[CC-ARES-RACES] ARLB060 FCC Declares Communications Emergency as Hurricane Lili

[JD Delancy]

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB060
ARLB060 FCC Declares Communications Emergency as Hurricane Lili 
Approaches Gulf Coast

ZCZC AG60
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 60  ARLB060
>From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  October 2, 2002
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB060
ARLB060 FCC Declares Communications Emergency as Hurricane Lili 
Approaches Gulf Coast

The FCC has declared a communications emergency in response to the
approach of Hurricane Lili. Under the authority of Section 97.401 of
the FCC Amateur Service rules, a general communications emergency
has been declared for the states of Louisiana and Texas. ''Amateurs
are required to refrain from using 7285 kHz (daytime) and 3873 kHz
(nighttime), plus or minus 3 kHz unless they are taking part in the
handling of emergency traffic,'' said the FCC declaration from Joseph
P. Casey, Chief of the Technical and Public Safety Division of the
FCC's Enforcement Bureau. The FCC declaration will remain in effect
until rescinded and could be in effect for as long as two weeks.

The National Weather Service reports that Lili has strengthened
rapidly to a dangerous Category 4 hurricane. ''Reports from an Air
Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum
sustained winds have increased to near 135 MPH with higher gusts,''
said an NWS bulletin issued at 1800z. ''Preparations to protect life
and property in the hurricane warning area should be rushed to
completion.'' A hurricane warning remains in effect from east of high
island Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River.

South Texas ARRL Section Manager Ray Taylor, N5NAV, says the FCC
declaration will support the operation of the West Gulf Emergency
Net for Texas and Louisiana. Net operation began this morning.
Taylor also says Amateur Radio operators are staffing the Texas
emergency operations center in Austin as well as some along the
coast, where evacuations already have begun.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is scheduled to remain active on
14.325 MHz until 0300z then activate October 3 at first light.
Operators at W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center in Miami also
have been active and cooperating with the HWN effort. W4EHW
volunteers were scheduled to remain on duty at least until 0200z.

Information on the Hurricane Watch Net and W4EHW at the National
Hurricane Center in Miami may be found on the web at
http://www.hwn.org and http://www.fiu.edu/orgs/w4ehw/ ,
respectively.
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