SB QST @ ARL $ARLB031
ARLB031 Hurricane Watch Net Stands Down; Ham Radio Praised

ZCZC AG31
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 31  ARLB031
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  August 7, 2001
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB031
ARLB031 Hurricane Watch Net Stands Down; Ham Radio Praised

The Hurricane Watch Net has secured operation in response to
Tropical Storm Barry. The storm reached shore on the Florida
Panhandle. It's been downgraded to a tropical depression and now is
over Alabama. Manager Jerry Herman, N3BDW, says the net stood down
at 0300z August 7. There are no plans to resume operation. The
activation for Tropical Storm Barry at the request of the National
Hurricane Center in Miami marked the Net's first for the 2001
hurricane season.

While the Net was in operation, the National Hurricane Center
reported receiving many valuable reports via Amateur Radio to the
Center's W4EHW and called ham radio ''a vital link'' in its tracking
and forecasting efforts.

''Barry came ashore as a tropical storm after exhibiting explosive
growth early in the day on Sunday,'' Herman said. ''Normally the net
would only go into operation if the storm was a hurricane,'' Herman
said, ''but forecasters expected Barry to make hurricane strength
before landfall.'' The storm caused relatively minor damage but did
spawn heavy rain.

ARRL Northern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Nils Millergren,
WA4NDA, reported over the weekend that emergency operations centers
and some shelters opened in five counties, and Amateur Radio
Emergency Service members stood by to assist.
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