The Milwaukee Area Skywarn Association (MASA) [pronounced "May-sah"], established in 1992, and incorporated in 1995 is a Wisconsin registered non-profit and I-R-S 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation operated for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Our mission is to lessen the burden of the National Weather Service (NWS) essential severe weather training and SKYWARN programs. To do this  MASA has established a strong working relationship with the NWS by providing on-going severe weather awareness and  training to all interested parties.

SKYWARN is a nation wide volunteer network of “storm spotters” who are trained to Identify, Evaluate, and Report severe weather events. These volunteers come from all walks of life, but are frequently fire or police personnel, emergency response groups, and ham radio operators. A keen interest in weather and community service is a common bond. They support their local communities and governments by providing the NWS with ground-truth reports in real time of tornadoes, large hail, property damage, flooding, snow fall amounts, etc. These storm spotter reports assist meteorologists to correlate Doppler radar data and other spotter reports to issue the appropriate statements and warnings in a more accurate and timely fashion. Thus protecting life and property. The Skywarn program was originally developed by the NWS after the 1965 "Palm Sunday" tornado outbreak. As of March 2010 there are over 485,000 volunteers nation wide and some 150 Skywarn groups that partner with the NWS. Milwaukee Skywarn represents a local element of the national program. copied from www.mke-skywarn.org

Needless to say, we cannot provide these community services functions without the continued support of concerned individuals and committed business leaders like yourself. To donate in-kind and pro bono publico resources please review our wish list.

Our E-mail address is: masa@execpc.com. This page is copyright 2008-2010 by MASA Inc. and duplication is strictly forbidden.

 

WHO: Milwaukee Area Skywarn Association, Inc.
WHAT: Provides severe weather awareness and storm spotter training via public speaking programs, educational multimedia seminars, handouts, booklets, fliers, and two-way radio. By social networking sites (Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube), and local, regional, or national E-mail lists. 
AFFLIATION:  Recognized and supported by Milwaukee-Sullivan NWS Office.
WHERE: Milwaukee based.  Main outreach to south-central & southeast Wisconsin.
WHEN:    Established in 1992, incorporated 1995. Continuously promotes.
WHY:  Lessen the burden of the Milwaukee/Sullivan National Weather Service office.
AUDIENCE: Weather sensitive emergency response personnel, storm spotters/chasers, weather watchers.
STAFF: All volunteer.
STATUS: Wisconsin Nonprofit and IRS 501c3 tax exempt.
FUNDING: Donations.

 

 Alan Wohlferd - Wisconsin Emergency Management Warning/communications Mgr (retired)
 Barry Mitchell - Milwaukee County Emergency Management,
 Ben Schliesman - Kenosha County Emergency Management Director,
 David Maack - Racine County Emergency Management Director,
 Dr. Joseph T. Schaefer - Past Director Storm Prediction Center (SPC), Norman  Oklahoma,
 Doug Raflik - Professional Storm Chaser & Photographer, Waupun WI.
 Dr. Mary Ann Cooper - Director, Lightning Injury Research, UIC, and (retired) Assoc. Professor of Emergency Medicine.
 George Kasica - Certified Weather forecaster and MASA Information Technologies manager.
 Jeff Last - WCM, National Weather Service, Green Bay WI,
 Kinney Adams - Professional Storm Chaser (Milwaukee WI) and Tempest Tours chase guide,
 Mark Baden - Chief Meteorologist, WISN-TV 12 Milwaukee.
 Paul Janowski - Radio Communications Specialist Milwaukee Police Department,
 Rusty Kapela - WCM, National Weather Service, Milwaukee/Sullivan WI,
 Russ Spahn - Fire Chief, Greenfield Fire Department,
 Scott Weberpal - Professional Storm Chaser (Mukwonago WI), Videographer, and Tempest Tours chase guide.
 Tim Shriver - MidWest, Madison WI,
 Todd Shea - WCM, National Weather Service,  La Crosse WI.
 Tony Casciato - MASA Radio Communications Manager.