2.23.01 Weather Updates, Severe
2.23.1 Weather Updates, Severe (Revised 10/2020)
OVERVIEW
Amerimed Communications personnel will monitor weather situations using the NOAA weather radio alerts for counties in our immediate service area and will provide updates as needed to field personnel via two-way radio.
SECTION A
Immediate Service Areas:
ANY AREA WHERE FIELD UNITS MAY CURRENTLY BE TRAVELING
If severe weather alerts are issued for the above locations, Amerimed Communications should notify field personnel in the following manner:
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
1. Ensure the appropriate radio channel is selected.
2. Announce: “RADIO TO ALL UNITS, BE ADVISED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR (provide accurate county(ies) UNTIL (time of alert expiration). Time out of Amerimed
Communications (current time)”
Field units may choose to acknowledge the transmission.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
1.Announce: “RADIO TO ALL UNITS, BE ADVISED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR (provide accurate county(ies) UNTIL (time of alert expiration). Time out of Amerimed Communications (current time)”
Field units may choose to acknowledge the transmission.
TORNADO WATCH
1. Announce: “RADIO TO ALL UNITS, BE ADVISED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR (provide accurate county(ies) UNTIL (time of alert expiration). Time out of Amerimed Communications (current time)”
2. Prepare for possible tornado, get a portable radio for dispatching, prepare for a power outage, and consider transferring dispatch lines to a safer location.
Field units may choose to acknowledge the transmission.
TORNADO WARNING
1. Announce: “RADIO TO ALL UNITS, BE ADVISED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR (provide accurate county(ies) UNTIL (time of alert expiration). Time out of Amerimed Communications (current time). All units acknowledge”
Field units will acknowledge the transmission.
3. Take cover in a safe area of building until the storm has passed.
4. Provide further updates as weather situations require.