Grayson County CERT Class Graduates

Posted on by September 6, 2012

(Note: while TECO does not directly manage or coordinate CERT activities, TECO does work with the Grayson County Office of Emergency Management, and many CERT members are also Amateur Radio operators as well as members of ARES® and SKYWARN®. This close association and awareness of each group’s capabilities can be very helpful to everyone in an emergency.)

On Tuesday, September 4th, the newest class of students in Grayson County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program completed an 8-month training course and graduated, increasing the number of members in the county to approximately 140. TECO congratulates these volunteers on this important accomplishment.

Local television station KXII-TV aired a story on this event. A video of the story can be viewed by following the link below (if the video is not available or you are using a slow Internet connection, a transcript is provided at the end of this posting).

CERT Graduation

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FCC Releases Congressionally Mandated Study on Amateur Radio

Posted on by August 24, 2012

Report supports Amateur Radio use in providing emergency communications during times of disaster

(From the ARRL Website http://www.arrl.org)

On August 20 — in response to a Spring 2012 Congressional directive — the Federal Communications Commission released its findings on the Uses and Capabilities of Amateur Radio Service Communications in Emergencies and Disaster Relief: Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 6414 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.

This report contains the FCC’s “review of the importance of emergency Amateur Radio Service communications relating to disasters, severe weather and other threats to lives and property in the United States; and recommendations for enhancements in the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio operators in disaster and emergency communications and disaster relief efforts; and recommendations for improved integration of Amateur Radio operators in the planning and furtherance of initiatives of the federal government.” It also required “that the study identify impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications and provide recommendations regarding the removal of such impediments.”

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NOAA Updates 2012 Hurricane Season Outlook

Posted on by August 15, 2012

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season has been “busy,” with six named storms since the season began June 1. In May 2012, NOAA forecasters originally indicated a 50 percent chance for a near-normal season in 2012, and predicted the chances for an above-normal season at 25 percent and a below-normal season at 25 percent. But on August 9, NOAA revised the chances for an above-normal season — upping the odds to 35 percent — while saying that the chances for a below-normal season have decreased to 15 percent. Continue reading →