[KYHAM] Ky ARES Section Report for July 2004

[Ron Dodson]

(1) Section: Kentucky
(2) Month: July
(3) Year: 2004
(4) Total ARES members: 1,050
(5) Change since last month: +5
(6) Number of active nets reporting:   18
(7) Total Sessions: 83
(8) Number of EC's/DEC's reporting this month:  17
(9) Number of nets, drills, tests, and training
sessions: 71   Number of Man Hours: 435.15
(10)Number of public service events this month: 0
Number of Man Hours: 0
(11)Number of emergency operations this month: 12
        Number of Man Hours: 212.2
(12)Total number of ARES/RACES events this month: 82
        Total Man Hours for Month: 647.35

(13) Stations Reporting and Additional Comments:
KY4NU, K4RNE, N4STW, N4ID, W4RCX, KG4EMO, KI4BUN, N4COT, N4NAS, 
KA4MAP, K4TXJ, NB4K, KE4KWR, KV4O, KA4UHL, N4MOM, KC4WZO,

COMMENTS:

Storms gave many of us more than fireworks to look at on the 4th 
and 5th of the month.

July 13 brought a huge storm system from the states north of 
Kentucky packing winds up to 80+ miles per hour in some areas. 
Fifty-five of our 120 counties were affected to some degree. 
Thirty Kentucky counties declared local states of emergency as 
some areas lost power for eight or more days.

----- Edited Local Comments from Reports ----

Area 3:

July was busy with three SKYWARN Nets activated for storms of 
various intensity. The first two events resulted in serious tree 
and electrical damage in Owensboro and Daviess County. Nets 
averaged 15 check-ins each. Renovations continue at the Daviess 
County EOC. Electrical work was expected to be completed late 
this month. Installation of radio gear should proceed in August. 
Work has started on putting information together for an Amateur 
Radio Interoperability grant through Homeland Security.

Jake Jennings W4EMO and Steve Morgan W4NHO completed CERT 
training provided through the Daviess County EMA. The next 
course, set for September through November, is already full. Mark 
Osborne K4LB, Jim Mason W4RCX and Jack Wilson K4SAC are other 
Daviess County ARES members who have completed the training.

KG4EMO, Daviess County EC
----------------------

Area 4
July 05, 2004  15:07 - 15:55 CDT (20:07 - 20:55 UTC)

Severe Forecast Center, Norman, OK had put this area under
Severe Weather Watch early in the day which raised our risk
factor for Severe Weather.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch Area was issued for this area.
Reports of Weather and Wind Damage began coming in from
Western KY.

At 15:07 CDT  N4NAS initiated a Severe Weather Net
on the Mammoth Cave ARC, Glasgow, KY 2m repeater.
Shortly thereafter a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued
for Barren county and Glasgow, KY.  There were 19 check-ins, no 
formal traffic, many weather observations, reports and damage 
notices.  15.2 Manhours.

Joe, N4NAS
---------------------------
Area 5:
Short period of operations on July 4th as a severe storm rolled 
through Independence Day Celebrations in Meade County at 7:00 pm 
EDT.

July 13, 7:45 PM EDT - 1 AM July 14.
Wide Area Repeaters Net was in full activation with the Jefferson 
County 443.350, Meade County 146.625 and Hancock County 146.715 
via remote base in operation with stations in Breckinridge, 
Meade, Hardin, Hancock, Grayson and Jefferson counties in Ky 
along with Vanderburg and Perry County of southern Indiana were 
hit by a strong storm system packing winds clocked at more than 
80 MPH in some locations. Godman Field Airport on Ft. Knox 
verified winds at 75 MPH at their location.

As soon as the system struck in Meade and Breckinridge counties 
at 8:09 PM EDT power began going out and returned in some areas 
as much as nine days later! Damage repoorts where taken in the 
aftermath as trees blocked most roads in the area at multiple 
locations.  Meade County EMA relayed information on damage to 
police, fire and roads maintenance crews until 1 AM. Three 
locations reported persons trapped in homes destroyed by the 
hurricane force winds. Doe Valley PD's UHF repeater which enables 
communications in their hilly terrain went off the air during the 
first minutes of the storm. DVPD officers on duty that evening 
were KC4ZEX, KA4IFU and DVPD's Chief KG4IFN. By switching to 
their amateur radio gear during the emergency, operations in 
their recovery efforts were not too seriously impaired. A second 
storm rolled through at 12:15 AM causing two structure fires from 
the extreme cloud to ground lightening. Hail as large as quarter 
size was reported.

Organization: Wide Area Repeaters Net (WARN)
----------------------
Area 13:
Storms raced through the area with very high winds what caused 
tree and power line damage.  We had multiple pieces of traffic 
for NWS who had an operator participating in our net.  Reports 
were also made to local officials regarding lines down, etc. 
Local officials requested amateur radio assistance to determine 
if roof had been blown off a post office building.  The debris at 
the scene was roofing insulation from  repairs in progress that 
had been scattered by the high winds.  Winds
were estimated from 50-65 MPH.

Organization: Fayette County ARES
------------------------

Our ARES program in the state suffered a grievous loss on July 30 
when Janice A. Goodpaster, KG4TVX, wife of my Assistant SEC Ron 
Goodpaster, AG4TY died from injuries received in a traffic 
accident.  She was a much loved, active participant in the Ky 
ARES program and will be sorely missed in the times ahead.


73

14)Signed by: Ron Dodson Call Sign: KA4MAP
Ky ARES Section Emergency Coordinator