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 Previous: The Amateur Amateur: Towering Prices |  Next: Dean Downgraded to Tropical Depression, Hurricane Watch Net Deactivated |
Hurricane Dean made landfall near Costa Maya or Majahual at 3:30 AM Central Daylight Time Tuesday, as a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. Earlier in the week, the storm slammed Jamaica as the eye passed within 50 miles of the South Coast of Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane. The VoIP Hurricane Net is actively soliciting reports from any stations in the affected area or any stations that have contact with the affected area.
"We received numerous reports of estimated winds over 100 MPH in Corozal, Belize, with roofs off homes, power, electricity and phone service out in many areas. Similar damage was reported in Chetmual, Mexico from a relay from Connie, NH7IE, from a friend who lives in Chetmual, Mexico," said Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane Net.
WX4NHC Assistant National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station Coordinator, Julio Ripoll, WD4R, has been working to get reports via the VoIP Hurricane Net and liaison has been established with Spanish speaking Mexican stations on the XE2MCC EchoLink conference node: 255469. Julio has been receiving reports directly from that conference via Spanish, and NP3OD, Francisco Diaz-Gonzalez, from the VoIP Hurricane Net Control team, is monitoring that conference for reports.
"We've also received reports of trees down, power outages from the Telum and Campeche, Mexico, area as relayed via the XE2MCC conference and from other Amateurs," Macedo said.
Jamaica
A report of 16 fishermen being stranded in the Middle Keys on Jamaica was confirmed by 9Z4FZ, Julien Deider from Trinidad, by making contact with the Trinidad Coast Guard who then verified the report with the Jamaican Coast Guard. All 16 fishermen took shelter in a Coast Guard building on the keys and were safe. Julien relayed numerous other damage, storm surge and wind estimate reports from Jamaica to the net.
"Thanks for the update on the fishermen and were glad to know they are safe," said Julio Ripoll, WD4R, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator.
Measured wind speeds were sustained between 100-105 MPH along the south coast of Jamaica from Lionel town to Kingston with gusts estimated as high as 130 MPH. Roofs were blown off numerous structures with many trees, phone and power poles down. Electricity, water and landline phone service was lost in many areas but cell service stayed up in most areas. Storm Surge flooding was significant along southern coastal areas.
Ray Weber, KA1JJM, from Western Massachusetts SKYWARN and Dave Taylor, KI4YIK, from Rock Hill, South Carolina, both were instrumental in relaying measured wind data reports. Ray had a contact in Lionel Town, Jamaica, who was a mariner, and Dave had a contact with a missionary in Jamaica that had wind instrumentation that clocked sustained wind speeds.
"This is an example of gathering disaster intelligence information by all means possible which is a huge role for our net. If we don't have direct contact with the affected area, getting stations that can relay from other sources from both within the Amateur community and from other contacts that Amateurs may have in the area can be of great help," Macedo said.
Between the *WX-TALK*/IRLP 9219 reflector system and the listen only conferences, there were over 150 connections from EchoLink PC users as well as EchoLink and IRLP links and repeaters where people that were interested in Dean's impact on Jamaica monitored. This included relief agencies that monitored which included the Salvation Army and the Southern Baptist Relief organization.
Hurricane Dean was expected to weaken over land on Tuesday but will then move out over the Southern Gulf of Mexico waters which are quite warm. Dean is expected to maintain hurricane intensity and make his final landfall in main land Southeast Mexico on Wednesday potentially as a major hurricane. The VoIP Hurricane Net and WX4NHC expect to activate once again on Wednesday to support surface reports from stations in the affected area of Dean. -- Thanks to Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Hurricane Watch Net
The Hurricane Watch Net convened net operations on 14.325 MHz Tuesday morning, August 21, at 1200UTC. The net planned to stay engaged until it was determined that its services were no-longer required.
| Previous: The Amateur Amateur: Towering Prices | Next: Dean Downgraded to Tropical Depression, Hurricane Watch Net Deactivated |
