One phase of this program aided communities in developing preparedness plans designed to ensure coordinated action by warning services, local officials, law enforcement, and the news media. The parent circulation that potentially develops many tornadoes is now detectible by radar. However, many other tornadoes cannot be detected by radar especially at a distance and confirmation of actual tornadoes require an eyewitness. The NWS relies on reports from the public and law enforcement personnel and actual severe weather. Accurate and reliable information from the general public is difficult to obtain.
Severe weather is complicated and confusing.
The NWS has found that only regular training of weather spotters improves the quality of information. Spotters include public safety personnel such as as firemen, law enforcement, volunteer citizens with public safety radios or access to a phone, citizen band radio operators and licensed Amateur Radio Operators. The NWS brings its weather knowledge, the Amateur Radio Service brings its expertise in emergency communications, and together they work with local government and the Red Cross . The NWS is most interested in severe weather reports. If the NWS confirms severe weather with radar and other available information, it then notifies local authorities who then can activate Civil Defense sirens.