[TCARES 0575] "Super Outbreak" 40th Anniversary

[Stephen M. Parker, WR9A]

Fellow ARES members and SKYWARN spotters,

Today we are reminded of what occurred some 40 years ago on April 3,
1974. Known as the "Super Outbreak", it is the largest tornado outbreak on
record for a single 24-hour period. There were 148 tornadoes confirmed in
13 US states, and Indiana was one of the hardest hit. It extensively
damaged approximately 900 square miles along a total combined path length
of 2,600 miles.

Tragically, over 300 people lost their lives that day and more than
5,000 were injured by the storms. Today, as we remember this solemn event,
we should also pause to recognize the life-saving advancements in
technology and come to a better understanding of the sense of urgency and
importance in our role of working with the National Weather Service.

As a result of this tragedy 40 years ago, a great push to advance
radar technology was made. By 1988, the NWS began to roll out the
newly-developed Doppler radar, known as WSR-88D, which would
help forecasters detect the rotation of winds within thunderstorms.

The "Super Outbreak" also resulted in a great expansion of the NOAA
Weather Radio system. Prior to 1974, only a handful of NWS transmitters
were on the air, serving only the largest metropolitan areas. By the end of
the decade, some 300 stations were in service. Today, more than 1,000 NWS
transmitters in all 50 states and several territories, provide severe
weather warning capability to more than 99% of the U.S. population. Weather
radio receivers can now be bought for $40 or less, and provide life-saving
warnings. Please urge everyone you know to make this small financial
investment, or, consider buying one as a gift for a neighbor, friend, or
even a stranger. (And offer to program it for them.)

The SKYWARN program was born out of the need for reliable,
trained "spotters" that were lacking that day in 1974. When we talk about
how important the first-hand, eye-witness, severe weather reports are to
the National Weather Service, consider what a difference this program (and
the technology we have today) could have made 40 years ago.

Lives ARE saved by what we do. How well we do our jobs in ARES and
SKYWARN really CAN mean the difference between life and death. That is the
reason we train so diligently, so often, and have such strict protocols
and procedures. The mere seconds we can save by training to efficiently
pass along severe weather reports to the NWS can have a profound result in
the warning process.

Helping others is our purpose and is what motivates hams to serve in
ARES and SKYWARN. Thank you for YOUR dedication and willingness to serve
and be a part of the team.

Here are a few links to remember what life was like in our part of the
world on this day in 1974:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woCfi4HlIG8

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ind/?n=april3_1974tor

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/?n=superoutbreak

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Outbreak

________________________________________
Stephen M. Parker, WR9A
ARRL District Emergency Coordinator
Indiana ARES District 4
WR9Aradio at gmail.com
________________________________________
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