[GCARC] W2MMD Preliminary Damage Report

[Tony Starr]

W2MMD Preliminary Damage Report-- Thanks to Bob W2RAD and Bill NJ2S

All-- If you did not already hear, the clubhouse site sustained substantial
damage tonight from an apparent tornado. The entire area in the vicinity of
the clubhouse had widespread damage to trees, buildings, and overhead power
lines, and is generally inaccessible at this time. W2RAD and NJ2S made
their way back to the clubhouse via a very roundabout on-road and off-road
route, and allowed me to join their damage survey via Facetime.  As there
is no power for lights, what I was able to see may be worse in the light of
day, but this is what I was able to see and was confirmed to me by Bob and
Bill.

First the good news, the building did not seem to sustain too much damage.
Some of the skirting blew off around the bottom, but the trailer frame is
still sitting on the foundation blocks, and the building appears to be
level. The roof appears to be intact, but any damage is unknown at this
time. There were a few damp ceiling tiles in the VHF room, but all radios
and equipment are intact and dry in both stations. All floors and
furnishings are dry as well.  Considering that several nearby houses lost
their roofs, our mobile home came through fairly well.  We will of course
know more in the daylight, when we can better survey for damage, but at
least our building is intact.

Now the bad news. The 54 foot crank-up tower is folded over at the top of
the first section.  The two sections that were above that section are bent
down in a straight line to the ground, but away from the building. The big
Force 12 antenna is on the ground, condition unknown.  The 100 foot VHF
tower is bent over at a higher point and it appears that the top may be
either hanging above the ground in an inverted position or touching the
ground. It was hard to see in the rain and total darkness.  The short tower
appears to be still standing.  The  small rooftop antennas appear to be
bent, to an unknown extent. That was all I could see. It appears that most
if not all of our antennas have sustained serious damage. The towers are
probably not salvageable. Hopefully the radios and new amplifier did not
sustain any lightning damage.

That is all I have to report at this time. I will try to send out a more
comprehensive report tomorrow after the damage can be surveyed in daylight.
In the meantime, I hope that all of you are safe and unharmed. This was a
dangerous storm. 73, and we will recover from this!

Tony Starr K3TS
President GCARC