South Alabama SKYWARN organization has formally teamed with the Rural Radio Preparedness Association to enhance coverage and share resources across the Mobile National Weather Service Office Area of Responsibility (AOR), which includes 5 counties in southeast Mississippi, 12 counties in southwest Alabama and 3 counties in the Florida Panhandle.
“This is an incredible opportunity for us,” said Joe Guthery, SKYWARN Coordinator. “RRPA is focused on emergency preparedness and better aligns with our mission of steadily working to expand coverage into the outer reaches of the area while growing our density with existing coverage.”
RRPA Vice President T.H. Merritt said this is a win-win for the public because both organizations maintain a positive working relationship with the National Weather Service. “By combining resources and efforts, we have harnessed the incredible power of amateur radio operators who volunteer their skills to assist the National Weather Service during severe weather outbreaks and hurricanes,” said Merritt.
South Alabama SKYWARN will now function as a special unit of the RRPA while the association will provide organizational, training, logistical and financial support.
SKYWARN is a voluntary program developed by each National Weather Service (NWS) Office where volunteers serve as storm spotters for the NWS and local emergency management programs. Keeping their eyes on the sky, volunteers serve as the eyes and ears for the whole community. Storm spotters come from all walks of life but they all have generally two things in common - an interest in the weather and an interest in serving their community. The goal of SKYWARN is to improve the warning program by delivering timely severe weather warnings.
The Rural Radio Preparedness Association is an association of radio operators seeking to enhance family preparedness and radio communication options for rural communities. Its mission is to encourage individual & family preparedness and enhance radio communication options for rural communities in time of emergency.
