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 Previous: Surfin': Got Wiki? |  Next: Amateur Radio Volunteers on Duty in Wilma's Wake |
NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 24, 2005--Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) groups have activated in Florida to support necessary communication for the Hurricane Wilma emergency. The Category 2 storm made landfall on the southwestern Florida coastline early today and now is centered over the southern Florida peninsula. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Florida Keys and along sections of the eastern and western coastlines, with tropical storm warning further north.
 The projected path of Hurricane Wilma as of 0900 UTC October 24 (click link for updated and expanded graphics). [NOAA Graphic] |
"All Southern Florida ARES groups are deploying to their respective shelters, Red Cross chapter houses and EOCs," said ARRL Southern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Jeff Beals, WA4AW. "The Southern Florida ARES Net is in operation on 7.242 MHz and 3.940 MHz." Beals will be stationed at a hospital in Loxahatchee for the storm's duration.
ARRL Southern Florida Section Manager Sherri Brower, W4STB, told ARRL that she still has electricity and telephone service at her Vero Beach residence, where she estimates winds at up to 60 MPH as of 1430 UTC. She also reports flooding in Lee and Collier counties as well as severe weather in the Okeechobee area, and that much of the Florida Keys and Palm Beach are without power.
"The Ft Meyers and Naples areas will undoubtedly need communications help," she said, noting that ARES/RACES teams in the West Central Florida section were standing by.
The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) on 14.325 MHz remains active, working in cooperation with WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to gather real-time ground-level weather data to aid forecasters in predicting the storm's behavior. ARES/RACES teams prepared for Wilma over the weekend.
Assistant WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said WX4NHC may use backup frequencies of 7.268 and 3.950 MHz to remain in contact with National Weather Service offices that have Amateur Radio stations as well as with state agencies in the event that commercial and government channels go out.
The 1300 UTC report from the NHC indicates that Wilma is moving northeasterly at near 25 MPH, and forecasters predict a continued increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours. "On this track the center will emerge off the east coast of the southern Florida peninsula and move into the Atlantic later today," the NHC said.
The NHC notes that Wilma is a large hurricane, and the strongest winds in the eyewall extend well away from its center. Forecasters are warning residents to remain indoors during the relative calm of the eye because winds will quickly increase as the storm passes overhead. Maximum sustained winds are near 110 MPH with higher gusts.
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, the net manager for VoIP Hurricane Net Activations, says the net activated Sunday evening and remain up as long as Wilma remains a threat to Florida. The net links SKYWARN coordinators and their programs at the local level, emergency operations centers(EOCs) and other served agencies with WX4NHC and local NWS offices.
"Reports of storm-surge flooding and tree damage were
received in Key West," Macedo said early today. "Reports of power
outages and tree damage were received in Boynton Beach and Deerfield Beach."
In addition to the VoIP Hurricane Net, WX4NHC will monitor the EchoLink WX-Talk Conference Room and IRLP node 9219, plus CWOP APRS and MADIS/MESONET automated weather stations in the affected area. Amateur weather enthusiasts and ON-NHC volunteers may report directly to WX4NHC on-line.
The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) activated today at 1400 UTC on 14.265 MHz. In addition to emergency traffic, SATERN typically handles health-and-welfare traffic on the net and via its Web site.
The Salvation Army reports that its relief teams in South Florida and throughout the state have been mobilizing in preparation to respond to the need of those affected by Hurricane Wilma.
Over the weekend, Wilma devastated Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the crown jewel of that country's tourist industry.
The Northern Florida Traffic Net has been meeting on 3.950 MHz at 0900 and 1930 EDT daily.
ARRL Headquarters has been monitoring the Hurricane Wilma
situation and maintaining regular contact with Field Organization leadership in
all three Florida Sections.
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