Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Workload; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted
Company Policy; Weather; Staffing; Human Factors
As we approached PIA in the descent; a strong line of thunderstorms had just crossed the field. We attempted to find a safe gap in the line to penetrate; but elected that it was safer to divert and let the weather pass. We attempted three or four times to contact our Dispatcher via ACARS. We received no response. I could not raise ATL Radio either due to our low elevation/radio coverage. My First Officer and I mutually agreed that nearby BMI would be the most suitable alternate to divert to. We diverted to BMI without Dispatcher concurrence/release amendment. Obviously; the solid line of impenetrable thunderstorms spanning from central Missouri to southern Wisconsin was a considerable threat. I; however; consider the lack of flight following oversight from the Dispatch side the greatest threat to this event. Not once did the Dispatcher contact us to update on the status of the line or the weather at our destination airport. Even as we queried our Dispatcher as we first encountered the line of weather we received no response. Several ACARS messages went unanswered including the one that stated our decision to divert to BMI. After landing; while holding short of the gate for departing traffic; we received the release amendment for the diversion from our Dispatcher via ACARS.
When a line of thunderstorms forced the CRJ-200 flight crew to divert from their destination they were unable to contact their Dispatcher to coordinate doing so.  Only after landing at their diversion airport and while awaiting access to their gate did an ACARS message arrive from Dispatch.