TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 621.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 292d5923   
   PID: Synchronet 3.20a-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.20-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
      
   SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX008   
   ARLX008 Hurricane Watch Net Seeks Bilingual Net Control Operators   
      
   ZCZC AX08   
   QST de W1AW    
   Special Bulletin 8  ARLX008   
   From ARRL Headquarters    
   Newington CT  July 31, 2023   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB SPCL ARL ARLX008   
   ARLX008 Hurricane Watch Net Seeks Bilingual Net Control Operators   
      
   The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is looking for new members who are   
   willing to train to become Net Control Operators. HWN is especially   
   interested in recruiting bilingual operators who are fluent in   
   Spanish and English or French/Creole and English. Net Control   
   responsibilities can entail hours of duty to ensure all received   
   ground-truth weather reports are forwarded directly to the National   
   Hurricane Center in Miami.   
      
   The net generally activates whenever a system has achieved hurricane   
   status and is within 300 statute miles of a populated landmass. This   
   can vary, however, due to the forward speed and intensity of a   
   storm, or at the request of the forecasters at the National   
   Hurricane Center. Once activated, the HWN continuously operates   
   until a storm is no longer a threat to life and property.   
      
   The mission of the net is to disseminate the latest advisories   
   issued by the National Hurricane Center, and to obtain real-time,   
   ground-level weather conditions and initial damage assessments from   
   amateur radio operators in the affected areas. The net then relays   
   that information to the National Hurricane Center by way of WX4NHC,   
   and when required, the Canadian Hurricane Centre.   
      
   It also functions as a backup communication link for the National   
   Hurricane Center, National Weather Service Forecast Offices, the   
   Canadian Hurricane Centre, Emergency Operations Centers, emergency   
   management agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other vital   
   interests that can involve military relief operations. Such   
   operations can be involved in the protection of life and property   
   before, during, and after a hurricane event.   
      
   HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, says training will be provided and   
   each candidate will go through a probationary period with a mentor.   
   Graves, an ARRL member, says an applicant's station must be   
   reliable. "While having a tower, beam, and/or amplifier is not a   
   requirement, your station must allow you to hear and be heard.   
   Therefore, directional antennas and amplifiers are preferred," he   
   said.   
      
   The net coverage area includes the hurricane-prone areas of eastern   
   Canada, the US East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America, and   
   the Caribbean. The net specifically seeks applicants in the   
   middle-to-western sections of the US, Canada, Central America, and   
   the Caribbean. "As always, the HWN is hoping for a quiet season, yet   
   [we are] prepared for the worst," said Graves.   
      
   Those interested in learning more can visit the HWN Net Control   
   Information web page at, https://hwn.org/about-us/ncs_info.html .   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
   --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32   
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