[SFDXA] Amateur Radio Serving During Hurricane Beryl - ARRL Letter

[Bill]

*Amateur Radio Serving During Hurricane Beryl*

Hurricane Beryl, now a Category 4 storm, continues its track across the 
central Caribbean Sea, moving at 20 mph with sustained winds of 145 mph.

Hurricane Beryl 
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Hurricane Watch Net Logo 
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As of Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported 
Beryl would bring hurricane conditions to Jamacia by midday with 
life-threatening winds and storm surge and is expected to approach the 
Cayman Islands by Wednesday evening into Thursday.

Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Hurricane Watch Net 
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(HWN) Manager, reports the HWN is active as of Wednesday, July 3rd, at 
7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC) on 14.325.00 MHz, and at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC), 
or just as soon as the Waterway Net has completed, on 7.268.00 MHz.

“Any additional change to the forecast track could bring hurricane 
conditions, perhaps, even landfall, on Thursday across the Cayman 
Islands. We will watch the track closely,” said Graves.

“The Hurricane Watch Net is also preparing for a Friday activation for 
when Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in the Yucatan of 
Mexico,” added Graves. “As always, we greatly appreciate the daily users 
and various nets who use 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 MHz for allowing us 
a clear frequency. It certainly makes our job easier, and I know those 
in the affected area appreciate it as well. Our prayers go out to those 
who could be affected by Hurricane Beryl. HWN is prepared, ready to 
serve, and do what we can to help save lives.”

On Tuesday, Zian Julio Aguirre Taboada, XE1ATZ, Director of the National 
Emergency Network of the Mexican Federation of Radio Experimenters, 
asked for the protection of 7.128 MHz that will be used during the 
activation of their network due to the threat of Hurricane Beryl.

Amateur radio operators have been preparing for activation since Sunday 
evening, June 30. The Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Hurricane Net 
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was activated Monday morning July 1, and was secured at 500 PM EDT 
Monday. Beryl intensified into an intense Category 4 hurricane as it 
swept through the Grenadines, Grenada, and Petit Martinique, with 
impacts also into St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados.

Some of the net reports were utilized in the 11 AM Monday 7/1/24 NHC 
Advisory. They included structural damage reports to buildings with 
roofs blown off, trees/wires/poles down, storm surge and heavy rainfall 
related flooding.

"We appreciate any and all support from amateur operators in the 
affected area," said Rob Macedo, KD1CY, director of operations for the 
VoIP Net.

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, reminded 
amateurs it’s important to be ready to help.

“Now is the time to make sure you are prepared individually and as a 
group. Touch base with your partner agencies. As NOAA has predicted the 
potential for a busier hurricane year, know your plan. We all will be 
watching and staying connected with officials in the coastal regions of 
the country. Amateur radio still has a very important role during times 
of crisis and as we have seen in the past, hurricanes can test a 
community’s preparedness better than most other disasters.”

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