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Amateur Radio Nets Active as Katrina Comes Ashore

NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 29, 2005--The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN), the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) and the West Gulf ARES Emergency Net (3.873 and 7.285 MHz) are among the primary Amateur Radio resources now actively involved in Amateur Radio's response to Hurricane Katrina. Now a somewhat weakened Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 125 MPH, Katrina was centered near Picayune, Mississippi, some 60 miles south-southwest of Hattiesburg, as of 1600 UTC. HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, says the net will remain on 14.325 MHz "as long as needed in support of those in the path of Hurricane Katrina." In addition, WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center has been on frequency to accept incoming ground-level weather data reports from HWN participants.

The projected path of Hurricane Katrina as of 1500 UTC today. The storm came ashore this morning. [NOAA Graphic]

"We will be particularly interested in collecting significant damage reports in the wake of the storm," Pilgrim said.

The SATERN International net is also active on 14.265 MHz to support health-and-welfare traffic and inquiries, and Pilgrim referred all such communications to that net. SATERN National Coordinator Pat McPherson, WW9E, says that in addition to the HF net, SATERN is operating an EchoLink conference node, K7CWA SATERN, to aid in Katrina response. "Hurricane traffic can be handled through the SATERN International Net on 14.265 MHz, via the EchoLink conference node and health-and-welfare traffic may also be handled through the SATERN Web site by clicking on the 'Health and Welfare' link," McPherson explained.

The HWN and SATERN nets were active through the weekend as Hurricane Katrina worked its way toward the Gulf Coast as a Category 5 hurricane. The West Gulf ARES Emergency Net was scheduled to commence today at 0500 UTC.

Stations not involved in emergency traffic or participating in the net are asked to give the operation a clear frequency. Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau said he does not anticipate the need for an Emergency Communications Declaration to accommodate HF emergency nets. "Section 97.101(c) gives priority to emergency communications at all times," he pointed out.

Efforts are under way by Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams in areas adjacent to Louisiana and Mississippi to have personnel in place to deploy to the affected area.

"Standard ARES mutual assistance rules are in effect," South Texas Section Emergency Coordinator Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, announced early today on behalf of his counterparts in Louisiana and Mississippi. Reimer emphasized that ARES volunteers intending to travel should not leave without specific instructions, however. "Once the storm passes and the local ARES leaders have a better feel for what resources are needed and where, that information will be provided," he said.

At this point, ARES leaders in nearby sections are identifying ARES volunteers who are qualified and willing to travel into the areas expected to be affected by the storm once the hurricane passes through. A Web site signup form is being developed and will be announced.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the north-central Gulf Coast, from Morgan City, Louisiana, eastward to the Alabama/Florida border, including the City of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Hurricane force winds are expected to spread as far as 150 miles inland along Katrina's path, while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.

Coastal storm-surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near the storm's center and to the east. "Storm surge flooding of 10 to 15 feet--near the tops of the levees--is still possible in the greater New Orleans area," the NHC said. "Significant storm-surge flooding is occurring elsewhere along the central and northeastern Gulf of Mexico coast." Rainfall of 5 to 10 inches, and possibly up to 15 inches in some areas, is possible along Katrina's path across the Gulf Coast and into the Tennessee Valley.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/08/29/2/?nc=1