[wxqc] Registered or Certificed Weather Observer for Insurance Coverage

[Gerry Creager]

webmaster wrote:
> I was contacted by some people who will be hosting a local event and 
> want weather insurance.  The underwriter said validation for a claim 
> could be handled one of three ways.
> 
> 1.  using NWS data if the NWS station is within 10 miles, however it 
> is over 17 miles away (by crow)
> 2.  Using a retired meterologist they hire that from his home 
> (wherever) analyzes available data to make a determination
> 3.  Or hire a weather observer to be onsite to record weather information
> 
> The qualifications for the weather observer are rather bizarre...
> 
> According to the underwriters these are the qualifications they require;
> 
> 1.     A member of the AMS, IWW, or NWA
> 
> 2.     An active or retired member of the National Weather Service
> 
> 3.     An active or retired member of the Canadian Weather Service
> 
> 4.     An active or retired member of the Military
> 
> 5.     A cooperative weather service observer in some way affiliated with
> the National Weather Service or Canadian Weather Service
> 
> The first option makes some sense, the second and third option 
> doesn't distinguish between a person with weather training vs. the janitor.
> The 4th option makes no sense.  What would make a "military" person 
> qualified to make weather observations compared to anyone else?

They're assuming or misrepresenting membership as being some indication 
of observation training that main or may not be present, in the first 
case.  In the second and third, I think they're expecting that the 
janitor wouldn't have seen or responded to the ad.

> The last option makes it sound that someone with a CWOP station would 
> be qualified, do you agree?
> 
> Has anyone on this list been involved as a "weather observer" for 
> weather insurance coverage purposes?

There's a specific program.  Please look at: 
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/obs/sawrs2.php

> I should also mention that if you are unable to provide a qualified 
> weather observer you can hire one from a service that has about the 
> same list but also seeks out "amateur observers" as people to use for 
> this purpose.  Presumably the company providing observers could seek 
> out someone like me as I qualify as amateur, very amateur :)
> 
> In none of the information or web sites do they make any mention of 
> what equipment was being used by the observers.  Obviously if a hired 
> person brings some weather station equipment with them it is probably 
> not calibrated and I doubt they are bringing calibration equipment 
> with them, but I could be wrong about that.

What are they observing?  What's the nature of the event?  There appears 
to be a lot of missing information to help answer some of your questions.

gerry
-- 
Gerry Creager -- gerry.creager at tamu.edu
Texas Mesonet -- AATLT, Texas A&M University	
Cell: 979.229.5301 Office: 979.458.4020 FAX: 979.862.3983
Office: 1700 Research Parkway Ste 160, TAMU, College Station, TX 77843