Clear Frequencies Requested for Storm Emergency Traffic

Storm Emergency Traffic

IARU HF Championship Contesters:

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is active on 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz in response to Category 1 Hurricane Barry. WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center has activated and plans to operate through landfall on Saturday. In addition, the Maritime Mobile Net is expected to be active on 14.300 MHz. All amateurs not involved in the storm response are encouraged to avoid these frequencies, allowing some 3 – 5 kHz of protection to avoid interference to critical communications.

The National Hurricane Center is warning against dangerous storm surges, heavy rainfall, and high wind conditions across the north-central Gulf Coast. As of 1500 UTC, Barry was some 40 miles south of Lafayette Louisiana, and about 50 miles west of Morgan City, Louisiana. The storm is generating maximum sustained winds of 75 MPH and is moving northwest at 6 MPH.

Source: ARRL

(Update: Friday, July 12, 2019 @ 11:30 AM CDT (1630 UTC)

Tropical Storm Barry is being forecast to become a Cat 1 Hurricane prior to landfall. Over the past few days, Barry has been forecast to reach hurricane status sometime before landfall but has just not strengthened that much. Overnight and this morning, Barry has begun to strengthen and now has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and is expected to strengthen more before landfall sometime Saturday.

The Hurricane Watch Net will activate this evening at 7:00 PM EDT – 2300 UTC on both 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz. We will operate on 14.325 for as long as propagation allows and will suspend operations on 7.268 MHz at 11:00 PM EDT – 0300 UTC. Net operations will resume Saturday morning at 8:30 AM EDT – 1230 UTC (using both 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz) or as soon as the Waterway Net concludes their operations. Once activated on Saturday, we will remain in operation until further notice.

At 11:00 AM EDT – 1500 UTC this Friday morning, Barry was located about 100 miles southwest of the Mouth of the Mississippi River and about 115 miles south-southeast of Morgan City, Louisiana.

Key Messages from the Discussion package of Advisory 9:

There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along the coast of southern and southeastern Louisiana, portions of Lake Pontchartrain, and portions of coastal Mississippi where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. Water levels are already beginning to rise in these areas, with the peak inundation expected on Saturday. The highest storm surge inundation is expected between Intracoastal City and Shell Beach.
The slow movement of Barry will result in a long duration heavy rainfall and flood threat along the central Gulf Coast, across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley and north into the Tennessee Valley through the weekend into early next week. Flash flooding and river flooding will become increasingly likely, some of which may be life-threatening, especially across portions of southeast Louisiana into Mississippi.
Hurricane conditions are expected along a portion of the coast of Louisiana, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Tropical storm conditions are expected elsewhere along much of the Louisiana coast and inland across portions of south-central Louisiana where tropical storm warnings are in effect.

As with any net activation, we request observed ground-truth data from those in the affected area (Wind Speed, Wind Gust, Wind Direction, Barometric Pressure – if available, Rainfall, Damage, and Storm Surge). Measured weather data is always appreciated but we do accept estimated.

We are also available to provide backup communications to official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers, Red Cross officials, and Storm Shelters in the affected area. We will also be interested to collect and report significant damage assessment data back to FEMA officials stationed in the National Hurricane Center.

As always, we are praying and hoping for the best yet preparing for the worst.

Sincerely,
Bobby Graves – KB5HAV
Net Manager
Hurricane Watch Net