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County's storm spotters go high-tech
By Sara Stanglin
The Paris News
Published February 20, 2005
Wireless technology now provides Lamar County with early storm warning, and that could someday save lives.
Lamar County Amateur Radio Emergency Service members have successfully field-tested a new Internet access system. The system, which was tested last weekend, advances response times for issuing weather warnings.
The project is the first of its kind in the country, with the National Weather Service using it in East Texas and Louisiana. The test introduced new Spiderweb Meshbox technology, systems used by online communication companies, to the tools spotters use.
Currently, the weather service requires two spotters to see a tornado before a warning is issued. Precious seconds, sometimes minutes, can be lost while waiting for confirmation.
“It can often take several minutes before a storm is close enough to a second spotter for a good sighting,” said Leo Salas, National Association for Amateur Radio emergency coordinator for Lamar County. “For anyone in the path of the storm, a few extra minutes could be the difference between life and death.”
With the Meshboxes, the first spotter is able to use a Webcam and the Internet to broadcast live video of the storm to the emergency operations center and the weather service.
The person at the second location becomes the second spotter. Able to confirm the sighting, the warning goes out immediately.
Salas, who works for Star-Net Online Systems, saw his employer using the Meshboxes for other online purposes and realized the potential for the creation of an advanced weather warning system. He shared his ideas with the company’s president, Larry Rhea, who agreed to donate a Meshbox and help set up the system.
The two decided to strategically place the new Meshbox on top of Paris Regional Medical Center’s south campus for the widest area of coverage. This location provides access for spotters in downtown as well as east and south of the loop. Rhea has also made company boxes in eastern and northern Lamar County accessible to spotters.
Meshbox technology is designed so that it can expand into adjoining counties, creating an extensive network.
“We are working with officials in Hunt County to set up a similar system there,” Rhea said. “Now that we’ve had a successful test, others are looking at Lamar County for this groundbreaking technology.”
In addition, spotters with the proper equipment can use the Internet to access the the Weather Service’s radar while performing storm-spotting duties, allowing them to follow the progress of severe storms as they approach
Instant-messaging communication is also available. The new system connects mobile spotters using laptops computers, personal digital assistants with cameras, wireless Internet adapters and runs on available instant messaging software.
In the past, the City of Paris and the Weather Service relied on spotter reports via radio and telephone. The new technology is much faster.
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