Watches, Warnings & Advisories for Sunflower Co.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Disaster Preps: Week 14

We'll head back to the grocery store for a few items this week.

Weekly Purchases: (items with * should be purchased for each family member)
  • 1 can fruit*
  • 1 can meat* (chili, stew, etc)
  • 1 can vegetables*
  • Paper plates
  • Eating utinsels
  • Paper cups
  • (consider mess kits, found in the camping section, as an option to paper plates & cups)
Action Items:
  • Make a plan to check on a neighbor who might need help in an emergency.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Emergency Communications

K5JAW has been appointed by Mississippi ARRL Section Manger W5XX to serve as the amateur radio Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Bolivar, Leflore, Sunflower, and Washington counties until September 2014. 

Amateur radio operators are charged with the responsibility of providing emergency communications as a condition of our license privileges.  Specifically, rules Part 97.1(a) says: Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

The amateur radio community provides this service through the Amateur Radio Emergency Services organization of the American Radio Relay League.  In the coming weeks, I'll be contacting the emergency management directors in Bolivar, Leflore, Sunflower and Washington counties to ascertain their interest in having amateur radio communications support.  Public safety communications systems have rapidly evolved in recent years, becoming more robust and highly technical.  Amateur radio has also become more technical, and in some cases, actually pioneered a number of new technologies that moved into the public safety field.  Amateur radio has not lost, however, the ability to quickly adapt and remain flexible in order to get the message through.

If you have an interest in becoming a licensed amateur radio operator, drop me an email k5jaw (at) arrl.net. We're hoping to offer training & licensing programs in the future as we develop these new programs.  Come join in!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Disaster Preps: Week 13

You'll notice our list may be getting short each week, but the items are still important! 

Weekly Purchases:
  • Whistle
  • Fire Extinguisher (A-B-C type)
  • Pliers
  • Vice grips
Action Items:
  • Contact  your local fire department for information on properly using a fire extinguisher.
  • For more training on disaster preparedness, contact your local emergency management office, or look up a Community Emergency Response Team training program in your area.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Disaster Preps: Week 12

We're at the halfway point in our family preparedness.  How are you doing so far?  A few more first-aid and medical items are on this week's list.

Weekly Purchases:
  • Anti-diarrhea medication
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Latex gloves
  • Ipecac syrup and activated charcoal
  • Vitamins
  • Denture care items, if needed
Action Items:
  • Show your family where gas, water, and electrical shutoffs are and how to properly operate them.  DO NOT turn off your utilities though.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Disaster Preps: Week 11

We're continuing to build the food supplies this week.

Weekly Purchases: (items with * should be purchased for each family member)
  • 1 large can juice*
  • Large plastic food bags
  • 1 box quick energy snacks/bars
  • 3 rolls paper towels
  • Travel-size sunscreen*
Action Items:
  • Gather and roll any loose change from around the house.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Humor in Forecasting...

Weather reports and forecasts typically contain very dry verbiage.  When a forecaster injects a little of their own personal style into the forecast, it's readily noticeable.  Thankfully, the National Weather Service allows little things like this to happen.  And if you think this is an altered image, the original can be found at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2012/al11/al112012.discus.020.shtml?



***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Hazardous Weather Outlook 1SEP12, 1:00pm

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1029 AM CDT SUN SEP 2 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A MIX OF STRONG AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND
NORTH OF A LAKE VILLAGE ARKANSAS TO PHILADELPHIA MISSISSIPPI
LINE...LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN TIME FRAME FOR
STORMS WILL BE BETWEEN 5 AND 11 PM. THE PRIMARY RISK WILL BE FROM
DAMAGING WINDS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH. OTHER THREATS WILL BE FROM
SMALL HAIL AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO OR TWO.

PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS...HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL
RANGE FROM 100 TO 107 WITH THE GREATEST VALUES LOCATED ACROSS THE
DELTA REGION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS EAST MISSISSIPPI
MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL AS THE PRIMARY
HAZARDS.

CONTINUED HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES RANGING FROM 100 TO 108 WILL IMPACT
THE REGION PRIOR TO ANY RAINFALL RELIEF IN THE AFTERNOONS THROUGH
THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK WEEK WITH GREATEST VALUES ACROSS THE DELTA
REGION.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER
OPERATIONS MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND AGAIN ON MONDAY.
  


***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Disaster Preps: Week 10

This week's items may be a bit more expensive, so check to see what you may already have before making duplicate purchases.

Weekly Purchases:
  • Waterproof portable plastic container with lid for important papers
  • Portable AM/FM radio, and batteries (keep batteries in packaging)
  • Blanket and/or sleeping bag for each family member
Action Items:
  • Copy or scan important papers, and store them safely.
Note:
If you choose to keep important papers in your home, consider investing in a fire- and water-rated safe.  If you chose this route, the extra costs are worth the price to protect your documents and valuables.