SKYWARN Newsletter #233

---

Hello to all...

Boxboro Hamfest to Feature Many Weather/Emergency Communication Topics...

WX4NHC Communications Test Successful and Featured Local Participation...

NPR Program Featured WX4NHC Amateur Station Involved with Hurricane Operations....

ARRL Web site: Tropical Storm Alberto Prompts Hurricane Net Activations....

ARRL In-Brief Article: ARRL Headquarters Hosts SKYWARN Training Session...

ARRL Letter Article: Radio Amateurs Busy As Deadly Storms Again Hit Midwest...

ARRL Letter Article: Iowa Hams Support Tornado Recovery....

ARRL Letter Article: Severe Weather Ravages Tennessee, Hams Heed Call for Help...

ARRL Letter Article: Ham Radio Gears Up for the 2006 Hurricane Season...

ARRL Letter Article: Wildfire Season Keeping Western US ARES Volunteers on Alert...

ARRL Letter Article: SKYWARN Volunteers Receive NOAA Environmental Hero Awards...

ARRL Letter Article: Ham Radio Volunteers Ready As Floods Hit Eastern US...

ARRL Letter Article: Flood Duty Winds Down for Mid-Atlantic Ham Radio Volunteers...

***Newsletter Issued: 7/9/2006.

Boxboro Hamfest to Feature Many Weather/Emergency Communication Topics...

The Boxboro Hamfest which serves as the New England Division ARRL

Convention is approaching and it will feature many forums on Weather

and Emergency Communications Topics in addition to a full flea market

with new and used Amateur Radio gear. These topics include the

following:

-ICS-100 class which is basic incident command training by MEMA

Training Department on Friday August 25th 9 AM-5 PM

-A Hurricane presentation given by Rob Macedo-KD1CY, ARES SKYWARN

Coordinator for NWS Taunton and Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section

Emergency Coordinator on Friday August 25th from 1-5 PM

-A presentation on WinLink by Tom Kinahan-N1CPE, Massachusetts State

RACES Radio Officer on Saturday August 26th from 10 AM-11 PM

-A presentation on the New Standard for Emergency Management

Communications by MEMA Operations Manager, Don Carlton-W3DEC and

Tom Kinahan-N1CPE on Saturday August 26th from 11 AM-Noon

-SKYWARN Presentation by Rob Macedo-KD1CY, ARES SKYWARN

Coordinator for NWS Taunton and Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section

Emergency Coordinator on Saturday August 26th from Noon-1PM

-ARES SEC Forum chaired by Rob Macedo-KD1CY and ARES SEC's from the

New England Division on Saturday August 26th from 1-2 PM

A complete schedule of various workshops from the ARRL and on topics

unrelated to Emergency Communications and weather can be seen

at the following link:

http://www.boxboro.org/2006/events.htm

The Boxboro Hamfest/New England Division Convention is more than

just a Hamfest with new and used Amateur Radio gear, it is a chance

to go to many interesting forums and to engage socially with our

fellow Amateur Radio Operators. If you are free the weekend of

Friday August 25th-27th, 2006, make some time to attend and perhaps

attend a few forums or at least enjoy the Hamfest. Complete details

including information on special functions and dinners can be

seen at the following link:

http://www.boxboro.org/

WX4NHC Communications Test Successful and Featured Local Participation...

The WX4NHC On Air Communications Test was successful. The WX4NHC

Communications Test was held from 9 AM-6 PM EDT (1300-2200 UTC)

on HF, VHF, UHF, CW, PSK31 and VoIP using IRLP Reflector 9508 and

EchoLink *VKEMCOMM* and *WX-TALK* conference servers. The test was

successful with many Amateurs speaking to the National Hurricane

Center on the various modes.

The VoIP Hurricane Net supported the operation from 1-3 PM EDT

(1700-1900 UTC) with the operations on IRLP and EchoLink. Operations

went well with 5 Net Controls rotating the operation allowing

Amateurs from across the US and internationally to participate and

test out the VoIP means of operation during the Communications Test.

During the timeframe, Amateurs at WX4NHC had to tend to some

radio work for a few moments and Net Controls quickly ad-libed some

hurricane trivia for about 5-10 minutes to keep participants

interested in the Communications Test and then the test continued

with handling check-ins who wanted to speak with WX4NHC.

Numerous Amateurs from New England participated in the Communications

Test via HF and VoIP. The test was very successful and Julio

Ripoll-WD4R thanked all Amateurs for their participation and support

during the Communications test and appreciated the professionalism

of the net controls that handled activities over the VoIP system.

NPR Program Featured WX4NHC Amateur Station Involved with Hurricane Operations....

From the ARRL web site, the National Public Radio Program, Day to Day,

featured an article on hurricanes and WX4NHC Amateur Radio Operations

with hurricanes. Details on the article can be seen at the following

link:

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/05/19/1/?nc=1

The program is available on NPR's web site as stated in the ARRL

web site article and the link is listed below for those who wish to

listen to it:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5418081

ARRL Web site: Tropical Storm Alberto Prompts Hurricane Net Activations....

Tropical Storm Alberto, which attempted to near hurricane strength

before making landfall in the big bend area of Florida, prompted

activation of the VoIP Hurricane Net and Hurricane Watch Net along

with ARES/RACES/SKYWARN Nets along the big bend and west coast of

Florida.

Articles on activation and after action on Alberto from an Amateur

Radio perspective can be seen at the following links:

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/06/13/1/?nc=1

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/06/12/100/?nc=1

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/06/12/1/?nc=1

Alberto, after becoming a 70 MPH Tropical Storm, weakened to a 50

MPH Tropical Storm and made landfall in the big bend Florida causing

minor wind damage and heavy rainfall to the region. The activation

proved to be a good exercise for those involved with the hurricane

nets.

ARRL In-Brief Article: ARRL Headquarters Hosts SKYWARN Training Session...

The following ARRL In-Brief Article via the ARRL Letter highlights the

ARRL Headquarters hosting SKYWARN training by NWS Taunton Forecasters

in early April, which kicked off the NWS Taunton 2006 SKYWARN Training

season.

* ARRL Headquarters hosts SKYWARN training session: More than a dozen League

staffers completed SKYWARN <http://www.skywarn.org> weather-spotter training

April 7 at ARRL Headquarters. National Weather Service (NWS)

<http://www.nws.noaa.gov/> Warning Coordination Meteorologist Glenn Field,

KB1GHX, and SKYWARN Program Leader Bill Babcock--both of the NWS office in

Taunton, Massachusetts--led the four-hour class. The ARRL and NWS have a

longstanding memorandum of understanding, and the training session was just

one example of their mutual cooperation. Coordinating the training session

with ARRL were Roger Jeanfaivre, K1PAI, Hartford-Tolland County (CT) SKYWARN

coordinator, and Rob Macedo, KD1CY, ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton

and ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator. Training

session topics included severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter storms and

hurricanes. Jeanfaivre also briefed attendees on SKYWARN nets in

Hartford-Tolland county region, pointing out that SKYWARN activates on a

moment's notice to support the NWS. Macedo discussed how volunteers--many of

them radio amateurs--serve a critical role as the eyes and ears of the NWS

SKYWARN program. Around 90 percent of the reports NWS-Taunton receives come

from Amateur Radio operators. The NWS offers SKYWARN training through many

of its offices.

ARRL Letter Article: Radio Amateurs Busy As Deadly Storms Again Hit Midwest...

The following is an ARRL Letter Article on Severe storms that hit

the Midwest US in the early April timeframe:

==>RADIO AMATEURS BUSY AS DEADLY STORMS AGAIN HIT MIDWEST

Amateur Radio volunteers in northwestern Tennessee and elsewhere were

active April 2 when a string of tornadoes struck the Midwest and

South. The severe weather left more than two dozen people dead and

many injured, most of them in Tennessee. ARRL Tennessee Section

Emergency Coordinator Jimmy Floyd, NQ4U, reports SKYWARN volunteers

relayed reports to the National Weather Service Office in Memphis as

the twisters approached.

"Several hams were active in the Dyersburg-Newbern area Sunday night

passing local traffic for the area folks needing to let relatives

know that they were okay," Floyd told ARRL. "According to local hams,

most of the communication infrastructure was intact after the storms."

Authorities in Dyer County, where 15 people died, say some houses

were totally destroyed by the storms, and large trees across highways

hampered access by emergency crews. Severe damage reports emerged

from Gibson County where some 1200 houses and other

structures--including the police station--were said to have been

damaged. The NWS said it had received preliminary reports of more

than 60 tornadoes April 2. Tennessee state police were continuing

to search for additional storm victims and warning those "without

legitimate business" to keep out of the affected areas and let first

responders and law enforcement personnel do their jobs.

In Illinois, Lawrence County Emergency Coordinator Gary Auerswald,

WB9UDJ, found himself in the middle of "a horrendous storm" while

returning home with his family from Indiana.

"Trees were coming down, and people were getting blown off the road,"

he told ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator Pat Ryan, KC6VVT.

"All electricity in the area went out." Fallen power lines prevented

Auerswald from taking his usual route along Illinois Route 1. "We

traveled by back roads and oil field roads and made it home,"

he said.

Downed trees and power lines and other property damage greeted his

arrival. "A lightning burst gave me a clue to what else was missing:

My antenna farm," he said. Auerswald said that until he can "piece

something together," he's off the air. He was providing power to his

home from a generator.

Ryan reports the Illinois ARES HF Section Net on 75 meters secured

early because of high atmospheric noise levels. The ARES Net on the

Starved Rock Radio Club W9MKS repeater in Lenore yielded to an

ongoing weather-spotter net activated earlier by Jim Morris, N9PLM,

who served as net control.

"Weather Net members monitored for storm activity and, at one point,

the LaSalle County EOC was activated," Ryan said. One person died in

Illinois.

Other states affected by the tornadoes and high winds included

Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio. Kentucky Section Emergency

Coordinator Ron Dodson, KA4MAP, reported "plenty of nets up and

running" the evening of April 2. Dodson says the storms decreased in

severity by the time they reached his state. "Trees, power and

phones lines went down," he said, "but there were no major

structural incidents or injuries."

The April 2 tornadoes came less than a month after a huge string of

tornados swept through the nation's midsection on another Sunday,

killing 10 people in Missouri and Indiana and causing damage in

several other states, including Illinois, Kansas and Arkansas.

ARRL Letter Article: Iowa Hams Support Tornado Recovery....

The following ARRL Letter Article highlights the efforts of Iowa Hams

supporting tornado recovery in their state in mid-April 2006.

==>IOWA HAMS SUPPORT TORNADO RECOVERY

Multiple tornadoes struck Iowa City on April 13, and local Amateur Radio

operators put their emergency and disaster training to use. Hams from the

Iowa City Amateur Radio Club's HamRad group provided communications between

the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency (JCEMA) Emergency Operations

Center (EOC) and Red Cross shelters set up in the area. HamRad is organized

to work with Johnson County in emergencies.

Over 25 hams were in action as weather spotters, managed by Rich Bingham,

WW0Q, and Jeff Dodd, KI0JP. Regis Johanns, KB0VDO, and Jim Meade, NO0B,

established a net control station at the EOC, sending two communications

teams to shelters, with Robert Seemuth, KC0TIK, and Dodd leading these

teams.

Once the tornadoes had passed through the area, HamRad teams stayed on the

job until the next day, when National Guard units could take over

responsibility, ensuring that shelter management and the EOC could keep in

touch and serve those in need.

ARRL Letter Article: Severe Weather Ravages Tennessee, Hams Heed Call for Help...

The following ARRL Letter article highlights severe weather that

affected the Tennessee area in mid April.

==>SEVERE WEATHER RAVAGES TENNESSEE, HAMS HEED THE CALL TO HELP

On Friday, April 7, Western Tennessee was ravaged by tornadoes, and once

again, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers were called on to

help provide emergency communication. According to Tennessee Section

Emergency Coordinator Jimmy Floyd, NQ4U, more than 70 counties experienced

the heavy thunderstorms and tornadoes that swept the western part of the

Volunteer State. In all, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued more than

130 weather watches and warnings and reported at least 26 tornadoes. Nearly

two dozen counties suffered property damage and loss of life. Twelve people

died, and more than 160 others were injured as a result of the severe

weather.

By 1 PM local time, the Middle Tennessee Emergency Amateur Radio Society

(MTEARS) repeater system carried numerous reports of severe weather and

damage to many areas of the state. According to Floyd, the MTEARS UHF system

spans most of Tennessee, with Nashville as its hub. Both the National

Weather Service (NWS) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA)

monitor the system. Local television stations monitor ARES and SKYWARN

traffic, as well, he said.

The first tornado watches began in the early afternoon, and by 4:15 PM local

time, the Tennessee Section ARES was placed on Alert condition "Charlie."

Within 20 minutes, the entire state activated, and hams were monitoring HF

and local repeaters, remaining on the air to assist in any way until almost

midnight.

During the storms, the NWS in Old Hickory lost power as well as telephone

service. NOAA Weather Radio and radar also were unavailable for a time.

Amateur Radio volunteers stepped up to the plate, and--thanks to their

emergency/disaster training--were able to relay needed information.

Wilson County Emergency Coordinator Pete Navarra, K4IWX, works for the

county's emergency management agency. He said that because of information

relayed via Amateur Radio, his county was able to dispatch three ambulances,

two rescue trucks, one fire engine and a host of Community Emergency

Response Team (CERT) search-and-rescue responders and their mobile command

post to hard-hit Sumner County.

Amateur Radio also helped to dramatically decrease emergency personnel

response times, Navarra said. "It was interesting to hear several calls from

the Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management, Tennessee Emergency

Management Agency and other local agencies trying to communicate," he

recounted. "Conventional methods of communication did not work--even cell

phone service in Wilson County had gone out. Amateur Radio is needed and it

works!"

Floyd agreed. "This has been a big test of the ARES system in Tennessee, but

rest assured, we will be ready to go when needed."

ARRL Letter Article: Ham Radio Gears Up for the 2006 Hurricane Season...

The following ARRL Letter Article describes how Ham Radio is gearing

up for the 2006 Hurricane Season.

==>2006 NORTH ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON OFFICIALLY UNDER WAY

Scientists within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

predict an 80-percent chance of an above-normal 2006 north Atlantic

hurricane/tropical storm season, which runs from June 1 through November 30.

A repeat performance of the devastating 2005 season is unlikely, however.

Weather experts at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, National Hurricane

Center and Climate Prediction Center produced this year's outlook

<http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml>.

"For the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season NOAA is predicting 13 to 16

named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six

could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher," says NOAA

Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) <http://www.hwn.org> activates on 14.325 MHz

when major tropical storms threaten the US. It works in concert with WX4NHC

<http://www.wx4nhc.org> at the National Hurricane Center to relay real-time

ground-level weather data to forecasters.

On average, the north Atlantic hurricane season produces 11 named storms,

with six becoming hurricanes, including two major hurricanes. In 2005, the

Atlantic hurricane season experienced a record 28 storms, including 15

hurricanes. Seven were "major," and a record four hurricanes hit the US.

While NOAA is not forecasting a rerun of last year's season, the potential

for hurricanes to strike the US is "high," Lautenbacher said.

The first named storm of the 2006 season will be "Alberto." The name

"Katrina" has been removed from the list of storm names.

ARRL Letter Article: Wildfire Season Keeping western US ARES Volunteers on Alert...

The following ARRL Letter article discusses Amateur Radio volunteers

monitoring for wildfire concerns in the Western US.

==>AMATEUR RADIO VOLUNTEERS READY IN WESTERN STATES AS FIRE THREAT CONTINUES

Fire season is in full swing in several states in the Western US, and

Amateur Radio volunteers have been helping to provide communication for the

American Red Cross and The Salvation Army. Fires have forced evacuations in

several areas.

At week's end, Arizona ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Rick Aldom, W7STS,

said ARES teams were gearing up to activate in case the Brins Fire, burning

in timber two miles northeast of Sedona, got out of hand over the weekend.

Given the heavy HF activity expected for Field Day, Aldom requested that

radio amateurs steer clear of the ARES net frequencies of 7248 kHz and 3992

kHz and The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) frequency

of 3977.7 kHz, on the outside chance they'll be needed for fire-related

emergency traffic. Aldom anticipates that most emergency communication would

take place on VHF and UHF repeaters, however.

"The American Red Cross invited ARES volunteers to provide back-up for their

communication systems," Aldom told ARRL June 23. "Emergency Coordinators in

Flagstaff and Yavapai County report ham radio volunteers are supporting two

evacuation centers." He said ARES also is available to provide communication

between the state emergency operations center and the two shelters, as

needed.

Additional ARES involvement depends on how the fire behaves, Aldom said,

noting that firefighters made "significant progress" in battling the blaze

June 23, and "things are looking very good." The weather also cooperated.

"Two things happened," Aldom said. "We had an influx of moisture last night

in the middle levels, which I think helped on the ground, and the winds were

much calmer than they might have been."

Should additional evacuations become necessary, ARES volunteers may be

called in to help livestock rescue crews. As of June 23, about a dozen ARES

volunteers were assisting in the Arizona wildfire response. Aldom also has

two portable repeaters on standby in case they're needed.

By late June 22, the Brins Fire had burned some 3260 acres and was 15

percent contained. Evacuation orders remained for Oak Creek Canyon and two

subdivisions north of Sedona. State Route 89A was closed, and power to the

region was cut. The fire also was generating considerable smoke in the

region, causing a health and visibility hazard.

A statewide fire emergency continues throughout New Mexico. On June 19, the

Bear Fire in the Bearwallow Mountain area of Catron County prompted

authorities to evacuate residents and campers in the vicinity to two Red

Cross shelters. New Mexico ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Rick Sohl,

K5RIC, has been coordinating Amateur Radio volunteer assistance for Grant

and Catron counties. Russell Stanley, KD5RWX, and Grant County ARRL

Emergency Coordinator Tom Meyer, N4CYV, were reported active on UHF to

provide any needed communication support.

"This looks to be a very active fire season," Sohl observed. "ARES groups

need to be ready in the event of a major fire." ARES volunteers have been

working overtime in June to support local emergency managers after several

wildfires broke out across the state -- some of them ignited by lightning.

As of June 23, the Bear Fire had spread over more than 44,800 acres and was

only 5 percent contained. Sixty structures along Willow Creek were said to

be imminently threatened. The fire has crossed into the wilderness, and

accumulations of extremely dry fuels in the southern and western portions of

the fire are hampering containment.

Over the June 17-18 weekend, the Skates Fire prompted precautionary

evacuations in the Lake Roberts area, and ARES volunteers provided

communication for a shelter. Residents have since been allowed to return

home. No homes were lost.

ARES volunteers assisted the Red Cross after two fires broke out earlier

this month in the Bosque south of Albuquerque.

Colorado SEC Rob Roller, N7LV, reports the Colorado Disaster Response Team

(DRT) stood down this week after providing communication support for The

Salvation Army in the wake of the Mato Vega fire near Fort Garland. DRT

Emergency Coordinator Wes Wilson, K0HBZ, provided communication support for

The Salvation Army back to its Denver Headquarters using Winlink for digital

e-mail communication.

At more than 13,100 acres and 35 percent contained as of June 23, the fire,

12 miles northeast of Fort Garland, prompted the evacuation of 280 homes in

three communities. US Route 160 remained closed.

So far in 2006, wildfires have burned more than 3.1 million acres

nationwide. Long-range forecasts offer little hope for relief from the

extreme fire danger in the Southwest and the Amateur Radio operators who

volunteer when called. -- NM PIO Charlie Christman, K5CEC, contributed

information for this report

ARRL Letter Article: SKYWARN Volunteers Receive NOAA Environmental Hero Awards...

The following ARRL Letter article features how SKYWARN volunteers

received the NOAA Environmental Hero Award.

==>SKYWARN VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE NOAA ENVIRONMENTAL HERO AWARD

South Florida SKYWARN Coordinator Don Morris, KG4JHH, of Miami, and his

South Florida SKYWARN team have received a 2006 NOAA Environmental Hero

Award for outstanding volunteer service during the 2005 hurricane season.

Morris and his SKYWARN team volunteered more than 100 hours to staff Amateur

Radio station WX4MIA, located at the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)

Weather Forecast Office in Miami. The volunteers gathered real-time

hurricane damage and weather reports, disseminated NWS information and

warnings and verified NWS warnings with on-the-spot information.

"The intent of the award is to recognize all of us who have worked on

SKYWARN and/or WX4MIA," said Morris, who accepted the plaque during a May 22

presentation. "Local Amateur Radio is the main infrastructure we depend on

for SKYWARN. It is way cool to be part of it." Morris also credited those

who filed reports by telephone, Internet or fax or who have "just been ready

if needed."

Along with other SKYWARN volunteers and even family members, Morris kept the

WX4MIA severe weather net in constant operation as Hurricane Katrina moved

ashore near Hallandale Beach and then southwest across Miami-Dade County. He

did the same thing for Hurricane Wilma, staying all night right through

landfall around 6 AM in Collier County and through noon when Wilma finally

moved off the Palm Beach County coastline near Jupiter.

Over the years, NOAA said, Morris has volunteered hundreds of hours as "the

voice" of WX4MIA, soliciting storm reports and disseminating the latest

warnings and statements for hurricanes and severe storms.

Established in 1995 and given annually in conjunction with Earth Day, the

Environmental Hero Award is presented to individuals and organizations

volunteering their time and energy to help NOAA carry out its

mission.--NOAA; Evelyn Gauzens, W4WYR

ARRL Letter Article: Ham Radio Volunteers Ready As Floods Hit Eastern US...

The following ARRL Letter Article discusses how Ham Radio Volunteers

in the mid-Atlantic states handled flooding of significant magnitude

in their region.

==>ARES/RACES TEAMS HANDLE FLOOD DUTY IN MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES

Amateur Radio volunteers this week supported communication or remained on

alert to assist relief organizations and local emergency managers in

flood-stricken regions of the Eastern US. Widespread flooding in several

states claimed at least a dozen lives. ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania PIO Bob

Josuweit, WA3PZO, says ham radio volunteers in 10 counties in his Section

actively aided local law enforcement, emergency management agencies and the

Red Cross, which set up about a dozen evacuation centers.

"Hams in some areas may be on duty for several days as river levels slowly

drop below flood stage," Josuweit told ARRL June 29. The Delaware River --

which separates New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- crested June 29, and the

Susquehanna River a day earlier.

A mandatory evacuation order affecting some 200,000 residents of the Wilkes

Barre area in Luzerne County was lifted June 29. Josuweit reports that the

Susquehanna crested at nearly 34 feet, 12 feet above flood stage for that

area. "In areas where the water has already receded, many utilities are

still out of service and local officials are advising residents to stay away

from the their homes until at least Saturday [July 1]," Josuweit said.

Despite flooding in the area, Josuweit says the Wilkes Barre hamfest

<http://www.qsl.net/k3ytl> sponsored by the Murgas Amateur Radio Club will

go on as scheduled Sunday, July 2, at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds, Route

118, Lake Lehman.

ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Emergency Coordinator Al Rabenau, W3AHR,

reported the Schuylkill River receding as of June 29. He said Bucks County

ARES had been on alert status since June 28. Members established a VHF

repeater net and have been staffing several EOCs and shelters. Bucks County

EC Harris Stein, NY3H, says ARES/RACES was trimming down some operations at

week's end but will continue Red Cross support through the holiday weekend.

He anticipates needing operators to assist with damage assessment July 1 and

to replace shelter operators.

Due to topography, flooding along the Delaware typically is worst in Bucks

County and in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. ARRL Hunterdon County District

Emergency Coordinator David Kanitra, WB2AZE, this week placed Hunterdon ARES

on a Level 1 alert for possible deployment to assist RACES.

In Mercer County, New Jersey, Emergency Coordinator Kip Burnett, KB2EGI,

reported his ARES/RACES team was on standby and no longer staffing the EOC,

which remains active. "We may be needed later to assist with water

deployment or some other situation," he said. ARES/RACES personnel at the

EOC this week monitored river levels.

Burnett called the flooding "basically a repeat of the October 2004 and

April 2005 floods," and said officials evacuated the same locations -- an

area called "The Island" -- in Trenton as well as parts of Titusville.

Conventional communication systems remained intact.

In Binghamton, New York, and surrounding Broome County authorities ordered

the evacuation of some 15,000 residents as the Susquehanna and Chenango

rivers overflowed their banks, putting some neighborhoods under several feet

of water. Parts of Interstates 81 and 88 as well as State Route 17 were

closed.

In Delaware last weekend, Justin Kates, KB3JUV, says ARES volunteers

diverted their attention from Field Day and prepared to support

communication in the wake of flooding in Sussex County, which received 15

inches of rain in some areas. "Emergency management had a difficult time

providing road and medical crews to the affected areas due to the high

water," Kates told ARRL. The weather event also disrupted conventional

communication systems.

While formal activation was unnecessary, Amateur Radio volunteers remained

poised to supply any needed communication assistance. A SKYWARN activated,

however, and volunteers relayed rainfall reports as well as road and highway

reports.

ARRL Letter Article: Flood Duty Winds Down for Mid-Atlantic Ham Radio Volunteers...

This ARRL Letter article is a follow-up on the Flood Duty winding down

for Ham Radio Volunteers in the Mid Atlantic US.

==>HAM RADIO POST-FLOOD SUPPORT IN EASTERN US WINDS DOWN

ARES/RACES members in Bucks County, Pennsylvania - just north of

Philadelphia - remained active this week supporting Red Cross operations

following major flooding in several communities along the Delaware River.

BCARES volunteers continued to provide communication for shelters and local

emergency operations centers (EOCs) through the end of the week, according

to Bucks County Emergency Coordinator Harris Stein, NY3H.

"Thanks to all who have volunteered so much to handle this emergency," Stein

said. "Bucks County can be proud of your effort and professionalism."

Stein reports that nearly four dozen ham radio volunteers had participated

in the activation as of July 4, staffing six EOCs, two shelters and three

additional command sites. Three "rover" units handled such tasks as

reporting on river levels. Ham radio volunteers also assisted the Red Cross

with damage assessment.

Elsewhere, 18 volunteers from the Pocono Amateur Radio Club and Eastern

Pennsylvania Amateur Radio Association supported emergency communication

between the Monroe County Office of Emergency Services and several Red

Cross-sponsored shelters.

In Columbia County, where the Susquehanna River crested at 28.6 feet -

nearly 10 feet above flood stage, ARES/RACES activated an emergency net, and

Amateur Radio volunteers assisted with river level readings at 15 locations.

The net remained operational for 27 hours. ARES/RACES members also aided

with bridge and road closure announcements. Several bridges and roadways

remained closed this week.

Amateur Radio volunteers also supported communication to two Red Cross

shelters in Columbia County and helped to distribute drinking water after

the local water company had to shut down due to flooding.

"The long cleanup and recovery process continues for the many resident of

Columbia and other nearby counties affected," said Columbia County ARES

RACES Radio Officer Randy Kishbaugh, N3JPV.

ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Eric Olena, WB3FPL, said Amateur

Radio volunteers activated in Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Columbia,

Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Schuykill and Wyoming counties.

Meanwhile, ARES/RACES operations in response to flooding in two New Jersey

counties have ended. "We are back to normal," Mercer County Emergency

Coordinator Kip Burnett, KB2EGI, told ARRL earlier this week. The county EOC

remains active to assist in cleanup operations, although Amateur Radio

support is no longer necessary. Located along the Delaware River, Mercer

County includes the state capital of Trenton.

To the north, Sussex County Deputy Communications Officer Dan Murphy, W2GZB,

reports that ARES/RACES responded to support flood relief operations on June

28 and 29. Murphy says county emergency managers requested ARES/RACES

operators at EOCs in Newton and Montague and, during a power outage, to the

911 center in Newton. Ham radio volunteers provided communication support at

a shelter and at the flood zone in Montague. "All operations went well,"

Murphy reported.

ARRL Eastern New York Section Emergency Coordinator Frank Stone, KB2YUR,

reports ARES activity in support of the Greater New York American Red Cross

wound down July 5.

"During the operations we provided communications for the Red Cross to

shelters, their command vehicle, the temporary headquarters and between

emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and other Red Cross vehicles," Stone told

ARRL. "We operated from 7 or 8 AM until the last feeding, done as late as 11

PM." Amateur Radio volunteers traveled with mass care vehicles, food drop

units and disaster assessment teams.

ARES volunteers from two states and seven counties assisted in the flood

response operation, Stone said.

That's all for this edition of the SKYWARN Newsletter!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

Pager #: (508) 354-3142

Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)

Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)

Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)

Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

Back to the SKYWARN Newsletter Archive