COMMUNICATIONS IN A WEATHER EVENT

The primary form of communication in a severe weather event is the cannon gate 147.165 +. 6 offset with a 131.8 PL tone.  You must possess a technician class or greater amateur radio operators license to transmit on this frequency.  Anyone can listen.  90% of the time we will NOT open a formal net.  Spotters are encouraged to engage in casual weather conversation and weather observations among themselves.  If a formal net is opened, net control will operate under callsign WX4CWT and ALL traffic should pass through the net control operator.  In a formal net all casual weather observations should be discontinued and only reports that meet the NWS severity standards of reporting should be made.  (this is why we require trainining so that what is reported and how is standardized) 

Trained spotters who are NOT ham radio operators can contact a net control operator and submit their storm reports through the ZELLO app that is a FREE PTT VOIP, real time comms method utilizing a spotter's phone. Once you download the zello app search and join the Coweta skywarn channel.  The channel is for registered skywarn spotters only and a password is required.  Once your name appears on the skywarn roster, email wx4sky@gmail.com to have your password sent to you. 

Severe weather can be reported to thr NWS directly in several ways. 

Call our Severe Weather Reporting Hotline at

1-866-763-4466

NWS online reporting form found here:   https://www.weather.gov/ffc/SubmitStormReport

Tweet your storm report using #gawx

Use the spotter network rapid report on your phone app or online here https://www.spotternetwork.org/

The BGMRC provides a continuous live feed of its primary repeaters.  Most phone scanner apps such as scanner radio and scanner pro will have access to the real time repeater audio.  You cannot talk on these apps BUT you can monitor the ham radio traffic.  Also from a computer broadcastify has the real time audio as well at https://m.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/15010