Hurricane Dean Communications Update

[DERA Operations Center]

Hurricane Dean Communications Operations
August 19th, 2007
WX4NHC ANNOUNCEMENT – HURRICANE DEAN OPERATIONS

Released August 18, 2007, 1 PM EDT

PLEASE RELAY TO STATIONS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.



DEAN IS NOW A VERY STRONG CATEGORY-4 HURRICANE WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 150 MPH AND FORECAST TO TRACK OVER JAMAICA AND THE CAYMANS ISLANDS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY.



WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami will reactivate operations sunday, AUGUST 19th at 8 AM EDT (1200z) and continue operations through Tuesday August 22nd as Dean is forecast to track over the Yucatan Peninsula.



We would appreciate weather data AND DAMAGE reports from land based stations and ships IN the affected area.

If you are in the affected area and normally stay on a local Net on VHF, 40 or 80 meters, we would appreciate your checking into the HWN NET or EchoLink/IRLP Net once per Hour TO RECEIVE THE LATEST HURRICANE ADVISORIES AND TO report your LOCAL conditions.

Please do not venture outside during the hurricane to gather weather data.

Your safety is the first priority.



There are many constantly changing atmospheric variables that affect the storm’s track and strength.

Please refer to the National Hurricane Center Advisories for official information. www.nhc.noaa.gov



WX4NHC will be monitoring the Hurricane Watch Net www.hwn.org on 14.325 MHz.

Secondary HF frequencies will be 7.268 MHz and 3.950 MHz +/- QRM, should we loose propagation on 20 meters.



EchoLink WX-Talk Conference Room and IRLP node 9219 will also be monitored. www.voipwx.net



WX4NHC will also monitor CWOP, APRS and MADIS/MESONET Automated weather stations in the affected area.



Surface Reports using our On-line Hurricane Report form will be monitored.

Amateur Weather Enthusiasts and ON-NHC Volunteers may report directly to WX4NHC on-line.

http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html



ON-NHC Volunteers are both Ham Radio Operators and Non-Ham weather observers that use their own weather instruments to submit “Surface Reports” directly to NHC over the Internet via the WX4NHC on-line report form. These “Surface Reports” are very important as they give Hurricane Specialists at NHC a better idea of what is actually happening on the ground level during the storm.



The WX4NHC Group continues to expand its efforts to increase the quantity and quality of surface reports to include many different modes of reception and groups of people; including HF, VHF/UHF IRLP & EchoLink, VHF & HF APRS, CWOP NOAA Program and ON-NHC Weather Observers Network.

(see our web site for more information on these programs): www.wx4nhc.org



WX4NHC is very proud to have maintained an active Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center for the past 27 years.

We appreciate all of the volunteers who help with our efforts.


OUR MISSION: TO HELP SAVE LIVES.

//RELAY BY DERA OPS CTR//

BT

EOT

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