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 Previous: Amateur Radio Operators Ready for Hurricane Isabel |  Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
 The position and projected path of Hurricane Isabel as of 11 AM EDT September 18. [NOAA Graphic] |
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 18, 2003--Amateur Radio volunteers wearing various hats--as well as foul-weather gear in some cases--are dealing with the effects of Hurricane Isabel, which made landfall about 1 PM EDT along the North Carolina coast today. The Hurricane Watch Net remains activate on 14.325 MHz to gather ground-level weather data for relay to the National Hurricane Center via its WX4NHC Amateur Radio station. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and SKYWARN teams have been at the ready since yesterday. ARES station NC4EB is on the air from North Carolina Emergency Management's Eastern Branch headquarters in Kinston, the primary emergency operation center for that state. States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina and Virginia. The storm already is taking a toll in North Carolina.
"Power has been lost in some parts of eastern North Carolina," North Carolina Section Manager John Covington, W4CC, reported this afternoon. "In particular I have received a report that some flooding has occurred in Craven County." Bruce Arnold, N8UTY, has activated the county EOC in New Bern. "People have been asked to evacuate, and some are staying at shelters." Unofficial Amateur Radio reports indicated some flooding in eastern North Carolina and as far north as Delaware.
Covington says the Tarheel Emergency Net is active on 3923 kHz to facilitate communications among the state EOC in the capital of Raleigh, the Eastern Branch office in Kinston and any active county EOCs. The state EOC ARES operation has been sharing wide-coverage 146.88 MHz repeater in Raleigh to gather local damage reports and information.
 Chart showing the probability that Hurricane Isabel will pass within 75 statute miles during the next 72 hours. [NOAA Graphic] |
As of 3 PM, Hurricane Isabel was 50 miles east-southeast of Greenville, North Carolina, after making landfall near Drum Inlet, between Cape Lookout and Ocracoke Island. A hurricane warning remains in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia--including Pamlico and Albermarle sounds--and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 MPH with higher gusts, although the storm is weakening as it moves inland.
"Hams are still doing a good job of submitting surface reports to the National Hurricane Center," said Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, at the NHC's WX4NHC.
An Amateur Radio report told of a wind gust of 105 MPH at Ocracoke Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks, with sustained winds to 80 miles an hour. Amateur Radio reports indicate sustained winds of 79 MPH at Cape Hatteras and gusts to 98 MPH. In addition, unofficial Amateur Radio reports indicate periods of rain--heavy at times.
More information on North Carolina Amateur Radio preparations for Hurricane Isabel is available via the North Carolina Hurricane Isabel Information Web site.
Ham radio operators also reported a storm surge of five to six feet at New Bern, North Carolina, on the Neuse River. Storm rainfalls of up to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts, are likely in association with Hurricane Isabel. A threat of isolated tornadoes remains over eastern North Carolina, Eastern Virginia and Southeastern Maryland today. Delaware SM Randall Carlson, WB0JJX, reports from the Delaware state EOC that Amateur Radio operators are set up at other EOCs around the state in anticipation of what Hurricane Isabel might do.
In Virginia, the Old Dominion Emergency Net/Virginia Emergency Net Alpha has been activated on 3947 kHz (7240 kHz is the alternate frequency). More information on the response of Amateur Radio operators in Virginia is on the Virginia ARES Web site.
The Virginia Beach Hamfest set for this weekend already has fallen victim to the storm. Sponsors cancelled the annual event yesterday.
Amateurs also are preparing to support or are already supporting hurricane relief and shelter efforts of the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army as the storm moves northward.
| Previous: Amateur Radio Operators Ready for Hurricane Isabel | Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
