07/23/2007 | KB4KY The Kentucky Amateur Radio Society's Field Day effort for 2007 once again took place on the grounds of beautiful My Old Kentucky Home State Park. The park's picnic area is situated deep within the woods, surrounded with tall old hardwood trees -- which are wonderful supports for various wire antennas.

Our county ARES EC Joe Kendall, KE4JYC, led our FD effort this year. Thanks to his planning and organization, our 2A + VHF stations were up and running well in advance of the 2 p.m. start time on Saturday. Set up for the day went well -- too well, we joked, figuring that if setup went great, Murphy's Law was bound to catch up with us later. We had no idea how right we were.

At 2 p.m., KARS operators jumped into the fray. Our operators included W4OLG, N2GWK, KY4JLS, N4SQA, KI4FNT, KC4CTB, KI4RDT, KI4CWO, KI4HAP, N4PEI, W9WA, N4JOB, K4EEF, and KC7OC. With one station on 40 and the other on 20, the VHF station was on 6 meters looking for contacts.

While we were winding down for supper, we heard the distant rumble of thunder. In moments we learned we were under a severe thunderstorm warning. With the storm and its hail, torrential rain, lightning and 65 mph winds just minutes away, we dropped antennas and put away as much gear (and food) as we could. The storm struck with a vengance. JYC rode the storm out in our 10x10 shelter, physically holding it down while the rest of us took shelter in our cars.

The high winds blew trees down around us; limbs from the tops of the trees were crashing near our site. In minutes the storm was over.

No one in our group was injured. The road into the picnic area was blocked by a fallen tree, and club members cleared the road so the other park visitors could leave the picnic area.

Reviewing our equipment, the outlook for Field Day wasn't good. All the gear, with the exception of one transceiver, was soaking wet. Our HF antennas were damaged. Spirits were dampened (pardon the pun).

But in true Field Day tradition, we regrouped. We abandoned our now soaked shelter and moved our remaining operational station inside the our county's mobile command post parked at the site. Thanks to our newest club member, Chris, KI4WCO, the station stayed on the air overnight.

Despite the storm's interruption, our Field Day still had a happy ending. None of the equipment was permanently damaged from the soaking. We completed another Field Day, and learned a few lessons for next year.

If it looks like thunderstorms next year, don't be surprised to hear KB4KY running Class F ... hi hi! -- KY4Z