Fannin County, Texas -- For several days prior to Sunday, June 15, 2025, the weather services in Texas and Oklahoma predicted the formation of a very unusual storm called a “Derecho”. This type of storm is characterized by extremely high winds, torrential rainfall, and tornados.

With the advanced warning by numerous meteorologists and the National Weather Service, residents in Cooke, Grayson, Fannin and the surrounding area had time to prepare.

What many residents living in the outlying areas of Fannin County did not have was a civil defense / weather alert siren system to give notice of impending
danger.

At 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, the members of the Fannin County Amateur Radio Club started their “Skywarn Net” in anticipation of this potentially devastating storm. When the storm hit Fannin County around 9:00 p.m., radio operators began reporting wind speeds, rainfall levels and other critical information which was used by emergency management personnel. One area in the northeastern section of the county clocked 110 mph winds with horizontal rainfall at 2 inches per hour. The portion of the storm that hit Fannin County produced two confirmed F1 tornadoes, both of which were reported by our K5FRC members while they were conducting a "Skywarn Net” and communicating directly with local emergency management and the NWS (National Weather Service).

We are the eyes for the NWS, often reporting actual weather conditions before the NWS weather radar sees it.

This weather net as well as many others, has helped protect countless lives by the efforts of our members. This type of volunteer reporting is a major benefit that helps many communities and often goes unseen when severe weather and other emergency situations arise and is typically unknown to the general population.

The Fannin County Amateur Radio Club,  aka K5FRC, is a group of individuals who simply enjoy talking to the world via "Ham Radio".  These people have studied, passed a test, and have been granted an FCC issued license to use the airwaves.  Many have even completed numerous outline FEMA courses designed to aid the Emergency Management field. Even though Amateur Radio is a hobby, it also provides significant benefits to the community that simply cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

Another great example of how amateur radio can service our communities is by provide essential communications when the county experiences issues. The club members and their equipment were recently used by the sheriff's department when they lost their communication abilities, by providing needed coverage until all services were restored. This is even more important when there are still large areas of our county that have poor or no cell phone coverage, but our amateur radios can cover the entire county.

It's important to understand that all amateur radio clubs and their members are never compensated for any of their time and/or equipment,  but the money saved by the community is extensive. And the lives saved is simply immeasurable.

This effort is not unique to Fannin County but is carried out all over the country in rural and populated areas alike, all performed by volunteers taking care of their communities.

Amateur radio has been around for over a century and is a worldwide hobby that gives back. To find out more information about ham radios or to acquire your own
FCC issued license, go to www.arrl.org.

Keith Mumaw is a retired First Responder, President of the Fannin County Amateur Radio Club and Asst. Emergency Coordinator for the Fannin County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and is a resident of Fannin County.