Hurricane Watch Net – Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Watch Net

Monday, September 26, 2022 @ 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC)

The Hurricane Watch Net is Active as of 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) this morning. We are operating on 14.325.00 MHz. At the this of this post, Ian is a Cat 1 Hurricane and forecast to rapidly intensify into a powerful Cat 3 Hurricane later today.

This morning, we hope to receive weather data from the Cayman Islands and forward those reports to the forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. This Later today, we will be receiving reports from Cuba and forwarding those reports to NHC as well. Additionally, we will be reading the latest advisories issued on Ian as well as handline any outgoing Health & Welfare Traffic.

Once Ian has passed by Cuba, we post our plans of Activation as Ian takes aim at Florida.

Activation Plans for Today and Tuesday:

  • Net Activation on Monday at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) on 14.325.00 MHz. Remain active until we lose propagation.
  • Activate Monday evening on 7.268.00 MHz at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC). Remain active overnight or until we lose propagation. If propagation lasts overnight, we will close before the WaterWay Net needs to start.
  • Resume operations Tuesday morning on 14.325.00 MHz at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC). Remain active until we lose propagation.
  • Activate our 40-meter Net on 7.268.00 MHz at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC). Remain active until midnight eastern.

Tuesday afternoon, we will post an update to our Activation plans as Ian is expected to make landfall somewhere along the Florida west coast or possibly the panhandle.

When active, we:

  • Disseminate the latest advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL. We do so for marine interests, Caribbean Island and Central American nations, and other interests where public media is not readily available.
  • Obtain real-time ground-level weather conditions and initial damage assessments from amateur radio operators in the affected area and relay that information to the National Hurricane Center by way of WX4NHC, and when required, the Canadian Hurricane Centre.
  • Function as a backup communication link for the National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service Forecast Offices, the Canadian Hurricane Centre, Emergency Operation Centers, Emergency Management Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, and other vital interests, which can involve military relief operations, involved in the protection of life and property before, during, and after a hurricane event.
  • Additionally, we assist in the handling of outgoing Health & Welfare Traffic from the affected area as members of the SATERN Net are on frequency standing by to handle such.

Any changes to our plans will be posted on our website homepage of www.hwn.org and our Facebook page.

On behalf of the Management and Net Members of the Hurricane Watch Net, our sincere thanks to everyone who uses 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz for various Nets and rag-chews to allow us to use the frequency. Having a clear frequency certainly makes our job easier, and we know those in the affected area greatly appreciate it as well!

Our prayers for those who could be affected by Ian. HWN is prepared, ready to serve, and do what we can to help save lives.

Kind Regards and God Bless,
Bobby Graves – KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net

Author: WT5X