WarnIM Emergency Communications

Warn I.M.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible for an account?
Those authorized to use the WarnIM include:

Certified SkyWarn Weather Spotters
National Weather Service officials
Government offices and agencies
First responders and hospitals
Media outlets, in order to save lives through early warning

How is this different from the National Weather Service's chat program?
WarnIM is not just for severe weather - it is for any type of emergency communications. Also, WarnIM gives you instant access to communicate directly with trained weather spotters on the ground. This means that you will have the information provided by weather spotters at the exact same time the National Weather Service receives it. What if there isn't a spotter logged-in at the location from which you need a report? WarnIM Moderators have access to each spotter's contact information, so they can reach them by phone, ham radio or carrier pidgeon!
In what areas is WarnIM currently deployed?
Right now, WarnIM has only been deployed to the state of Arkansas for development and testing. As we are nearing the end of the testing cycle, it will soon be deployed to Texas and Oklahoma pending funding.
Who is using WarnIM?
Over 500 participants are enrolled in the WarnIM program. Among those are representatives from the following agencies:
1. Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
2. Arkansas Department of Health
3. Arkansas Department of Human Services
4. Arkansas State Police
5. KARK 4 (NBC)
6. KATV 7 (ABC)
7. KLRT 16 (Fox)
8. KTHV 11 (CBS)
  KNWA
10. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
11. National Weather Service
12. WVLA TV
13. ... plus over 35 county and city agencies!
How can I get the WarnIM deployed in my area?
If you would like to help get WarnIM deployed in your area, contact us at deployments [at] warnim.com. Make sure to include your location, the National Weather Service office that serves your area, and the organization or agency with which you are affiliated. We will be glad to provide a demo of the program and meet with key individuals in your area, who's organization or agency qualifies for this license.
Does this use Google, MSN, Yahoo or some other Instant Messenger software?
No. The WarnIM is a custom application and is not used for social networking or "chatting". It is for emergency communications and training.
How does it work? Will I have to install additional "plug-ins"?
The WarnIM uses only XHTML, XML and JavaScript. (Please note, that's JavaScript, not Java.) Because of this, it does not require any additional plug-ins, and you won't need administrative rights on your computer to use it.