Things have not been going as planned, especially since my Kenwood TK-705 now lies in pieces and is probably dead. The APC circuit is completely dismantled and I'm not sure if it's worth fixing now. However, not all hope is lost for my APRS adventure.
I recently passed the online SKYWARN training, and they always mentioned the use of ACES while storm spotting - Awareness, Communications, Escape Route(s), and Safe Places/Shelter. I have read that many SKYWARN spotters utilize APRS when they are in the field to relay their position to others to keep in constant contact. In the event that a vehicle would face the inevitable destruction of a severe storm, this would enable search-and-rescue teams to quickly locate the spotter's vehicle. With a few inexpensive items and a DIY attitude, anyone can do this, and if you aren't a SKYWARN spotter, you can use this for other purposes such as a wireless weather station, a standalone APRS beacon, a vehcile tracker, and so much more! If you want to go above and beyond, you could add an entire weather station with temperature, wind speed, humidity, etc. to make your vehicle just like a Tornado Intercept Vehicle. Small disclaimer: I strongly don't recommend driving directly into tornadoes unless you drive TIV-1, TIV-2, or any of the Dominator vehicles!!!