[GCARC] W2MMD Preliminary Damage Report

[Jeffrey Welsh]

Tony,
I have to work today until 5:00, I'm free after that and off Friday in case
anyone needs help at the clubhouse.  I'll stop by this evening.
73
jeffrey

On Wed, Sep 1, 2021 at 11:01 PM Tony Starr <tstarr1450 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
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