[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FW: Hurricane Harvey Cell Tower Damage

[Don Lewis (KI4D)]

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From: ARRL Members Only Web site [mailto:memberlist at www.arrl.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2017 9:28 PM
Subject: Hurricane Harvey Cell Tower Damage

08/29/17
The following is short report of the wide spread serious cell tower damage from Harvey. This is an example of what can happen to the most sophisticated communications equipment money can buy.
This is why we continue to tell our government agencies and the general public about the importance of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications availability.
Kudos to the National Hurricane Net, VOIP/Hurricane Prep Net, SATERN, and the many local and regional ARES groups for their diligent and hard support work to all public service agencies. 

Harvey Leaves a Dent in Gulf Coast Cell Towers BY J. SHARPE SMITH  August 29, 2017 Although downgraded from Hurricane status, Tropical Storm Harvey continues to wreak havoc in the Gulf Coast region. It has, so far, knocked out service from 364 cell towers in Texas, according to the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). That number represents 4.7 percent of the 7,803 towers in the affected area.

Harris County, home of Houston, reported losing the most cell sites with 110. With a population of more than 4 million, it is the largest county in Texas and the third-most populous county in the United States.

The report on the status of communications services affected by the storm noted the Texas counties that lost service from the highest percent of towers were: Aransas, 18 of 19; Calhoun, 20 of 27; and Refugio, 22 of 26.

“To date, the storm has most severely impacted communications networks near where Harvey made landfall.  In Arkansas, Calhoun, and Refugio Counties, for instance, most wireless cell sites are currently out of operation,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a press release. “We are also keeping close tabs on the effect that widespread flooding could have on communications networks in Harris County and surrounding areas in the hours and days to come.”

Nine radio stations have been knocked of the air, but no TV stations have reported outages. The disaster area currently consists of 55 counties in Texas and Louisiana.work and support during and after this storm.
More detailed stories of many of these groups will be coming on TV, Radio, ARRL and other news organizations in the coming weeks.

The above story is just a tiny example of extensive damage to our daily communications.

Dr Joe Palsa
K3WRY
Virginia Section Manager

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ARRL Virginia Section
Section Manager: Dr Joseph G Palsa, K3WRY k3wry at arrl.org
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