[SMCARA] Hurricane Sandy

[Tom Shelton]

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/115449.shtml?5day#contents

Sandy’s predicted track has changed with the eye of the storm (still at hurricane strength) crossing over the eastern shore at the Maryland/Delaware border at 2AM on Tuesday Morning.

Time to start some serious planning.  If requested by the county, Ray (KB3FWW) will be coordinating support.  If you can volunteer to help at one of the EOC’s, firehouses, etc. please let Ray know at arbyone1 at verizon.net...  

One of the lesson’s learned from Irene is that once at the EOC’s or other site, you can plan on being there for the duration without relief.  During Irene, downed trees closed roads and at one point the county stopped dispatching emergency vehicles because it just wasn’t safe.  

If you want to stay at home, you can still help out by keeping an ear out for the operations – providing relay communications in case the repeaters go down (a distinct possibility).  Here is a great web-site on Operating Your Ham Radio in an Emergency...

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/operating-your-ham-radio-in-an-emergency.html

As noted in the article above, there is a Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz for those with HF capabilities and appropriate priviledges.

There is a strong possibility that Sandy could join with a Nor’Easter.  This will slow Sandy down, extending the time that we are exposed to her affects.  The following is taken from the NOAA site.

DESPITE A MODEST CLUSTER OF OUTLYING DETERMINISTIC SOLUTIONS AND ENSEMBLE MEMBERS FROM THE VARIOUS MODELING CENTERS, THE LION'S SHARE OF GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT THE CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE SANDY WILL PASS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE AMPLIFYING POLAR TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES TO BECOME INCORPORATED INTO A HYBRID VORTEX OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST NEXT TUESDAY.THE HIGH DEGREE OF BLOCKING FROM EASTERN NORTH AMERICA ACROSS THE ENTIRE ATLANTIC BASIN IS EXPECTED TO ALLOW THIS UNUSUAL MERGER TO TAKE PLACE, AND ONCE THE COMBINED GYRE MATERIALIZES, IT SHOULD SETTLE BACK TOWARD THE INTERIOR NORTHEAST THROUGH HALLOWEEN,INVITING PERHAPS A GHOULISH NICKNAME FOR THE CYCLONE ALONG THE LINES OF "FRANKENSTORM", AN ALLUSION TO MARY SHELLEY'S GOTHIC CREATURE OF SYNTHESIZED ELEMENTS.  

The weather channel is currently predicting the following:

Sunday: Rain starting early in the morning, Winds from the NE at 25 MPH
Monday: Rain all day, Winds from NNW at 45 MPH
Tuesday: Rain all day, Winds from the West at 37 MHP (gusts over 50 MPH)


Tom Shelton, AB3IC
(240) 434-3811

Always be yourself...
Unless you can be a Unicorn,
Then be a Unicorn