"The MRES network offers a direct channel for real-time, on-the-ground reports. This enhances situational awareness and enables a faster, more effective emergency response for the NWS and public safety partners. We're building a resilient community together."

Enhancing National Weather Service & SKYWARN Operations

The Managed Radio Services (MRS) platform and its community arm, Managed Radio Emergency Services (MRES), bring significant benefits to the National Weather Service and other public safety organizations by addressing a fundamental challenge in emergency management: receiving accurate, real-time information from the ground. By establishing a dedicated and structured communication channel with local volunteers, the system provides a direct pipeline for crucial field intelligence. This goes beyond the capabilities of radar and other remote technologies, enabling public safety officials to make more informed decisions when it matters most.

NWS / SKYWARN / CERT

This direct communication stream helps to validate and refine official warnings and advisories. When an NWS meteorologist or an emergency manager receives a verified report from a trained MRES Storm Spotter, it provides immediate "ground truth" that can trigger faster response times and more precise alerts. This capability is especially critical during rapidly developing situations like flash floods or tornadoes. The system's organized nature ensures that the information is clear, consistent, and actionable, reducing the risk of miscommunication during a crisis.

Ultimately, MRES and MRS are about building a more resilient and prepared community. By empowering a network of dedicated volunteers, these organizations gain a powerful, force-multiplying asset that expands their situational awareness and reach. This collaboration strengthens the entire public safety ecosystem, ensuring that authorities and citizens are working together to protect lives and property.

Direct, Real-Time Ground Reports

MRS establishes a dedicated and efficient pathway for Weather Watchers, trained Storm Spotters, and Amateur Radio Operators to transmit critical, real-time ground observations directly to your NWS office. These reports, detailing phenomena like hail size, specific flood levels, or wind damage, provide invaluable "eyes on the ground" data that complements radar and satellite information.

Structured and Actionable Intelligence

Unlike fragmented or ad-hoc reports, MRS ensures that incoming data from observers is organized and consistent. This structured flow of information allows your meteorologists to quickly process and integrate ground truth into their analysis, leading to more precise and confident warning decisions.

Expanded Reach and Coverage

By linking directly with established emergency preparedness groups, MRS effectively extends the reach of your SKYWARN program. These local teams often cover diverse geographic areas and can provide observations from locations that might otherwise be difficult to monitor, filling critical observational gaps.

Enhanced Collaboration with Local Media

MRS fosters a more robust and efficient partnership between your NWS office and fully-qualified observation teams. This direct communication capability means that the very teams engaged with the public's weather awareness can also serve as immediate, reliable data providers to the NWS, strengthening the entire severe weather communication chain.

Improved Public Safety Outcomes

The ultimate goal of SKYWARN is to save lives and protect property. By facilitating faster, more accurate, and more comprehensive ground reports from a broader network of trained observers, MRS directly contributes to your ability to issue more timely and precise warnings, empowering communities to take appropriate action during hazardous weather events.

Simplified Data Ingestion

The managed nature of MRS means that reports arrive in a format designed for operational use, minimizing the need for manual interpretation or re-formatting. This allows your meteorologists to focus on analysis and warning issuance rather than communication logistics.

By integrating MRS, NWS field offices can significantly enhance their SKYWARN operations, leveraging local observation and emergency response teams as a powerful, direct source of ground truth, ultimately leading to more effective warnings and a more weather-ready nation.

Contact us at info@managedradioservices.com to discuss how Managed Radio Emergency Services can support your real-time field reporting needs.

Weather Watcher / Spotter

Amateur Radio / ARES

Meteorologist

NWS / SKYWARN / CERT