Audio Files from June 7th, 2008 Chicago Area Tornadoes

[Danny Neal]

While I was not expecting to chase this day, I actually got home from playing a double header in the morning, and noticed a tornado watch out. Quick look at parameters got the blood-boiling lol. Anyway From the second the tornado watch was out til the last tornado lifted, I recorded NWS LOT (WX9LOT), MABAS division 19, and all the emergency managers in the area about the tornadoes. I left at the 25:00 mark of the audio so the rest I was listening to in my car (tornado hit 15 miles south of my house)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=33Q3WRVK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PF5VZX6A

First one is 64 MB
Second one is 27 MB

When you click on the link, enter the 3 LETTER CODE at the top and then download it. It's not a virus and you can simply delete it when you are done.

I highly HIGHLY reccommend you all to listen to all 70 minutes. It really gives you the sense of what goes on during an emergency weather situation near a large city.

I have never heard my hometown use the words "disaster box alarm for a tornado" in my life.

[Robert Rohloff]

Danny, I do not know if you still have fire pull boxes on corners but fire departments used to dispatch out a box alarm for the corner or location where the alarm was pulled. I can only guess that a disaster box alarm puts all stations on some type of alert or response mode.

[Danny Neal]

Danny, I do not know if you still have fire pull boxes on corners but fire departments used to dispatch out a box alarm for the corner or location where the alarm was pulled. I can only guess that a disaster box alarm puts all stations on some type of alert or response mode.

Yeah I think it is about the 41 minute mark of the FIRST audio you can hear our department (Oak Lawn Central) tone out all MABAS (http://www.mabas.org/) (mutual aid box alarm system) Division 19 I think it was) companies to Frankfort for the disaster box due to the tornado. Later on you hear Will County EOC toning out for 3 different major departments in that area.

It basically tones out all the "divisions" companies for mutual aid/change of quarters.

[Erik Burns]

I listened to every minute of it. I am not a ham radio operator, but after listening to that I am going to take the test.

Danny thanks for sharing that. I am surprised how calm alot of the folks reporting the tornadoes were. They saved alot of lives that day! It's never a very easy thing to deal with watching a tornado go through densly populated areas.. You have a fine spotter network up there.

[Adam Lucio]

Very interesting. Its nice to see all the agencies working together during such an event. Hopefully I will have a radio next year. Its definitely on my every growing "to do" chase list.

[Danny Neal]

I listened to every minute of it. I am not a ham radio operator, but after listening to that I am going to take the test.

Danny thanks for sharing that. I am surprised how calm alot of the folks reporting the tornadoes were. They saved alot of lives that day! It's never a very easy thing to deal with watching a tornado go through densly populated areas.. You have a fine spotter network up there.

This area really does do a great job considering the lack of really significant daytime weather events around here. I used to have the old Plainfield tapes from the F5 done in the same manner. If I find it maybe I will post that too. It has been years since I have listened to that.

I have been procrastinating for years about getting my ham. It would have come in handy big time for this event, instead I had to call the NWS LOT myself and give in reports.

For the most part this area is pretty friendly when it comes into the whole "outsiders" reporting in their nets.

[APritchard]

Pretty cool stuff. I actually had my ham radio off so I didn't participate or hear any of this when it happened. For those who might get offended by my lack of reporting, I did make calls to the NWS when the tornadoes began further away from the dense population and was on local radio live.

[rdale]

I have been procrastinating for years about getting my ham. It would have come in handy big time for this event, instead I had to call the NWS LOT myself and give in reports.

With SpotterNetwork.org and the ease of getting Internet on the road, the need for ham reporting is REALLY dropping down...

[Darrin Rasberry]

I will listen to this if I get the chance. I've heard the one for Wichita Falls in '79 and it's one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever experienced.

[Danny Neal]

I will listen to this if I get the chance. I've heard the one for Wichita Falls in '79 and it's one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever experienced.

It isn't quite that magnitude but it is definitely an interesting audio piece. It displays how calm and controlled things should be during a severe weather event. I still get skin crawls and butterflies when I listen to it.

[Danny Neal]

With SpotterNetwork.org and the ease of getting Internet on the road, the need for ham reporting is REALLY dropping down...

True. I didn't have my equipment on the road with for this "chase" and for lack of a better expression, it really caught me with my pants down. I know Andrew Pritchard used SN on this day and his reports sort of sold me to get my act together and "this is for REAL."

I wonder how much longer WX9LOT/spotter net controls will be around with the innovations of technology.

[rdale]

It'll still be a few years I'm sure, but as WiMax or whatever new innovation spreads the Internet on the road - it'll dwindle in a hurry I think. Still a need to have ham radio around, but I only turn mine on during a chase if I'm completely bored. Since net control relays any reports on IEMChat, it's pretty much covered already for me.

[APritchard]

With SpotterNetwork.org and the ease of getting Internet on the road, the need for ham reporting is REALLY dropping down...

For someone chasing solo in their car reporting via radio is still MUCH easier than stopping to mess with a laptop. There's a reason I only submitted one report via SN and then went back to reporting via my phone.

Using the radio is also essential for multi-car caravans. You can't stop to phone everyone you're with every time you need to communicate.

I don't think the need for a ham license is going anywhere just yet.

[JIM SELLARS]

Danny...Thanks for recording this....Go to the following website and down load it into the audio section if you can.... http://www.stormtube.org/

[Danny Neal]

Danny...Thanks for recording this....Go to the following website and down load it into the audio section if you can.... http://www.stormtube.org/

I have to convert it from WMA to MPG, once I figure out how to do this, I will lol :D

[Danny Neal]

I have to convert it from WMA to MPG, once I figure out how to do this, I will lol :D

Figured it out finally.....only took 4 months :confused:

Part 1 (http://stormtube.org/play_audio.php?audio=12)

Part 2 (http://stormtube.org/play_audio.php?audio=11)

Both up and rolling on stormtube.

[Jim Rood]

Danny,
I would love to hear the Plainfield audio. I can't imagine the dispatchers would be as calm considering the Plainfield tornado came as a complete surprise that day without any sirens being activated.

[rdale]

They should have activated the sirens when they saw the tornado, but that's another story ;)

[Skip Talbot]

If the tornado could have been seen they would have.

[rdale]

Many people in public safety saw the tornado, the problem was a total lack of communication. That's the sole reason why they've created a great network since that event...

[Danny Neal]

From what I remember, it was basically all quiet on the air with your normal 911 run from a neighboring community....TO.... WHAT THE..... JUST HAPPENED! No one knew what happened to Plainfield. There was a rumor of a tornado heading toward Crest Hill, but no one could contact Plainfield. I remember hearing 911 Centers all over the area trying to get into communication with Plainfield and not being able to. Until finally a police officer came on through broken transmission saying Plainfield is gone and they need all the help they can get. It was chaos. Rob is right, the communication whether it be from the NWS to 911 or 911 to police/fire on a consistant basis is nothing like it is today.

I just found the 2nd part of the Plainfield audio, about 30 minutes after it hit. It will be a very sunny day shining down on me when I can find part 1.