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 Previous: QRP Community: Rigs and Reviews |  Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending |
A National Hurricane Center graphic (click to update) showing the position and projected path of Hurricane Ivan as of September 8, 1500 UTC. |
[UPDATE] NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 9, 2004--With hurricanes threatening almost at the rate of one per week since mid-August, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) has had a busy time of things. Following a brief hiatus, the HWN will reactivate on 14.325 MHz at 1700 UTC September 9 for Hurricane Ivan (click link for latest forecast)--now a powerful and dangerous Category 5 storm. After wreaking havoc in the Windward Islands, Grenada, Trinidad and the northern coast of Venezuela, Ivan is expected to hit Jamaica the morning of Friday, September 10.
"We will be listening for reporting stations in Jamaica before turning our attention to Cuba, which is next in the path," said HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP. He said he anticipates the HWN will remain active during 20-meter band openings for much of the next five or six days--until Ivan no longer represents a threat to populated areas. Pilgrim noted that there are no plans at this time to conduct any net operations on 75 or 40 meters.
If Ivan continues on its current track, it will be off the Florida Keys by Monday, September 13, according to National Hurricane Center projections. Pilgrim, who lives in Boca Raton in southern Florida, said the storm appears to be a threat to the entire state. He notes that authorities already have issued a mandatory evacuation order for tourists and mobile home dwellers in the Keys, but given the chancy logistics of evacuating, he's planning to hunker down for the storm, should it arrive.
Pilgrim says he just got electricity back September 6--he has an auxiliary generator for his household and a deep-cycle battery for his ham gear--but he didn't have telephone service, including cellular, until September 8. He says half of his community remains in the dark.
The Hurricane Watch Net wrapped up seven straight days of operation for hurricanes Frances and Ivan on September 7, presenting the net with "a significant challenge, requiring wall-to-wall operations," Pilgrim said. The net took a well-needed breather September 8. Reports to the Net from maritime mobiles, primarily in Grenada, indicated severe damage from Hurricane Ivan.
"We truly appreciate all assistance from the Maritime Mobile Service Net and the Intercon Net during this time of high activity on our net operations on 14.325," Pilgrim said. MMSN and Intercon members have issued regular reminders when the HWN is active. "We need and appreciate your assistance to help keep our net frequency clear of nonessential transmissions," Pilgrim added.
A hurricane warning has been posted for Jamaica. As of 1500 UTC, Hurricane Ivan--with maximum sustained winds near 160 MPH--was some 430 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, moving west-northwesterly near 15 MPH. The National Hurricane Center said interests in the Central and Western Caribbean Sea should closely monitor Ivan's progress.
Hurricane Watch Net Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP. |
The recent hurricane activations also have generated an unprecedented level of activity on the HWN Web site--in excess of 16 million page hits over a 24-hour period, Pilgrim said. Because the high activity level resulted in slower-than-normal Web response, Pilgrim said the net negotiated with its Web provider "to make adjustments necessary" to continue service. "Full operation is now restored with apologies for the inconvenience to our viewers," he said.
The HWN has issued a plea for contributions to purchase additional Web capacity. "Our Web site has become one of the premier sources for hurricane information, not only for private citizens, but for media and government entities as well," Pilgrim says in an announcement on the site. The net's volunteer members so far have borne the burden of the additional Web hosting costs, but the HWN now is inviting contributions to support the site's continued operation.
Contributions (make checks payable to "Hurricane Watch Net") go to HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, 10374 178th Ct S, Boca Raton, FL 33498. Donors will receive a personal letter of gratitude and recognition on the HWN Web site.
The Hurricane Watch Net Web site offers access to the latest weather forecasts as well as storm graphics.
| Previous: QRP Community: Rigs and Reviews | Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending |
