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Should QCARC continue giving VE Exams before club meetings in even months?

  • Yes, but occasionally on other days and times (67%, 2 Votes)
  • Yes (33%, 1 Votes)
  • No (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Yes, with more months (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Yes, but fewer months (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 3

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Pennsylvania Flood Safety Awareness Week

Spring WX Safety

The National Weather Service Flood Safety Awareness Week Begins March 27. Considering we experience flooding in our area rather often, it is likely worth your time to check out the National Weather Service flood safety week web page at http://www.weather.gov/ctp/floodSafetyWeek

The week starts out with information on the continuing effort to modernize the hydrologic information that enables the general public to be aware of water levels in bodies of water in their areas. An interactive, real time hydrologic map of PA.

Toward the bottom of Monday’s page are a couple downloads in .pdf format that may be of interest.

One of my favorite topics is the “Turn Around Don’t Drown” information that is available, that EVERYONE should follow. If people do not follow the simple phrase they are risking not only their own life and those who may be in the vehicle with them but also the lives of the rescue responders. The “Turn Around Don’t Drown” campaign is highlighted Tuesday.

The balance of the week includes; the causes and severity of floods, flood insurance and flood safety.

Please take some time to refresh yourself of flooding issues and the safety points that everyone should be aware of.

 

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Please Keep Fire Hydrants Clear

I know this is not directly related to amateur radio but it is directly related to neighborhood safety.
It may even be directly related to your safety!

Clear Hydrant

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Basic SKYWARN in Punxsutawney

National Weather Service Pittsburgh will be conducting a BASIC SKYWARN course at the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center 201 N Findley St on Thursday April 27, 2017 starting at 6PM.

To register, email marlene@weatherdiscovery.org

This course is open to ANYONE interested in Weather. Hams are encouraged to attend. If you are a current SKYWARN observer for Pittsburgh NWS, they request observers attend a course every 5 years to remain current.

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I Have My Amateur Radio Operator License – Now What

This question often occurs with newly licensed radio amateurs, and may occur from time to time with those who have been licensed for a few years. One of your first avenues to find out an answer to a question may be your local amateur radio club. Often times there are members of the local club who can give an authoritative answer to your questions as well as direct you to periodicals whether a print version or online to qualify what they tell you and provide even more information. Of course, if you want, you can just jump online and find out some information to your questions but remember you may still need some clarification to the answers you find and again that is where the knowledge of long time radio amateurs can help clear up your new questions.

Doctor_is_In_Podcast_Icon_2One of the online resources which may be of interest is the “ARRL The Doctor is In”  podcast. You do not need to register or be an ARRL member to listen to these informative programs. Direct your browser to http://www.arrl.org/doctor . This is an audio presentation that you can listen to over your computer or tablet. There is an archive of a number of topics from previous episodes, listed toward the bottom of the page. Listening to these will likely generate even more questions but it shows you are learning and are interesting in learning! Take those questions to your local club or find an amateur radio operator who has some background relative the topic of you question.

You may have noticed that I tend to stress that you should talk to someone who is knowledgeable. Too often folks tend to have their personal perspectives color answers on given issues which may still be 100% accurate but since you are asking you likely will have a bit of a problem weeding out the biased answers, wrong answers and technically correct answers. The person you are getting your information from sometimes will say that a certain answer is their personal feelings toward a topic and then further inform you of where their perspective is coming from. Consider that the perspective may come from a personal experience, sometimes with very interesting and informative explanations!

This is only a couple ideas of what to do as a newly licensed amateur radio operator. The hobby is very diverse in what you can get involved in. For starters please give the podcast a try, it may surprise you it what is available to learn from it. Along with the podcast remember there is likely an amateur radio club reasonably close to you where you can find answers to your questions as well as meet others who are in the same hobby.

 

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Get Weather Ready Before A Tornado

NWS SPRINGSpring really is not too far away and with the change of seasons some rather interesting but destructive weather can occur. One of the more serious weather phenomenons we have to occasionally deal with is the tornado. While not a frequent issue, it is one that we need to be prepared for. Understand the Tornado Watch and Tornado Warning Alerts. Be sure your cell phone has the emergency alerts function turned on. There are numerous weather advisory apps for Smartphones that are very helpful.

Check out a two-minute N.W.S. video on preparing for a tornado at: https://youtu.be/uE66ganofF0

Another weather issue we have to deal with is the severe thunderstorm. It was only in 2016, that the Clearfield area was hit with thunderstorms that materialized and stalled over the area. These storms produced flooding unseen by many in some fifty-plus years.

Following is the synopsis of the 2016 Clearfield severe weather from the National Weather Service.

1945EST0
000EST 0 0 0.00K 0.00K Flash Flood

A small, but potent thunderstorm developed over Clearfield County just north of the town of Clearfield just before 22:00Z Thursday June 2nd, 2016. The storm moved ittle and intensified, and by 23Z was producing very heavy rain. The storm sat over the Clearfield-Lawrence County Airport (KFIG) where 5.16 of rain fell essentially 3 hours.

Initially Flood Advisories were issued (2316Z), but as the storm sat in one spot, the advisory was upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning at 0038Z.

Significant flooding was reported near the town of Clearfield, with three homes flooded, and according to Clearfield County EMA, 21 people were rescued from their homes and taken to a shelter.

Shortly after midnight a house on West Front Street exploded when the owners tried to turn their power back on. Four residents of the home suffered unknown injuries.

Hardest hit areas were near Route 879 and Industrial Road (see fig 2), and multiple streets in downtown Clearfield including Turnpike, Nichols and Merrill Street.

A small, but potent thunderstorm developed over Clearfield County just north of the town of Clearfield just before 22:00Z Thursday June 2nd, 2016. The storm moved little and by 23Z was producing very heavy rain. The storm sat over the Clearfield -Lawrence County Airport (KFIG) where 5.16 of rain fell essentially 3 hours. Initially Flood Advisories were issued (2316Z), but as the storm sat in one spot, the advisory was upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning at 0038Z.

Significant flooding was reported near the town of Clearfield, with three homes flooded, and according to Clearfield County EMA 21 people were rescued from their homes and taken to a shelter. Fortunately there were no reports of serious injuries. Hardest hit areas were near Route 879 and Industrial Road, and multiple streets in downtown Clearfield including Turnpike, Nichols and Merrill Street.

 

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