NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 24, 2002--The same front that produced tornado activity in Mississippi on December 19 earlier touched Arkansas and Missouri with devastating and deadly effect. After nearly a year without any significant tornado activity, Arkansas was again at the heart of severe weather December 18. Tornadoes hit several counties in Missouri December 17 and 18. One person died in each state a direct result of the severe weather.
The National Weather Service (NWS) activated SKYWARN at approximately 2 PM in Arkansas, and participants remained active until after 11 PM. Little Rock Emergency Coordinator Dale Temple, W5RXU, reports that the NWS issued 48 warnings during the nine-hour net. Temple also is president of Arkansas SKYWARN.
Temple said NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist John Robinson and Meteorologist-In-Charge Renee Fair praised the accuracy and dedication of the Arkansas SKYWARN volunteers.
In Arkansas, hail up to two inches in diameter, heavy rain up to six inches, damaging straight-line winds and tornadoes developed in Desha, Faulkner, Lincoln, Prairie, Saline, Woodruff, Jackson, Lonoke, White and Cross counties.
At the request of American Red Cross Arkansas State Disaster Director Roger Elliot, Richard Thompson, W5SUB, fired up the Amateur Radio station at Red Cross Headquarters to help coordinate the organization's efforts to provide needed services to about 85 families whose homes had been damaged or destroyed by the severe weather. "Mr Elliot credited ham radio operators in assisting the Red Cross to mobilize more quickly and accurately to needy victims," Temple said.
Arkansas SKYWARN, the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net, Pulaski County, Little Rock and North Little Rock ARES/RACES actively supported state and local emergency management agencies as well as the Red Cross, The Salvation Army and area hospitals.
In central and southern Missouri, several Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams activated the night of December 17 when severe weather struck. There were multiple instances of rainfall greater than one inch per hour, and hail was reported in several counties. Missouri SEC Don Moore, KM0R, said that in a couple of instances, the NWS issued severe thunderstorm warnings shortly after ARES reports came in.
Reports filed with the St Louis NWS Office included heavy rain, hail and damaging wind speeds. "There was a tornado reported in Laclede County that moved into Pulaski County, along with damaging wind speeds in excess of 75 MPH in another area during the early morning hours of December 18," Moore said. Tornado activity was also reported in Springfield and the surrounding area. Hams also worked with the Springfield NWS Office.
Linked repeater systems were used to pass information to the respective NWS offices and among local nets. Some five dozen hams involved in the response in three ARES districts logged double-digit work hours. Several county emergency coordinators said they monitored the statewide HF frequency for the Missouri Emergency Services Net in case there was traffic to pass. They also kept in contact with local governments and other served agencies in case Amateur Radio volunteers were needed.
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