Get ready for the 2008 hurricane season

It's that time of year when preparation for the hurricane season ratchets up. Earlier this month, Orlando, Florida hosted the 30th annual National Hurricane Conference, and state and county Emergency Management Agencies are currently checking plans and assets for the upcoming season.

Rick Palm, K1CE, editor of the ARRL's ARES E-Letter, said, "Now is the time for ARES members to assess their portfolio of communications equipment and disaster response knowledge." Hurricane season runs June 1-November 30.

Palm gives several tips for amateurs involved with hurricane operations:

• Monitor major HF hurricane networks during events this season. The Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz, is one of several key players. It serves either the Atlantic or Pacific during a watch or warning period and coordinates with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami.

Frequent, detailed information is issued on nets when storms pose a threat to the US mainland. In addition to hurricane spotting, local communicators may announce that residents have evacuated from low-lying flood areas. Other amateurs across the country can help by relaying information, keeping the net frequency clear and by listening. See the Hurricane Watch Net's Web site for more
information. The net works closely with the hams at the NHC's Amateur Radio station WX4NHC

• The SATERN Net (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) provides emergency communication support to the Salvation Army and populations at large. They also handle health-and-welfare traffic. SATERN holds high profile nets on 20 meters (14.265 MHz) during major hurricanes and has a
long history of excellence, discipline and service. Refer to the SATERN Web site for more information.

• The Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) meets on 14.300 MHz and is composed of hams who serve and assist those in need of communications on the high seas. According to its Web site, the primary purpose of the net is for handling traffic from maritime mobile stations. The network is recognized by the United States Coast Guard and has an excellent working relationship with that agency. The MMSN has handled hundreds of incidents involving vessels in distress and medical emergencies in remote locations, as well as passing health and welfare traffic in and out of affected areas. They also work closely with the NWS and NHC by relaying weather reports from maritime stations.

• The VoIP SKYWARN and Hurricane Net operates by combining both the EchoLink and IRLP linked repeater networks, while handling critical wide area communications during major severe weather and tropical events.
These operations have gained national stature in recent years and provide excellent service. Whenever tropical weather is imposing a threat to the US mainland and certain other areas of interest, the VoIP WX-NET will be fully operational. See the VoIP SKYWARN and Hurricane Net
Web site for more information.

Palm said that during hurricane events, there are usually two or three regional nets (usually on 40 or 20 meters) that spring to prominence as major key assets to the disaster response on an ad hoc basis. "Watch for these nets, as well as the nationally recognized networks described above, this season. Don't transmit on their frequencies unless you are
absolutely sure you have something substantive to add, and then only under the direction of the net control station," Palm advised.

If you are interested in Emergency Communications, please be sure to check out the monthly ARES E-Letter. You can elect to receive this newsletter via e-mail by going to the Member Data Page on the ARRL Web site.

The American Radio Relay League