1

Marion County Emergency Radio Team

The Marion County Emergency Radio Team (MERT) provides the following information

to all Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) within Marion County, FL.

Accurate weather forecasting has undergone tremendous improvements in the last decade as science,

satellites and computers used by public, private and non-profit organizations are now working together

to protect lives, property and the environment. Since the first weather forecast in the U.S. were made

over radio stations in 1925, multiple sources are available today in keeping us informed. However, the

science of weather forecasting is still not able to pinpoint the absolute conditions that every location will

experience. That’s why Police, Fire Dept., Sheriff’s, State, Federal and Emergency Managers rely on

multiple resources to keep them up to date on developing conditions. By doing so, they know better

what and how to best prepare for imminent weather situations or long-term potential emergencies.

As CERT and MERT personnel are trained to support our families, neighbors, the public and each other

until professional responders are available, we have a responsibility to keep ourselves and our teams

aware of current weather conditions and forecasts. This document will offer MERT and CERT members

several key resources in staying informed.

Radio Resources – NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS)

While broadcast AM & FM radio stations can be good weather resources, the

information presented is usually brief summaries about regional conditions and

not community focused. A better resource when at home or at remote

locations where ac power, Internet service and cellular phone service is

unavailable is NOAA Weather radio. It is a 24-hour continuous weather

broadcast with enhanced NWS forecasts commonly available on battery

powered “All Alert Weather radios”, handheld portable radios and mobile HAM receivers.

Primary and secondary broadcast frequencies in Marion County, FL are:

Primary local transmitter: Ocala 162.525 MHz (Marion County S.A.M.E. code is 012083)

Secondary: Inverness 162.40 MHz; Gainesville 162.475 MHz; Sumterville 162.50 MHz

*Florida NOAA/NWS station listing available at: https://www.weather.gov/nwr/stations?State=FL

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE July 2020

Weather Information Resources for MERT & CERT

2

Marion County Emergency Radio Team

Television Resources

Most television broadcasters provide weather forecasts and information updates which generally

provide good information on current and future conditions. However, continuous reporting specific to

your community may be limited and is very susceptible to power outages and/or damages to

broadcaster and cable/satellite telecommunication networks. Should that occur, most of Marion

County, FL does have coverage by over-the-air broadcasters (location dependent) which include

channels: 2.1 - NBC; 5.1 - PBS; 20.1 - ABC; 28.1 - CBS and 51.1 - Fox.

Telephone Resources

Enhanced Telephone Notification (ETN) systems

are available in many areas that send warning

messages and instructions to persons in specific

“at risk” areas. The Marion County Sheriff’s

Office (MCSO) Division of Emergency Management has this resource available. It is called…..“ALERT

MARION”. When individuals register and create an account, audio, email or text alerts are delivered to

any telephone-based network. A key advantage of this system is it can be very geographically focused

and limited to a street or small neighborhood. It can also be limited to specific types of notifications

based on their location. All MERT/CERT members are encouraged to participate in this system.

Sign up at: https://alertmarion.com/ or https://www.alertmarioncounty.com/

[Note: ETN systems are also called “reverse 911 systems” with messages sent as texts or emails and voice alerts to

cellular phone, home phone and work phone numbers. The method of communication is determined by each

individual during online registration.]

Amateur Radio (HAM) Resources

Another great resource for MERT/CERT leaders and members having FCC licenses are the local

SKYWARN and ARES reports. These networks are activated during severe weather events where

amateur radio operators provide local weather observations specific to their location in Marion County

and surrounding areas.

Marion County MERT/CERT HAMS are encouraged to participate. A weekly ARES and SKYWARN Open

Net is conducted on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM, repeater K4GSO @ 146.610 MHz Offset: -600

kHz; CTCSS: 123 Hz. By joining the Net and providing a local weather report, you will better prepare

yourself in reporting important information during and after an emergency event. For more

information, visit: https://www.kg4nxo.com

Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES)

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have

voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES

3

Marion County Emergency Radio Team

leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.

Internet Resources

The greatest growth of weather forecasting and reporting sources has occurred over the Internet. From

weather text and app’s to narrowly focused or full coverage websites, multiple types of weather

information and forecasting is available. This update focuses on resources having specific capabilities

important for public and private organizations, Emergency Management personnel and MERT/CERT

members. (Quality sites having limited or no advertisements are presented.)

LOCAL INFORMATION RESOURCES

WeatherSTEM - Marion County

Weather Underground (WU) - Marion County

With over 50 weather sensor sites around Marion

County, WU provides localized, real-time weather

conditions. Tracking the progress of severe weather is

capable as it moves across Marion County and N. Florida.

https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/fl/ocala

[Note: Most weather sensors are privately owned and

maintained.]

SKYWARN®

SKYWARN is a national network of volunteer severe weather spotters. The spotters are

trained by local National Weather Service Forecast Offices (local office Jacksonville, FL)

on how to spot severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail and flooding. For information on

SKYWARN, visit: https://www.weather.gov/pbz/hamradio (General Information and

Alert Condition details) or https://www.weather.gov/pbz/hamradio (Spotter Training

Class locations and schedules).

This web resource provides Marion County specific

weather sensor data at 7 different locations making it one

of the best websites for MERT/CERT members. Unique

features include “closest lightning” from each location and

“maximum wind gust over the prior 10 minutes”.

https://marion.weatherstem.com/

4

Marion County Emergency Radio Team

NATIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES

National Weather Service (NWS)

NWS consistently provides excellent local and regional weather

information which MERT/CERT members can rely on for accuracy

and timeliness. An abundance of data and information is

provided including the “Weather Prediction Center” providing

forecast for 12 to 60 hours into the future.

https://www.weather.gov/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Like the NWS, NOAA provides excellent information about the oceans

and atmosphere which create and fuel severe weather conditions. Of

particular interest is the Atlantic Ocean surface water temperature charts

which are the most significant contributor to the creation of tropical

depressions…. which can grow into tropical storms then hurricanes.

https://www.noaa.gov/

Windy.com

This resource is designed to only focus on the weather having

unique capabilities which includes real-time lightning strike

display (showing location), active fires, wind accumulation

(areas having increasing or decreasing) and current wind speed

& direction. https://www.windy.com/

Additional Resources having combined access and information from many websites Includes:

https://spaghettimodels.com/ https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/storminfo/

5

Marion County Emergency Radio Team

Dozens of additional Internet websites are available which can provide valuable weather information.

Most have significant advertising content, links to non-weather information or an abundance of video

content completely unrelated to local or regional weather events making them difficult and challenging

to navigate.

MERT will strive to provide future updates as listed and future web resources evolve.

Weather Apps

A mobile application, also referred to as a mobile app or simply an app, is a computer program or

software application designed to run on a mobile device (smartphones, tablets or watches).2 Apps were

originally intended for productivity assistance but are now available in providing significant weather

information, from current conditions to long-term forecasts. Over 10,000 weather information type

apps exists for Android or Apple OS devices.3 They range from providing just the temperature to others

offering extensive weather conditions, data and forecast.

With so many apps to choose from on the two most common mobile operating systems, MERT and

CERT members will need to experiment and decide what works best for them. Android apps available at

Google Play. Apple OS apps available at the Apple App Store.

To assist MERT and CERT personnel getting started, the following listing was published by c|net4 “Best

Weather Apps of 2020”.

Best all-service weather app: The Weather Channel

Best privacy policy for the user: Weather Underground

Best daily weather app: AccuWeather

Best for serious weather junkies: RadarScope

Best for tracking weather overall: Dark Sky

Best for tracking lightning strikes: Windy

2 Wikipedia – “Mobile App” 3 Wikipedia, July 2018 - There are 8,000 apps with the word “weather” in their title for Android phones and 2,400

for iPhone users. 4 c|net is an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos on

technology and consumer electronics globally.

6

Marion County Emergency Radio Team

Internet Resources for Emergency Management personnel - HURREVAC

HURREVAC (short for Hurricane Evacuation) is a storm

tracking and decision support tool. The program

combines live feeds of tropical cyclone forecast

information with data from various state Hurricane

Evacuation Studies (HES) to assist local Emergency

Management leaders determine the most prudent

evacuation decision time and the potential for

significant storm effects such as wind and storm surge.

Agency and governmental staff access only.

Emergency Information and Training

Document: Weather Resources for MERT & CERT 07102020

FEMA Training Class (Internet access)

Community Hurricane Preparedness (ICS-

324.A)

This computer-based course, Community

Hurricane Preparedness, is to provide those

involved in the decision making process for

hurricanes with basic information about:

• How hurricanes form

• The hazards they pose

• How the National Weather Service (NWS)

forecasts future hurricane behavior

• What tools and guiding principles can help

emergency managers prepare their

communities (and MERT/CERT members)

FEMA Recommendations: Know Your Alerts and Warnings 1

For MERT, CERT and the Public:

Confirm your mobile device can receive Emergency

Alerts

Sign up for local/regional text/email/voice alerts (see

ALERT MARION)

Consider purchasing a NOAA All Alert Weather Radio

Bookmark favorite weather websites on your computer

for fast access

Sign up for text/email alerts from reliable weather apps

Verify everyone in the household participants in

receiving alerts

For Organizations:

Test internal communication systems to verify all

members can be contacted

Designate members to be responsible for distributing

alerts from Official sources

Consider purchasing a NOAA All Alert Weather Radio

Develop a list of all the alert systems available for your

community and your organization as a guide for

members [This document.]

Encourage all members to sign up for alerts and

warnings and assist them with settings so they will work

during emergencies. (See Alert Marion)

1 ”Know Your Alerts and Warnings”; FEMA P-1093/July 2018

1.

2.