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The National Weather Service WFO (KLOT), Romeoville, IL, Amateur Radio Station WX9LOT monitors several designated frequencies during severe weather outbreaks. The original frequencies (and associated liaison repeaters) were identified at a meeting held in January 2008 between the NWS, ARES and other interested parties and is now called the NWS Liaison Plan. The EchoLink application is also being employed for distant counties (e.g., Winnebago). The calendar year 2011 iteration of the plan includes a change in the “backup” facility for the FishFar repeater complex.  Each of these liaison repeaters was assigned a number of “subtending” counties with the expectation that spotter nets operating in these counties will employ the appropriate liaison repeater to pass severe weather reports to the NWS. Some counties use the local EMA to report, which is also appropriate. Plan detail can also be found on the WX9LOT webpage (www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=am_radio). The Liaison Plan identifies two (mutually exclusive) components, the Spotter (local) Repeater and the Liaison (regional) Repeater. The NWS will employ the Liaison repeaters for both incoming (reporting) and outgoing (query) traffic; consequently, it is critically important that the Net Control Stations of all the Spotter Repeaters check into their respective Liaison Net during severe weather activations.  One very important precept of the Plan is that the liaison repeaters should NOT conduct concurrent spotter nets on the liaison frequency. This shouldn’t suggest that individual severe weather reports can’t be handled by a liaison repeater but this should be the exception and not the rule. Spotters (or other Hams) should be aware of the available Skywarn repeater “assets” in the 23 county National Weather Service responsibility area (see Navigation Button “Spotter Repeaters”).  Given the large geographic area supported by the FishFar repeater complex, allowances were made for backup. In the event of a system failure, this Liaison Net will be reconstituted on the Waldofar (Homewood) repeater (442.375 MHz; PL 114.8) during severe weather events occurring south of I-290. For events occurring north of I-290, the North Shore Radio Club 440 repeater (442.725 MHz; PL 114.8) will be used.

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