Hams Heard at Hurricane Conference

AMATEUR RADIO PROMINENT AT NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFAB

The role of Amateur Radio in tracking and responding to hurricanes was highlighted during several presentations at the recent 2000 National Hurricane Conference. ARRL Public Service Specialist Steve Ewald, WV1X, was among the approximately 1700 people attending the annual gathering April 17-21 in New Orleans.

Ewald presented an overview of Amateur Radio disaster operations during a session on "The Role of Amateur Radio in Hurricane Communications" moderated by Dr. T. Michael Carter, N3PDK. Ewald discussed how the ARRL Field Organization, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and the National Traffic System are set up to respond to communication emergencies. He also focused on the role that ARRL Headquarters plays in hurricane-related threats and disasters.

Representatives from three hurricane-prone states--Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi--outlined amateur emergency response systems in their respective states. ARRL Florida District Emergency Coordinator Gary Arnold, WB2WPA, reviewed the very busy 1999 hurricane season. He noted that ARES and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service are virtually one organization in Florida. Amateur Radio operators are cross-trained in emergency operation center communications, Arnold explained.

ARRL Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator Mark Ketchell, N5MYH, said work is progressing to revise that state's ARES plan, and neighboring ARRL section leaders have been invited to comment. He also displayed an example of the ARES, Civil Defense and Red Cross-sponsored announcement that is shown on local cable TV channels to increase public awareness of severe-weather readiness as well as of Amateur Radio.

ARRL Mississippi Section Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX, noted that the threat of flooding and tornadoes spawned by hurricanes receives a lot of attention in Mississippi. Keown said Mississippi's amateurs strongly support the National Weather Service's SKYWARN program, and simulated emergencies there often focus on severe-storm scenarios.

Wide-area Amateur Radio hurricane operations were the focus of the presentation by Hurricane Watch Net Manager Jerry Herman, N3BDW. The Net was in operation for six storms during the 1999 season. After Hurricane Floyd hit the Bahamas and the US eastern seaboard, Herman explained, it became obvious that fresh-water flooding associated with hurricanes is a primary danger to inland as well as to coastal areas. Nearly two million people were evacuated from the path of Floyd, and 57 deaths were attributed to this powerful hurricane.

Herman also reported on Hurricane Lenny on behalf of Don McGehee, PJ8DM, on Saba, in the Netherlands Antilles. McGehee was unable to attend the conference. After the late-season Hurricane Lenny struck the Caribbean, it left Saba without any communications except those provided by Amateur Radio. With help from the Hurricane Watch Net, the League was able to quickly send its emergency 2-meter repeater to Saba. For about two weeks, the repeater served as the Saba government's primary communication system while the island's electrical systems and infrastructure were restored.

A later roundtable forum moderated by ARRL First Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, also discussed the possibility of streamlining the process of setting up temporary third-party traffic arrangements during a disaster. Following Hurricane Lenny, attempts were unsuccessful to arrange a temporary third-party agreement between Saba and the US, despite efforts by ARRL and the Hurricane Watch Net. Those attending the session agreed that the benefits of such temporary agreements not only would help disaster recovery efforts but assist in dealing with handling health-and-welfare inquiries from the public via Amateur Radio.

In his presentation, American Red Cross Technical Communications Coordinator Steve Hailey, said Amateur Radio is a major resources for the Red Cross, especially right after a disaster. When the Amateur Radio station is activated at the Disaster Operations Center in Falls Church, Virginia, Hailey said, ARES/RACES provides the trained operators

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