[FLARES] **ECOMM MESSAGE** 08/31/04-F-A

[Chris Myers]

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA
AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
A Citizen Corps Group


**ECOMM MESSAGE**

The Indian River County Division of Emergency Management, Auxiliary
Communication Services is at Level One Alert as of 12:00 hours Tuesday,
August 31, 2004.

Level One Alert:  Computer Models Indicate A Possible Threat to the
Operation Area
 Continue Monitoring


 EVENT INFORMATION:
** RELEASE INFORMATION FROM IRCEOC**
Hurricane Frances continues moving west at 15mph.  The system is located 175
miles northeast of Puerto Rico at Latitude 20.0N - 64.0W.  Sustained winds
have once again increased to 135mph which makes Frances a Category IV
hurricane.  I have no reason to believe that the system will weaken.  No
wind shear is occurring and the storm is as perfectly developed as a system
can be in this area.  A gradual west-northwest turn is expected to occur
soon, but no evidence of that motion has started.  It is important that
everyone stop centering on the little red line as to the forecast track.
The error cone and attached wind field map should be everyone's true
concern.  Hurricane force winds now extend 70 miles from the center and
tropical storm force winds extend 175 miles from the center.  It is more and
more likely, because of the wind field, that Indian River County will
experience, at least, tropical storm force winds and rain.
The attached visible and infrared picture show a perfect hurricane.  Banding
is excellent and no wind shear is in the area.  The water vapor shows
Hurricane Frances moving west, along the southern edge of the sub tropical
ridge.  At this time, the ridge does not seem to be expanding any longer.
This may allow for a northwest turn earlier than the previous forecast.  The
NOAA jet aircraft data has been entered into the models and a significant
move to the northeast occurred.  This is likely due to an upper level low
over the Bahamas and the ridge not expanding as far west as anticipated.  We
will watch this for 24 hours or so to see if this is a trend or a fluke.  I
must say, if the ridge does not expand, it is likely a trend.
For our area, it is time to talk about timelines and possible impacts.  Even
if Hurricane Frances stays off our coastline, we will receive tropical storm
force winds and possibly minimal hurricane force winds.  At this point, we
should not focus on the minimal impacts, but the maximum impacts.  Meaning,
I cannot rule out the center making landfall over Indian River County or
near our area.  So, we should continue preparing our homes, obtaining
necessary supplies, and know where to go if an evacuation occurs.  The
earliest the east coast of Florida will start any protective actions would
be Friday.  Protective actions may not be necessary, but I know everyone
needs to plan with a timeline of some sort.  If evacuations were ordered,
they will occur on Friday.  If shelters needed to be opened, the earliest
would likely be Friday night.  The tropical storm force winds would be in
our area early Saturday morning and gradually increase throughout the
morning and early afternoon.  Then, winds would start to decrease by
Saturday evening.  What kind of winds continue to be the BIG question.  I
will know more about the anticipated wind field when Frances begins a turn.
All of Florida should be prepared for some type of impact from Hurricane
Frances.  Have your plan ready, supplies ready, and evacuation locations
ready should protective actions be needed later this week.  Bottom line, MY
TIE IS STILL ON!!
I will provide a short advisory at 9:00am tomorrow, followed by a full
advisory around noon.

Nathan McCollum
Indian River County Emergency Management
** END OF RELEASE**

ACS:
08/31/04 09:30hrs    County DEM staff request alert status change

08/31/04 12:00hrs    Alert Level 1 ACS Staff on alert
 begin notification of
your teams
 ESF-2 Coordinators and Officer please send you next SITREP by
08/31/04 19:00hrs local.  Staff is strongly encouraged to make any necessary
personal preparations to assure your timely response should a level 2
activation orders be issued.

Chris Myers, Coordinator
Indian River County Auxiliary Communication Services
CAP-SER-FL-078
FL-078 has the following ES qualified resources available for missions
within Group 4:

Total Emergency Services members: “8”
ES member breakdown:  Cadets “2”, Senior Members “6”

Additional Assets:
CPF 837 Aircraft N99941 at COI
*	Available hours to next 100 hr maintenance – 93
*	IFR Certified, GX55 GPS, L-Tronics DF, Tait CAP Radio
*	Aircraft sensor status (none)
*	Squaks (Oil temp gauge fluctuates, DME is hard to set)

CPF 822 Aircraft N98120 at FPR (Squadron HQ)
*	Available hours to next 100 hr maintenance
*	IFR Certified, GX55 GPS, L-Tronics DF, Tait CAP Radio
*	Aircraft sensor status (none)
*	Squaks (GPS inoperative)

Elper condition tested good on 30 August 2004.

Various VHF radios are available for missions as well as cell phones for
Emergency Services personnel.  Several of the personnel
also have Nextel direct-connect capabilities.

CAP Lt. Charles Shinn, ESO
SER-FL-078
ARES:
ARES will hold NTS/Resource Net at 7:30 PM this evening on the 146.775MHz
repeater.  Please check in at that time for any updates.
It is a good idea to monitor the 145.130 repeater frequency at all times
during this alert.

Bud Holman, Emergency Coordinator
Indian River County ARES
NTS:

Sherri Brower
NTS Coordinator
SKYWARN:

Wayne Burkett
SKYWARN Coordinator
SHARES:

Maj. Bill Rice
SHARES Radio Officer
MARS:

NNN0YGY, NNN0ILA
MARS Radio Officer
REACT:
The Florida Council of REACT Teams remains at level two.

Teams on the East Coast and in Central Florida please provide your status.

Teams near the West Coast please provide your availability for possible
mutual aid response.

Michael Cauley, President
Florida Council of REACT Teams
SEDAN:

Tom Nolan KD4MWO
FLA-SEDAN NET MANAGER
CCT County Communication Team:

John Conefrey
RRT Coordinator
COMMUNICATION DATA:
TCWN/SKYWARN Net operations on 146.775MHz, No CTCSS, call KA1VRF
ACS Planning/operations 153.920MHz Toned; 444.825MHz, Toned, call ACS
Command
ARES Net operations 145.130MHz as needed, No CTCSS, call WA4ASJ
DCAT Operations 30.760MHz as needed, Toned, call DCAT Command

Florida State DCAT Equipment and Assets:
Unit ID                Status                  Location
Note
COMM-2   Standing-By    Vero Beach, FL
APRS         Standing-By    Vero Beach, FL

Next SITREP will be 08/31/04 at 19:30hrs local.

End of SITREP

Chris A. Myers
Coordinator
Indian River County
Auxiliary Communication Services
Website: www.ircacs.org

A Public Service Organization Using Amateur, Public, and Private Radio
Communication.  Planning and preparing to keep the unexpected from being a
surprise!

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