SB QST @ ARL $ARLB092 ARLB092 Hurricane Watch Net keeping eye on Mitch ZCZC AG92 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 92 ARLB092 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT October 28, 1998 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB092 ARLB092 Hurricane Watch Net keeping eye on Mitch Since activating October 24, the Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz has been tracking Hurricane Mitch--still an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm--as it moves toward landfall either in Belize or in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. ''Our operation is proceeding well,'' Hurricane Watch Net Manager Jerry Herman, N3BDW, said Tuesday. He said the net has had very good response from Honduras and Belize. ''We have some stations that we have been working with that are in harms way.'' Herman said the main concern was to ensure that stations--and residents--had sufficient information about storm surges and winds so they can seek shelter. The storm has sustained winds in excess of 155 MPH. Guatemala, to the south, also was bracing for possible storm effects. Some Hurricane Watch Net participants in the US and Caribbean have had less than a month to recover from the marathon Hurricane Georges operation, but Herman says all the regulars are ''refreshed and ready to go.'' For much of the day, the slow-moving storm's center has remained over water. ''The one exception was Swan Island--of DX fame--where the eye passed directly overhead,'' Herman said. ''We were able to relay the warnings through VE3MCM/HR who, in turn, relayed them to the people on the island via nonamateur SSB radio.'' Herman reports that Balta Sanchez, XE1UNR, has established the Mexican Hurricane Net on 7055 kHZ and has been forwarding reports from the Yucatan to the Hurricane Watch Net via radio and e-mail. ''We also have had good support from a number of Cuban stations who have acted as interpreters from English to Spanish for us,'' Herman added. ''This looks like it will be another prolonged operation.'' During the past weekend, Herman said, the net had good participation from Jamaica, the Caymans, and Cuba. He reports that most operators during the CQ WW SSB contest were very cooperative and made room for the net. NNNN /EX