INARES-D1 at Work - 1st Press Release

Information From: Allen Bottorff

Organization: ARES Indiana Section District 1

For Immediate Release

For more information contact: Allen Bottorff INARES District 1 219 379 4661, E-mail: ac9eb@outlook.com

2025 Indiana SET 11 October 2025 - News Release

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When severe weather hits: ARES SKYWARN trained spotters are there to assist

communities moving pertinent information over Amateur radio airwaves. The

ARES Indiana Section, which encompasses District 1 - Jasper, Lake, LaPorte,

Newton, and Porter counties is conducting a “Functional Exercise” - a severe

weather Simulated Emergency Test (SET). As Brian Sexton KD9EDR, the ARES

Indiana Section Emergency Coordinator states, ”We are testing ability to coordinate,

collaborate, and communicate.” SKYWARN is the spotter program sponsored

by the National Weather Service (NWS). Radio amateurs have assisted as

communicators and spotters since its inception. In areas where tornadoes and

other severe weather have been know to threaten, NWS recruits volunteers,

trains them in proper weather spotting procedures and accepts the volunteers'

reports during watches and episodes of severe weather. By utilizing the SKYWARN

volunteers, the NWS has “eyes and ears" throughout the affected area in

conjunction with NWS sophisticated weather monitoring equipment. Continuing to

promote cooperation between IWX, Amateur radio, and Skywarn spotters. Emergency

Coordinator Jacob Wiese exclaimed,” I welcome the opportunity for LaPorte

County Amateur radio operators to hone their communication skills participating in

the 2025 Indiana SET.” ARRL maintains two communications programs: the Amateur

Radio Emergency Services® (“ARES®") and the National Traffic System

(“NTS®”). Through; these programs the ARRL provides trained volunteer communications

personnel to serve, support and partner with state, local, tribal, and territorial

governments, emergency response providers, Federal agencies and nongovernmental

organizations (NGOs) during emergencies and disasters.

Skywarn Recognition Day (SRD) 2024 at IWX NWS (Northern Indiana)

Radio operators making Amateur radio contacts for SRD.

Credits : Photographer Ken KC9NWM / NWS IWX Coordinator

Photo: Center Sarah Wood KC9AYT / Official Emergency Station

Photo: Left Ed Scott K9EJS / Emergency Coordinator