[FLham] Wilma has Hams Preparing

[Radioguy]

Amateur Radio Continues to Prepare for Wilma's Arrival

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 20, 2005--Preparations are ramping up in advance 
of the arrival of Hurricane Wilma. Although downgraded to a Category 
4 storm, Wilma still is considered an "extremely dangerous" hurricane 
as it continues toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and a possible 
subsequent landfall along the Florida peninsula this weekend. The 
National Hurricane Center (NHC) is advising all interests in the 
Florida Keys and the Florida Peninsula to closely monitor Wilma's 
progress, which has slowed, and some evacuation orders have been 
delayed. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) will activate today at 1900 
UTC on 14.325 MHz.

"We'll be active as long as the 20-meter band stays with us tonight," 
says HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP. "WX4NHC at the National 
Hurricane Center will join us this evening at 1800 EDT (2200 UTC)." 
With landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula not likely until early Friday, 
October 21, the HWN will open net operations for that region starting 
at 1300 UTC that day and remain up for as long as needed, Pilgrim added.

The HWN will reactivate Saturday at 2100 UTC to identify prospective 
reporting stations, then reopen Sunday at 1300 UTC and remain active 
as long as needed or until the band closes. Wilma now is expected to 
show up along the southwestern coast of Florida Sunday afternoon, 
possibly as a Category 2 storm, Pilgrim said.

Plans for Monday, October 24, are yet to be determined based on 
subsequent forecast data, Pilgrim said. SKYWARN teams also are 
expected to be on alert.

The HWN and WX4NHC work together to gather ground-level weather data 
to assist NHC meteorologists to fine tune their forecasts. WX4NHC 
Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, says the 
station also will provide back-up communication to National Weather 
Service (NWS) field offices in the affected area.

"We ask the all NWS field offices in the affected have an Amateur 
Radio station equipped with battery backup in operation for backup 
communications to NHC and NWS," Ripoll said. "During Hurricane 
Katrina, ham radio was the only means of communication between NHC, 
NWS regional and the Slidell NWSFO (W5SLA) for over six hours."

Ripoll also requested that stations give 14.325 MHz a wide berth when 
the HWN and WX4NHC are active. "We ask that all stations be sensitive 
to the mission HWN and WX4NHC are doing and to please move their 
operating far enough from 14.325 MHz to allow us to copy the weak 
signals," he requested.

In addition to the HWN, WX4NHC will monitor VoIP modes, including the 
EchoLink WX-Talk Conference Room and IRLP node 9219, plus CWOP APRS 
and MADIS/MESONET automated weather stations in the affected area. 
Amateur weather enthusiasts and ON-NHC volunteers may report directly 
to WX4NHC on-line.

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams in Southern Florida are 
getting ready too. ARRL Southern Florida SEC Jeff Beals, WA4AW, tells 
ARRL that several counties already have reported activations and 
shelter openings for Friday and Saturday in anticipation of Wilma. 
Lee, Palm Beach, Indian River and Miami-Dade counties have opened 
shelters to handle evacuees from the Florida Keys in Monroe County. 
Beals says he's been advised that Florida Navy Military Affiliate 
Radio System (MARS) will activate nets for Wilma as well.

ARRL Southern Florida Section Manager Sherri Brower, W4STB, adds that 
ARES will staff American Red Cross Shelters, health department 
special needs shelters, hospitals and Red Cross chapter houses. 
"Post-storm we'll need relief ops and an unknown number of shelter 
ops," she said. "Since we don't know where it will hit we can't do 
much but stand by at present." Brower said Southern Florida already 
was getting offers from Amateur Radio volunteers willing to assist 
after the storm passes.

As of 1500 UTC, the center of Hurricane Wilma was some 170 miles 
south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, moving west-northwesterly near 7 
MPH. A turn toward the northwest is expected later today.

Maximum sustained winds are near 145 MPH with higher gusts, and some 
restrengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

(Tnx ARRL Web)