[CALV-ARES] [New post] ALERT: Hurricane Joaquin and PRE

[Calvert County Auxiliary Communications Services]

Post       : ALERT: Hurricane Joaquin and PRE
URL        : https://ares.k3cal.org/2015/10/01/alert-hurricane-joaquin-and-pre/
Posted     : October 1, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Author     : Eric Christensen
Tags       : Hurricane Joaquin
Categories : ALERT, ARES, RACES, Weather

Summary
Hurricane Joaquin
Hurricane Joaquin ( http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#JOAQUIN )  continues to spin in the Atlantic Ocean near (and on top of) the Bahamas.  Overnight strengthening brings this storm to a category three on the Saffir-Simpson Scale ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffir%E2%80%93Simpson_Hurricane_Scale )  with additional strengthening probable over the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours.  The forecast track for Joaquin puts the storm near us starting Sunday night or Monday morning.  Confidence is still low on the track as models continue to disagree.  The current forecast (as of 5AM, October 1st) track keeps Joaquin out over the ocean without making landfall.  This, however, could still bring lots of rain and wind inland causing flooding and other damage.
Pre Rain Event (PRE)
A cold front coming through the region has brought, and continues to bring, a lot of moisture to the atmosphere.  So far we've seen ~6 inches of rainfall in the county with more expected.  This, alone, has the potential to produce flooding.  Unfortunately, as seen with previous tropical storms, this has the side effect of weakening the soil around trees making them easier to topple.
Combined events
With a potential hurricane coming up the coast and the PRE there is a good chance of there not only being flooding but also trees falling.  Falling trees take down electrical and telephone wires and block roadways.
Watches and Warnings
Hurricane watch ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone_warnings_and_watches )  for the US coast will likely be issued Thursday evening.

Flash flood watch ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_flood_watch )  has been issued for Calvert County ( http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=MDZ018&warncounty=MDC009&firewxzone=MDZ018&local_place1=Chesapeake%20Beach%20MD&product1=Flash+Flood+Watch&lat=38.6702&lon=-76.5394 )  beginning Friday morning and expiring Saturday evening.
Requests
Calvert OEM has requested ( http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/calv-ares/2015-October/000638.html )  that we begin planning for a weather event that could require our activation.

Drum Point has already inquired as to our readiness status and will likely require our services.
Actions Requested

* Test all communications equipment, charge all batteries, and make your stations ready.
* Download the communications plan ( https://christensenplace.us/own/public.php?service=files&t=1c192897a1c842c4c104189af4953000 )  and event log ( https://ares.k3cal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ICS-309.pdf ) , ICS-213 message ( https://ares.k3cal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ICS-213.pdf ) , and Radiogram ( https://ares.k3cal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/RADIOGRAM-2011.pdf )  forms and have all available for the event.  Review the message handling training page  ( https://ares.k3cal.org/training/message-handling/ ) and ask questions early if there is something you don't understand.
* Make sure you have the latest versions of fldigi, flmsg, and Winlink RMS Express  ( http://www.winlink.org/ ) and know how to use them (and make sure they work).
* Activate your APRS stations and use this as a means of backup communications and for disseminating damage reports and other hazards.
* Provide your availability ( https://ethercalc.org/CALV_ACS_Hurricane_Joaquin_availability ) .
* Begin monitoring primary frequencies ( https://ares.k3cal.org/communications/frequencies/ ) .

Communications plan - suppliment
Primary frequencies for this event will be the 146.985 Sunderland repeater and the 28.350 10-meter frequency.  I'll be monitoring wg3k at winlink.org for incoming Winlink traffic for Calvert County.

In the event of a power outage, everyone should do their best to check-in with net control at the top of the hour with their availability and any update (damage, power outage, communications circuit availability (phone and Internet), and any other information.  The net control station should add these reports to their comm log and maintain a list of available resources and any ACS-member needs.
Information Dissemination
This page, as well as the availability page ( https://ethercalc.org/CALV_ACS_Hurricane_Joaquin_availability ) , will be updated whenever information changes.

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