ARES EMCOMM Practice Net 20150531 Sunday, 1900 HST

NCS Kevin, AH6QO via IP connection.  Nancy, WH7XO was connected by IP, also. Check ins - 11.  State RACES repeaters are not linked to the neighbor islands leaving only Oahu repeaters and those stations who can reach them.

1. Discussed tactical call signs using both geographical and functional meanings (e.g., Waikiki2 and Control).  Noted the need to keep them short. For example, Magic Island became "Magic" and Kilauea North Shore Kauai became Kilauea NS.
2. Reviewed last weeks websites.
3. Discussed and viewed the products for the tropical cyclones, the Public Advisory and the Discussion, which give the basic information succinctly (Public Advisory) and the Maximum Sustained Winds (Discussion) for each 12-hour forecast, giving a preview of intensification and weakening.  These product links may be found on each page accessed by clicking on the storm's link under ACTIVE SYSTEMS (http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/).  
4. Practiced message handling by simulating Skywarn messages by passing "fair weather" reports, rather than the Skywarn severe weather reports.  Please remember to speak slowly enough for the recipient to write it down.

ARES EMCOMM Practice Net 20150524

Resumed the ARES EMCOMM Practice Net on Sunday, 20150524 at 1900 HST.
NCS Kevin, AH6QO via IP connection.  Nancy, WH7XO was connected by IP, also.
Discussed weather and message handling.

Weather sites - check on the 5-day forecast for Situational Awareness: 

1. Eastern Pacific 5-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook   http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=epac&fdays=5 
   Remember to hover over the image of the disturbance to view pop up window.   Weather that affects Hawaii in the Central Pacific frequently comes from the Eastern Pacific.
2. Central Pacific page will have more info when the hurricane season for the Central Pacific begins on June 1.  The page is located at http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc/

Message Handling:

1. Discussed NWS's Skywarn criteria and how to report.  Used a "Fair Weather" report to give us practice in giving a verbal message.  During Skywarn activations, only Severe Weather Reports will be sent. Remember: All messages, whether they are a verbal message (e.g., a "windshield" report of flooding) or written (e.g., a third-party message from an agency's field representative to HQ) are written, even if it is only written into the log of the receiving station.