VoIP Hurricane Net Reporting Criteria

-Measured Wind Data
Measured winds sustained or in gusts of 35 MPH or greater. (Also, request a
measured Barometric pressure reading if this criteria is met.)

-US Estimated Wind Criteria

Estimated winds of 35 MPH or greater ONLY if accompanied by wind damage (Trees down, Branches Down, Power/Phone Poles Down, Phone/Cable/Power Lines down, Structural Damage etc. Observers should report the size of trees/branches down and size of Power/Phone Poles down).

-Non-US Estimated Wind Criteria (All non-US locations including such places as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico as well as the
Windward/Leeward Islands Caribbean chain, Central America etc.):

Estimated winds of 35 MPH or greater regardless if there is any observable wind damage. (Due to a lack of weather measuring equipment in these areas.)

-Wind Damage Reports (Trees Down, Branches Down, Phone/Cable/Power Lines down Structural Damage etc. Observers should report the size of trees/branches down and size of Power/Phone Poles down))
-Tornadoes and Funnel Cloud activity.

-Measured Rainfall (Minimum of 2" or greater or 1" of rainfall in an hour
and any final rainfall amounts.)
-River/Stream Flooding, road washouts, roads closed due to river/stream
flooding or significant urban flooding.
-Coastal Storm Surge Flooding
-Status on Power and Phone Outages, including number of homes/ businesses or area affected. Report should be from city/town/state/Federal EOC, National Weather Service or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

-Reports sent into the NHC must be first-hand or relayed reports from other Hams, family/friends, and EOC's and NOT from the news media, NWS official observing stations or commercial broadcast. Reports from commercial broadcasts, NWS observing stations and the media can be stated on the net but we do not want to forward that information to the National Hurricane Center, as they are already aware of it.

-APRS WX Data is typically seen at the NHC through MesoNet so those reports do not have to be forwarded to the NHC but those reports are welcome on the net. Please specify that the report is from an APRS Weather Station and attempt to verify that the NHC has that data when/if possible.

-NCO's will need to make sure that the data is first-hand or are relayed reports from other Hams, family/friends and EOC's and should be stated appropriately in the report. All reports should be as detailed as possible and NCO's that hear from Hams with weather stations should ask about any damage/flooding etc. in their area so it can be part of the report.