SB QST @ ARL $ARLB058
ARLB058 Amateurs plan to activate in advance of Fabian

ZCZC AG58
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 58  ARLB058
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  September 5, 2003
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB058
ARLB058 Amateurs plan to activate in advance of Fabian

The Hurricane Watch Net http://www.hwn.org/ and Amateur Radio
station WX4NHC http://www.wx4nhc.org/ at the National Hurricane
Center in Miami will activate at 1200 UTC Friday, September 5, in
response to Hurricane Fabian, now described as a dangerous storm.
The HWN operates on 14.325 MHz to gather ground-level storm data
from Amateur Radio weather observers and other volunteers. The net
relays these reports via WX4NHC to forecasters, who use the
information to get a more precise picture of a storm's potential
path and damage potential.

''Bermuda is now in the direct track of Hurricane Fabian,'' said
WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, in
announcing the activation. The storm is now listed as a category 3
hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 120 MPH with higher
gusts. Forecasters believe Fabian could strengthen further before
making landfall on Bermuda early Friday evening.

HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, anticipates the net will remain
active until 20 meters closes in the evening, likely after the storm
has already passed Bermuda. Ripoll says WX4NHC will monitor the
Hurricane Watch Net. ''Please do not transmit unless you have an
emergency or are requested to do so by net control,'' he advised.

WX4NHC also will monitor surface reports from amateur weather
enthusiasts and ON-NHC volunteers filed via the Internet
http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html.

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN)
http://www.satern.org/ also is poised to activate for Fabian's
arrival in Bermuda. Territorial Coordinator for SATERN on Bermuda
Rick Shirran, VE3NUZ/VP9, has announced that SATERN will go on full
alert at 1700 UTC on September 5, maintaining its net on 14.265 MHz
to assist with emergency traffic.

''The Salvation Army is on full alert with shelters being set up in
most of the Corps across the island as well a one large emergency
shelter being set up at Cedarbridge Academy [in Hamilton] and a
command center at District Headquarters,'' Shirran said.

SATERN National Coordinator Pat McPherson, WW9E, said the SATERN net
will stay active as long as needed.
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