[SFDXA] Hurricane Watch Net Activates for Hurricane Hanna

[Bill]

Hurricane Watch Net Activates for Hurricane Hanna

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN <http://www.hwn.org>) activated on July 25 
for Hurricane Hanna, the first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane 
season. When the net activated, the storm was poised to make landfall 
along the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 storm, with maximum sustained 
winds of 75 MPH. After it came ashore on the Texas coast, extensive 
property damage was reported in the Rio Grande Valley, the brunt of it 
south of Corpus Christi, which experienced storm-surge flooding and 
tropical storm winds. Areas to the south saw sustained hurricane-force 
winds.

"The year 2020 has been a strange year in every way, and the weather is 
no different," HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said last weekend. 
"Just a few hours ago, it looked as though we would be activating for 
Hurricane Gonzalo. Well, that storm had other ideas. The same can be 
said for what had been Tropical Storm Hanna in the Gulf of Mexico. All 
along, it looked as though this storm would make landfall as a tropical 
storm."

The net activated on 14.325 MHz -- its primary net frequency -- and 
operated simultaneously on 7.268 MHz. The HWN remained active for 
several hours, working in cooperation with WX4NHC <http://w4ehw.fiu.edu> 
at National Hurricane Center (NHC).

HWN volunteers gather observed ground-truth weather data from the 
affected area. "We are also available to provide backup communication to 
official agencies such as emergency operations centers, Red Cross 
officials, and storm shelters in the affected area," Graves added. In 
addition, the HWN collects and reports significant damage and storm 
surge data to forecasters and FEMA officials stationed at the National 
Hurricane Center.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, WX4NHC operators worked from their homes.