AGREEMENT FOR THE COORDINATION OF SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTER AND COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES
BETWEEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND REACT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into between the United States
of America, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service,
herein after referred to as the NWS, and REACT International, Inc., herein after referred to as REACT.
The purpose of this MOU is to state the terms of a mutual agreement between the
NWS and REACT. This MOU is to serve as a framework within which local REACT teams may coordinate their services,
use of facilities, and equipment with the NWS in support of nationwide, state, and local early warning and emergency
communications functions. Through joint coordination and exercise of the resources of REACT, the NWS and Federal,
state, and local governments intend to enhance the nationwide posture of early weather warning and readiness for
any conceivable weather related emergency.
I. RECOGNITION
The NWS recognizes that REACT is the principal organization representing the interests
of more than 9,000 volunteers using such public access radio communications as Citizen Band Radio Service, General
Mobile Radio Service, and Marine Radio Service. Because of its field organization of trained and experienced communications
experts, REACT can be of valuable assistance in the spotting and reporting of severe weather.
REACT recognizes the NWS' statutory responsibility to provide civil meteorological
services for the people of the United States. These services consist of:
- Providing accurate and timely forecasts and warnings of weather and flood conditions
affecting the nation; and,
- Observing and reporting the weather of the U.S. and its possessions.
The NWS operates a vast network of offices of many types within the U.S. to fulfill
its function and many related, specialized weather services. The NWS cooperates in the exchange of data in real
time with other nations, including obtaining weather reports from ships at sea.
II. ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
The NWS consists of a National Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD and six regional
offices in the United States: Eastern, Southern, Central, Western, Pacific, and Alaska.
Fifty-two Weather Service Forecast Offices and 209 Weather Service Offices provide
warnings and forecasts to the Nation.
Skywarn is the spotter training program developed and sponsored by the NWS. Radio
operators have volunteered to assist as communicators and Skywarn spotters since the program's inception. In areas
where tornadoes and other severe weather is a frequent concern, the NWS recruits volunteers, trains them in storm
identification and spotting procedures, and subsequently accepts the spotter's reports during episodes of severe
weather. By utilizing the Skywarn volunteers, the NWS has "eyes and ears" throughout the affected area
in conjunction with NWS sophisticated remote sensing equipment.
III. ORGANIZATION OF REACT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
REACT International, Inc. was established in 1962 as a nonprofit IRS 501 (c)(3)
organization, chartered to promote emergency communications and motorist assistance. REACT is head quartered in
Wichita, KS. REACT members use Citizen Band Radio, Marine Radio, Ceneral Mobile Radio, Amateur Radio, and Business
Radio among other radio services to provide emergency and disaster communications to the public and to government
emergency management agencies. REACT teams accept the responsibility of maintaining a monitoring system for emergency
communications.
There are 26 State Councils that act to improve communication and coordination
between local REACT teams within their state. Each REACT team is a wholly independent entity with its own form
of administrative control, developed to suit local needs and conditions, Because many of the monitored frequencies
are designed for local communications, there is no limit to the number of REACT teams in any geographical area.
REACT, on behalf of local teams throughout the nation, works effectively with other national emergency groups to
advise on the proper use of local radio communications.
IV. PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION
- REACT agrees to encourage its State Councils to arrange for the provision of specialized
communications and observational support on an as-needed basis for NWS offices in weather emergencies including
severe local storms, hurricanes, hazardous winter weather, heavy rain and flash flooding, and other hazardous weather
conditions.
- REACT further agrees to encourage its membership to contact and cooperate with
NWS Forecast Offices for the purpose of establishing organized Skywarn networks with radio communicators and spotters.
- The NWS agrees to work with REACT State Councils and Teams to establish Skywarn
networks and/or other specialized weather emergency alert and relief operations. The principal point of contact
between REACT and local NWS offices is the Meteorological Services Division (MSD) of the appropriate NWS Regional
Office. Addresses for NWS Regional Offices are provided below. The national contact points for REACT are Government
Relations Committee, c/o Norman L. Kaplan, 2605 Loma Street, Silver Spring, MD 20902-4841 and/or REACT International,
Inc., Post Office Box 998, Wichita, KS 67201. A listing of REACT International, Inc. State Councils shall be provided
to the NWS on an annual basis.
- NWS Eastern Region, NOAA
Airport Corporate Center
630 Johnson Avenue
Bohemia, NY 11716
- NWS Southern Region, NOAA
819 Taylor Street, Rm. 1 0A-26
Fort Worth, TX 76102
- NWS Central Region, NOAA
601 E. 12th Street, Rm. 1836
Kansas City, MO 64106-2897
- NWS Western Region, NOAA
Box 11188, Federal Bldg.
125 S. State St., Rm. 1215
Salt Lake City, UT 84147
- NWS Pacific Region, NOAA
Prince Kuhio Fed. Bldg., Rm. 4110
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96850-4993
- NWS Alaska Region, NOAA
222 West 7th Ave., No. 23 Rm. 517
Anchorage, AK 99513-7575
V. AMENDMENT PROCEDURES
This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended at any time in the following manner:
- Amendments requested by the President and Chairman of the Board of REACT shall
be forwarded to the NWS Regional Director for review. Upon approval by the NWS Regional Director, the amendment
shall be forwarded to NWS Headquarters for approval by the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services,
- An amendment by the NWS shall be coordinated through the NWS Regional Director
and approved by the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services, then forwarded to the President and Chairman
of the Board, REACT.
- Once all parties have reached agreement on the proposed amendment, the MOU shall
be changed and pages of the MOU on which amendment appear shall be completely replaced, and the amended provision
marked with an asterisk in the left margin and REVIEW followed by the date at the bottom of the page. This identification
need only remain until the page is again amended.
- The amendment shall become effective on the last date shown on the amendment when
signed by both parties to the original MOU.
- If both parties cannot agree to the amendment, an effort shall be made to reach
an acceptable Compromise, If a compromise cannot be reached the amendment will not be made. The NWS reserves the
right to accept or reject changes to this MOU as deemed appropriate. If an amendment is rejected, by either party,
the original MOU provisions remain in effect unless terminated by the provisions of Article VI.
VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
This MOU shall become effective on the last date shown below when executed by both
parties hereto. This MOU is valid and binding until termination by either party upon 60 days written notice.
SIGNED
| Elbert W. Friday, Jr. 07/13/93 |
Ronald McCracken 07/22/93 |
| Assistant Administrator for |
REACT International, Inc. |
| Weather Services, NOAA |
President and Chairman of the Board |
| Silver Spring, MD |
Wichita, KS |
|
