NWS) , as called for by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ARRL and the NWS it is the position of the National Weather Service and the Muskegon County Emergency Communication Service (MCECS) that spotters affiliated with Muskegon County SKYWARN will have attended at least one SKYWARN training class every other year. Training may be taken at any level and county or municipality, although annual training from MCECS is recommended.

 

           The purpose of the Muskegon County SKYWARN is to provide useful Severe weather-related information to the National Weather Service ( NWS ) so that they may better carry out its duty to protect life, property, and commerce in its County Warning Area ( CWA ) during times of hazardous weather. The information the NWS request is very specific. Muskegon County SKYWARN also supports other local agencies during times of hazardous weather when requested.

 

           Skywarn volunteers donate thousands of hours each year, and use there own personal radio equipment and vehicles to give there communities advance warning of life threatening weather. Since the NWS instituted the SKYWARN Program , there has been a significant decrease in death rate due to tornadoes and other severe weather. Accurate and reliable information from the general public is difficult to obtain. the NWS has found that only regular training of weather spotters improves the quality of information. The National Weather Service brings the weather knowledge, the Amateur Radio Service brings its expertise in emergency communications, together they work with local government to assure your safety. 

  Muskegon County

SKYWARN

Coordinator

 

BASIC

SKYWARN TRAINING

2008