SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX011   
   ARLX011 Hurricane Watch Net Activating for Hermine, Hawaii Dodges Madeline,   
   SKYWARN Eyeing Lester   
      
   ZCZC AX11   
   QST de W1AW   
   Special Bulletin 11  ARLX011   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  September 1, 2016   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB SPCL ARL ARLX011   
   ARLX011 Hurricane Watch Net Activating for Hermine, Hawaii Dodges Madeline,   
   SKYWARN Eyeing Lester   
      
   The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) has announced plans to activate for Tropical   
   Storm Hermine at 1400 UTC. The storm is expected to develop into a hurricane   
   before making landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast. The net typically operates on   
   14.325 MHz until nightfall, then moves 7.268 MHz for the remainder of the   
   evening. Given current band conditions, however, the HWN will be active on   
   both frequencies simultaneously. The net will remain in operation until   
   further notice, HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said.   
      
   "It seems we've been tracking this system, which began as a tropical   
   disturbance, for nearly 2 weeks," Graves said. "Yesterday, this system finally   
   became Tropical Storm Hermine. It is expected to make landfall late Thursday   
   evening or early Friday morning as a Category 1 Hurricane somewhere between   
   Panama City Beach and Cedar Key, Florida...of course, this could change."   
      
   As of 1200 UTC, Hermine was reported strengthening. It's located about 235   
   miles west-southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 65 MPH, moving   
   north-northeast at 12 MPH. A Hurricane Warning is in effect from the Suwannee   
   River to Mexico Beach. The NWS said interests along the US East Coast should   
   monitor the progress of this system.   
      
   Graves said the HWN would be available to provide back-up communication to   
   entities such as emergency operations centers and Red Cross offices in the   
   affected area. "We will also be interested to collect and report significant   
   damage assessment data to FEMA officials stationed in the National Hurricane   
   Center," he added.   
      
   Florida's Emergency Operations Center is at full activation, and evacuation   
   shelters are on standby.   
      
   SKYWARN Tracking Pacific Hurricane Lester   
      
   ARRL Pacific Section Emergency Coordinator Clement Jung, KH7HO, said the   
   National Weather Service (NWS) will activate SKYWARN for Hurricane Lester at   
   1800 UTC on Saturday, September 3, continuing   
   until midnight on Sunday, September 4. All four Amateur Radio Emergency   
   Service (ARES) districts on the Big Island of Hawaii remain in active status   
   for Hurricane Lester, to support each other and served agencies. KH6SW remains   
   on the air from the NWS Honolulu Forecast Office on HF, VHF, and UHF.   
      
   The NWS reports that a weakening Madeline, now a tropical storm, was passing   
   "well south of the Big Island," with maximum sustained winds of 50 MPH, but   
   the storm was dumping a lot of rain on the Big Island, and a flood advisory   
   was in effect for some areas. Predictions call for up to 10 inches of rain,   
   and possibly more.   
      
   Hurricane Lester, now a Category 2 storm, continues its westward movement   
   toward the Hawaiian Islands. As of 0900 UTC, Lester was some 800 miles east of   
   Hilo and 1030 miles east of Honolulu, boasting maximum sustained winds of 110   
   MPH. The storm is moving at 14 MPH. Some weakening was forecast through late   
   Friday. No watches or warnings are in effect.   
      
   ARES teams remain ready to initiate local repeater nets, holding 146.52 MHz   
   simplex in reserve in case repeaters go down. Plans call for using HF (7.180   
   and 3.975 MHz) to relay traffic via Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS)   
   nets to the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency Emergency Operations Center   
   (EOC). SKYWARN traffic will use Fldigi MT63 1KL or voice on 7.080 MHz (USB),   
   with 3.888 MHz (LSB) as an alternate frequency, and 7.095 MHz available to   
   support informal and tactical traffic.   
      
   Public schools in Hawaii remained closed on September 1, and Hawaii Gov David   
   Inge has urged residents of the Big Island to take steps to protect people and   
   property. Some government offices and businesses also have closed. A dozen   
   schools have been designated to serve as emergency evacuation shelters.   
      
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... We must be governed by reason, not ruled by religion.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)