News & Announcements

Managed Radio Services (MRS), a communications network provider dedicated to enhancing emergency preparedness and community communication, today announced a major transformation of its business model. Effective immediately, MRS is extending a direct invitation to all individual Rapid Radios equipment owners - with a special call to amateur radio operators and severe weather spotters - to bring their existing Rapid Radios hardware onto the MRS network under a highly-attractive

ARRL has launched a nationwide grassroots campaign aimed at securing the passage of federal legislation that would grant Amateur Radio Operators the same rights to install antennas on their property as those enjoyed by users of TV antennas, wireless internet, and flagpoles. The campaign follows the reintroduction of the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act in February 2025. The bipartisan bills -- H.R.1094 in the House and S.459 in the Senate -- are designed to prevent re

by Reed Timmer at https://www.facebook.com/reedtimmer2.0 Check out this 2025 TORNADO WARNING HEAT MAP that shows where the severe weather and threats stacked up during the season! In summary, over 8,000 tornado warnings were issued, a majority of which stem from the active Dixie Alley #tornado season to begin spring, with La Nina in concert with a warm-phase North Pacific Oscillation. This lead to a progressive upper-level storm track which pushes the instability and wind she

While we usually think of "weather" as something happening in our atmosphere—like rain, wind, or snow—some of the most impactful weather on Earth actually originates 93 million miles away. Known as Space Weather, these solar phenomena are driven by the Sun’s magnetic activity. As we move through the active peak of the current Solar Cycle, understanding these cosmic forces has become increasingly critical for our high-tech society. Space weather isn't about clouds or moisture;

When discussing extreme cold weather events, humidity shifts from being a "discomfort factor" to a primary driver of atmospheric energy and hazardous conditions. While arctic air is naturally dry, the interaction between this frigid air and moisture sources is what transforms a simple cold snap into a life-threatening winter storm. In the context of weather prediction, moisture is the "fuel" for extreme events. Meteorologists look for the interaction between a cold air mass,

The history of amateur radio (or "ham radio") is deeply interwoven with emergency communications and civil defense, a public service role that dates back over a century. Early in the 20th century, before the development of robust commercial communication networks, amateur radio operators demonstrated their critical value by relaying vital messages during natural disasters, such as floods and storms, when conventional systems failed. The US government formally recognized this

Humidity, a fundamental component of the atmosphere, refers to the concentration of water vapor—the gaseous state of water—present in the air. This moisture plays a critical role in shaping our weather and significantly influencing how we perceive temperature. The most common measure is Relative Humidity (RH), which is expressed as a percentage indicating the amount of water vapor currently in the air compared to the maximum amount the air can hold at that specific temperatur

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast in support of the September/October 2025 article “The EOC: Serving at the Hub,” by Rick Palm, K1CE, which talks about what an Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, is, and offers tips for hams who are serving at an EOC for the first time. Josh takes us through more Emergency Operations Center functions, as well as what hams need to know before they walk into one.

Flash floods are among the deadliest weather phenomena in the United States, characterized by their rapid onset and extreme water flow. Defined as floods that occur within six hours, and often within minutes, of excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden release from an ice or debris jam, they leave little time for warning or preparedness. These powerful torrents can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy infrastructure like buildings and bridges, and are respons

During a severe weather event, such as a tornado warning, the proper use of an emergency group is paramount for safety and coordination. Transmissions on this vital communication channel should be reserved exclusively for immediate, critical information concerning the storm and its impact. This includes prompt announcements when warnings are issued or officially canceled by the proper authority. Crucial reports also encompass observable, significant changes in the storm syste

We're moving into the next phase of program development by creating Radio / Discussion Groups on the website. These groups are online discussion spaces for existing MRS radio operator groups. Additionally, the Member Directory and Events pages have been removed to allow each Group's members to manage their postings without creating unnecessary communication threads for those who aren't interested. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please add them to this post.

A mesocyclone is a large, rotating column of air inside a thunderstorm, typically associated with supercell thunderstorms. It is a storm-scale feature that can be 2-6 miles wide and is the source of rotation for a tornado. Detected by Doppler radar, a mesocyclone indicates the potential for severe weather, including large hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. How a Mesocyclone Forms Horizontal Rotation : Wind at different altitudes changes speed and direction, creating a horizon

Q-signals are a system of radio shorthand as old as wireless and developed from even older telegraphy codes. Q-signals are a set of abbreviations for common information that save time and allow communication between operators who don’t speak a common language. Modern ham radio uses them extensively. The attached document and image below list the most common Q-signals used by amateur radio operators. While Q-signals were developed for use by Morse operators, their use is commo

When it comes to road safety during a tornado, the National Weather Service (NWS) emphasizes that a motor vehicle is the least desirable place to be, as cars, buses, and trucks are easily lifted and tossed by tornado winds. The NWS strongly advises people to never attempt to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. If a tornado is spotted or a warning is issued while driving, the recommended course of action is to drive immediately to the closest sturdy building or designated shelter.

When a severe thunderstorm tears through a community, the immediate question is often, "Was it a tornado?" While tornadoes command attention for their rotational fury and extreme wind speeds, the truth is that much of the widespread destruction attributed to severe weather—including downed trees and flattened structures—is actually caused by a less publicized, non-rotating phenomenon: straight-line winds . Meteorologists with the National Weather Service (NWS) spend significa

DID YOU KNOW? By pressing the PRIVATE TALK button while within a selected Group, you can not only initiate a private, one-to-one QSO, but you can also see the status of the radio/operator. A = Radio is ON / Operator is PRESENT (in the current Group) B = Radio is ON / Operator is ABSENT (in another Group) C = Radio is OFF / Operator is ABSENT To initiate a private call, scroll to the desired radio/operator and press the MENU / SELECT button, followed by pressing the PUSH TO

If you haven't already found them, go to LINKS in the homepage menu to see a comprehensive list of external resources and tools—covering everything from education and training to weather monitoring tools. Check it out when you get a chance, and if you know of any other valuable resources, let us know so we can add them to the library.

A derecho is a powerful, widespread, and long-lived storm characterized by destructive, straight-line winds, often exceeding hurricane-force speeds . The term "derecho" comes from the Spanish word for "straight ahead," describing the straight-line nature of the wind damage, contrasting with the rotating winds of a tornado. To be classified as a derecho, a storm must produce a wind damage swath extending at least 240 miles (400 km) long, with wind gusts of 58 mph (93 km/h) or

I attended the Integrated Warning Team (IWT) meeting in Bossier City, Louisiana, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, representing Managed Radio Services (MRS). The event, hosted by the National Weather Service, Shreveport Field Office, brought together about 70 representatives from private, public, and government sectors across Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. We were there to learn more about weather phenomena, disaster preparedness, response, and communication technology.