AUTO HAIL REPAIR NEWS

Even with advanced technology and the reliability of satellites, "there is always a need for ground troops," says Richard Kane, warning coordination meteorologist at Pittsburgh National Weather Service in Moon Township.

The people who pass along Skywarn information to his office come from neighborhoods throughout a four-state area and from all walks of life. While they have different approaches, the volunteers all take their role as community helpers seriously while still pursuing their meteorological hobby.

The idea of getting average citizens involved in such a way began in the late-1960s in the Great Plains, where weather can come down on people quickly. An outbreak there of more than 1,000 tornadoes made the need for spotters apparent.

The organization of such folks has grown in number ever since and has spread out in every state and increasingly internationally. Granted, southwestern Pennsylvania is not a hotspot for funnel clouds, however, wind challenges like tornados, macrobursts and microbursts do often occur, as does the area's primary weather watcher -- flash flooding.

In this area, there are nearly 3,850 men, women and children middle school-age and older, who call in reports of weather to the national service. Everyone's mission is to save lives and protect property when severe or unexpected weather systems strike.

"You can't replace humans at the ground level," Kane says. Not only does the information offered by weather spotters help the Pittsburgh area, but it also aids forecasters downstream of a system.

Because Skywarn reports aren't really necessary during clear, calm days and nights, volunteers often find themselves out during less-than-perfect times.

Some volunteers, like Bran-don Hill of McCandless, go mobile when weather approaches. Hill, 45, is a stormchaser of more than 20 years. His truck is outfitted with meteorology equipment and communication radios.

Two years ago, when chasing a funnel cloud along Route 19, Hill worried not about the serious weather, but found traffic and populated areas reason for his safety concern.

Weather has interested him ever since he was a boy, Hill says. He has never disregarded his respect for nature. While outside his vehicle measuring hail to report back to the Skywarn net of volunteers one day, the storm quickly intensified without notice and he found himself way too close to a lightning bolt.

"I was pretty quick getting back into the vehicle," he recalls.

"A storm has a mind of its own. There's always a little danger," he says. Not only does he call in important observations, but he also keeps his own records, sometimes setting up ahead of time at a good viewing point to watch the forecasted weather.

Andrew Koch admits to interest in the danger aspect of storm chasing. An EMT, Koch looks at his Skywarn participation at his home in Beechview and in his former home in Florida as another way to be involved in community.

Radio and electronic interest began about 18 years ago when Koch's grandfather gave the then-10-year-old his first CB and scanner. He was pushed to get his radio license, he recalls, and then "got sucked into everything else."

Florida Skywarn presented a different palette of weather. Koch recalls stopping along the road to watch a water spout, a funnel-shaped rotating cloud-filled wind that pulls spray from the surface of the ocean, and surveying tornado aftermath.

He didn't hesitate to go out in bad weather before, but he is less likely to chance events now. "I guess it's like running into a burning building to rescue a stranger's cat." It's just not easy to explain, he says.

He runs many antennas, radios and laptops from his car that always has at least a scanner turned on. He will explore situations being reported on the radio if out in bad weather. Nowadays he always has a camera in hand. Used to being a first-responder, Koch is more than equipped to report accidents and weather events quickly.

Kevin Lupo, 43, of Midland, is a weather spectator. Kane says it would be great if there were Skywarn volunteers spread throughout the state, however, they generally follow population.

That is why there is importance in someone like Lupo, a deputy sheriff in Beaver County, who brings a view of the weather in more remote areas.

He sees his Skywarn participation as another way of serving the public. He is a self-proclaimed "weather goof," having always been attracted to the elements. Even still Lupo says he's not compelled to go out in it for kicks, although snow, never heat, is his favorite climate.

When attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he tried unsuccessfully to pick up meteorology classes as an elective. His weather study before Skywarn was self-taught. He has a tabletop weather monitor in his home -- a great tool in making sure he's dressed appropriately for the elements, but not enough to keep him away from his pleasure of watching the cable weather channel.

As a Skywarn volunteer, Lupo says he's able to participate, not just observe. He felt good when not too long after getting his certification, he observed heavy unexpected wind damage and downed trees and called the weather service. His location report was mentioned on the news that evening making him feel he had made a contribution.

Getting that firsthand information in to the right person often includes transmission via ham radio.

Bob Bastone of East Deer, a longtime member of Skyview Radio Club, incorporates his hobby of amateur radio with his involvement at Skywarn.

When the remnants of hurricane Ivan came through in 2004, Bastone was involved. Not just as a Skywarn volunteer, but also by setting up a radio transmission point above the affected Sharpsburg area. It was key in directing emergency units and helping people get messages through when traditional means of communication were out for an extended time.

Skyview members often incorporate severe weather situations into their drills.

At a planned practice, mock reports of downed trees, flooding and emergency situations help to keep skills honed, says Dave Kleber, president-elect of the New Kensington-based Skyview group.

Kleber realized the need of emergency communication and the value of Skywarn about 10 years ago when a macroburst hit at his O'Hara Township home. For five days there was no phone or power, making it apparent to him that something needed to be in place when weather gets the upper hand.

Whenever there is severe weather headed this way, ham radio operators move into action. A ham trained in the advanced Skywarn class will get on a pre-determined frequency and start transmitting to establish himself as the net communicator.

Usually, Kleeber says, the person will send out a general message letting people engaged in casual conversation know that they must clear the frequency so weather situations can be reported.

A network of people monitoring the weather start to relay messages to the net operator, who will use his or her expertise in sifting through information before contacting the weather service. Kleeber says, if a more experienced ham or Skywarn volunteer comes on, the net communicator will readily relinquish control -- it's all about aiding others, not ego.

Bob Mente became a Skywarn volunteer from Collier Township years after knowing about the program but not having taken the class to participate actively. He has always had an innate curiosity about weather.

A friend who was an amateur radio operator prompted Mente to get certified on the airwaves so he too could "participate, not just listen."

Like many other Skywarn volunteers, family members, in Mente's case his wife, also get interested and go on to get their radio license and Skywarn certification.

The two interests seem to hold parallel interests.

If it weren't for ham radio transmissions or Skywarn volunteer telephone calls, the weather service staff might have to call traditional helpers like police departments or emergency management directors to get information about expected bad weather, says Kane.

While these sets of eyes are out in the weather, they might not be Skywarn-trained and would not necessarily know exactly what they are seeing.

An experienced Sky-warn ham also will head out to Moon Township to man the radio at the National Weather Service when weather gets particularly nasty.

As the call sign WX3PIT, Pittsburgh's weather service goes on the receiving end of the nets' gathered information.

With all the radar and computer info in front of him let alone reports from trained observers out in the communities, Kane says he often walks a fine line when issuing weather bulletins. He knows that overusing warnings might lead to complacency and under using may jeopardize the communities he wants to protect.

"About 90 percent of the information used by the media originates with us. The media takes the information and puts value to it."

Kane says "We are all connected by the weather. Don't take it for granted."

The opponent is always Mother Nature and she deserves and has earned the respect of weather watchers everywhere.