St. Louis County R.A.C.E.S. & SKYWARN

"Taking the community by storm"

Weather Links
Text Box: Alternate St. Louis County SKYWARN site St. Louis and Suburban Radio Club National Weather Service Radar, St. Louis NWS St. Louis, Significant Events An excellent river, stream and creek flooding information page with a graphic, clickable interface Unisys Weather for KSTL St. Louis R.A.C.E.S. Homepage Storm Prediction Center Cool Images from The Storm Prediction Center National Severe Storms Laboratory NOAA Watch (Excellent Site) Online Tornado FAQ Latest Tornado Trends Weather Underground Winter Weather Forecasts Excessive Rainfall Forecasts St. Louis National Weather Service Office ESpotter Severe Weather Reporting The Disaster Center F.E.M.A. Independent Study (NIMS classes) Ameren-UE Electric Outage Map Missouri Forecasts & Hourly Data Illinois Forecasts & Hourly Data National Weather Service Data Products UNISYS Weather St. Louis County EOC Weather National Weather Data National Climatic Data Center NWS “EMWIN” Site National SKYWARN Website State and Local Emergency Management Agencies SKYWARN Central USGS Earthquake Data Center National Information Earthquake Center

Links are provided to these sites because they may contain related information of interest to you or useful research material.  These links do not constitute an endorsement by St. Louis County R.A.C.E.S. / SKYWARN of any information, products, or services on these sites.

Program News

MONTHLY NETS!

Text Box: CHECK-IN to the Monthly RACES & SKYWARN NETS! VHF NET FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH, 7PM 146.940 Repeater! The RACES/SKYWARN activation decode tones are tested at the commencement of the net **NEW** HF NET **NEW** FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH, 6:30PM LOCAL TIME STARTING MAY 7, 2009 3993.5 LSB This is a SKYWARN Net; RACES participants are welcome. Guests are welcome; listen to the latest in training information and RACES / SKYWARN News; check your radios – be prepared for severe weather and RACES activations! Severe weather observation training taking the region ‘by storm’! For information on these programs, call 314-615-7857 (the severe weather information line), or write to us at: inquiries@stlouisskywarn.com, or check for details here, on our internet site. More than just a spotter class- information that could save your life! St. Louis County Police R.A.C.E.S./SKYWARN, Since 1955

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Severe weather can strike throughout the fall and even in the winter!  Please consider the actions you would take in an actual tornado warning, if at home, at work, at school, or in your car.  Practice those actions as appropriate.  Find that “safe spot” and have a battery powered radio and flashlight there.

 

All schools should have a tone-alert weather radio!  DO NOT rely on telephone notification, cellular phones, opening windows to hear sirens, or commercial radio/television for notification of severe weather.

 

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A TONE-ALERT WEATHER RADIO!

 

Safe areas include basements (under sturdy furniture), interior hallways, bathrooms, closets, and stay away from exterior walls that face the west and south.  Abandon vehicles and mobile homes for more substantial shelter.  Most fatalities occur in vehicles and mobile homes.  Monitor St. Louis County severe weather nets on 146.940 Mhz. (backup is 147.360 Mhz.)  Cellular phones should not be relied-upon for reliable communications in a severe weather situation. 

 

 

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Developing a R.A.C.E.S. Program

 

Inquiries have been received about the absence of locally managed Radio Amateur Civil Emergency (R.A.C.E.S.) amateur radio programs across the region and the state.  Among the numerous advantages to such programs are local control and management, appointment of program supervisors, and an amateur radio assistance program that can be tailored to local needs and requirements.  Typically local public safety and emergency management agencies manage such programs, set policies, determine training requirements, and integrate them into local emergency management plans.

 

If you are interested in creating such a program, we may be able to assist.  Please contact us for inquiries, additional information, and guidance.  The St. Louis County R.A.C.E.S. program has been serving St. Louis County since 1955.

 

 

 

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MIRSA

 

The Missouri – Illinois Regional SKYWARN Association

 

Origin:

 

MIRSA was formed in May of 1992 by several local SKYWARN  program managers and the National Weather Service to enhance communication among members, share resources, discuss training objectives, and become acquainted.  This is a program combining the resources of local government, emergency management, SKYWARN programs, and the National Weather Service.  Until the formation of MIRSA, many SKYWARN program managers were not acquainted with each other, were unaware of frequencies used in the next county, and there was often no method to share information.  Local agencies took the lead in developing the program.

 

 

Mission Statement:

 

The mission of the Missouri-Illinois Regional SKYWARN Association (MIRSA) is to endeavor to provide the best possible weather observation services to local emergency management agencies and the National Weather Service so that severe weather information can be accurately provided and quickly relayed; aiding in timely, accurate, and prompt weather warnings to the public.  The result saves lives!

 

 

The Goals of MIRSA:

 

           1. Provide a coordinating body and forum for SKYWARN weather

                net activities across the region.

           2. Publish a regular newsletter concerning meetings, training,

                and related activities.

           3. Publish and maintain a current list of SKYWARN radio

                frequencies used by member organizations.

           4. Encourage standardized training, public information, public

                awareness, and spotter identification concepts.

           5. Develop and maintain a weather resource directory

           6. Develop and maintain a wide area communications system for

                information exchange with the National Weather Service.

           7. Coordinate and direct the communications, response, and

                logistical activities of participating spotter networks in support

                of the SKYWARN  programs region-wide.

           8. Lend support to, and cooperate with other SKYWARN

                associations across the United States.

 

 

MIRSA Coverage Area:

 

The MIRSA membership coverage area shall include, but not be limited to, the area in Missouri and Illinois that is under the forecast responsibility of the National Weather Service, Weldon Spring, Missouri.

 

 

Membership:

 

Membership in MIRSA is open to anyone with a SKYWARN program interest or program responsibility.  Many members are also amateur radio operators from their prospective local organizations, however emergency management, police, fire, and related public-safety personnel are also invited to join.  There are no dues, no officers, no required memberships in other organizations, and the primary pre-requisite is a genuine interest in SKYWARN activities across the region.

 

 

SQUALL LINES:

 

The official publication of MIRSA is SQUALL LINES, published as necessary, before membership meetings, and before the annual Spring tornado warning exercise.  Input for SQUALL LINES is solicited from members and includes related weather information, training dates, summaries of drills, and summaries of prior meetings.

 

 

Annual Warning Exercise:

 

The annual amateur radio drill, a part of the Missouri statewide tornado warning exercise held in March, was begun in 1995 as a result of MIRSA.  This annual exercise convenes the evening of the Missouri drill, but includes participation from Illinois agencies as well.

 

 

Current News:

 

Early in the life of MIRSA, meetings were held every other month.  As the goals of MIRSA were met and sustained, there was not a need to meet as often, and meetings were suspended several years ago.  A newsletter is prepared and mailed each February prior to the annual tornado warning exercise.  Meetings can be resumed with enough interest and participation.  Meetings are held at the St. Louis County Emergency Operations Center and the program is coordinated by Michael Redman.