Hello to all….

At 11 PM EDT/0300 UTC, the Hurricane Dean VoIP Hurricane Dean activation was secured for Jamaica. A new activation will be started informally on Monday at 6 AM EDT/1000 UTC and formally start at 8 AM EDT/1200 UTC and could potentially last into early afternoon as Dean makes his closest approach to the Cayman Islands. Stations in the affected area or stations with relays into the affected area can give their reports on EchoLink *WX-TALK* Conference Node: 7203 and IRLP reflector 9219.

The next activation after Monday is expected early Tuesday Morning lasting through Tuesday Evening as Dean is expected to make landfall somewhere on the Yucatan Peninsula and sustain hurricane conditions on both the east and west sides of the Yucatan. The final activation for Dean should take place Wednesday as its expected that Dean will make landfall in the Southeast part of mainland Mexico. WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida, will be active across much of these timeframes per coordination with Julio Ripoll-WD4R, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator.

The VoIP Hurricane Net has obtained links into the affected area who will be relaying reports from their area and from other sources. XE2WCG-Carlos and XE2ZQ-Guillermo will be assisting in these efforts.

Please note that the track, speed and intensity of Dean could cause changes in activation plans. Updates will be posted whenever time allows.

We now have 2 streaming audio links working as a means to listen to the net thanks to Tony Langdon-VK3JED, VoIP Hurricane Net Technical Coordinator and log time net supporter Lu Vencl-KA4EPS. The information is listed below along with listen only EchoLink and IRLP systems.

The reporting criteria and activation policy for our net during hurricane net activations as well as National Hurricane Center Advisory information can be found on our web site at http://www.voipwx.net

Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems:

IRLP:
Reflector 9508 Sydney Australia Reflector channel 8.
Reflector 9129 New England Reflector channel 9.

EchoLink:
*KC4QLP-C* Node: 290251
*VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177
*N5API* Node: 77433
*WASH_DC* Node: 6154

Streaming Audio feeds are now available and links have been added to the web site:
VK3JED Audio Streaming Link

KA4EPS Audio Streaming Link

Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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Hello to all….

…VoIP Hurricane Net Activation to Commence at 8 AM EDT/1200 UTC Sunday August 19th, 2007 for Hurricane Dean’s impact on Jamaica as there are EchoLink and IRLP nodes in the affected area….

The VoIP Hurricane Net in coordination with WX4NHC will be activating at 8 AM EDT/1200 UTC to support WX4NHC with surface/meterological reports from stations in the affected area on *WX-TALK* node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219. Impact to Jamaica is expected Sunday with impact to the Cayman Islands on Monday.

As of 11am EDT / 15:00 UTC…Hurricane warnings have been issued for Jamaica. Hurricane warnings remain in effect for the south coast of the Dominican Republic and for the Southwestern peninsula of Haiti. Tropical Storm warnings are also in effect for other areas of the Caribbean. The center of Hurricane Dean was located near 15.7 North and 68.6 West or about 565 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Dean is moving toward the west near 17mph and a west or west-northwest motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. This puts the core of the hurricane south of Hispaniola today and early Sunday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 150mph making Dean a major and extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane. Fluctuations in strength are possible and Dean could reach Category 5 strength prior to hitting Jamaica, however little overall change in strength is expected. Estimated minimum central pressure is 929mb or 27.43 inches. Complete information on Dean can be found at the National Hurricane Center Webpage www.nhc.noaa.gov.

We are currently making contact with Amateurs in Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Any stations with contacts in that area are urged to assist us by relaying reports from those contacts in the affected area wherever possible. It is possible we may have a few of these stations on our weekly net this evening if they are not too busy preparing for this dangerous hurricane.

The reporting criteria and activation policy for our net during hurricane net activations can be found on our web site at http://www.voipwx.net

Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems:

IRLP:
Reflector 9508 Sydney Australia Reflector channel 8.
Reflector 9129 New England Reflector channel 9.

EchoLink:
*KC4QLP-C* Node: 290251
*VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177
*N5API* Node: 77433

Below is the WX4NHC Activation Announcement as provided by Julio Ripoll-WD4R, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator:

WX4NHC ANNOUNCEMENT – HURRICANE DEAN OPERATIONS
Released August 18, 2007, 1 PM EDT

PLEASE RELAY TO STATIONS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.

DEAN IS NOW A VERY STRONG CATEGORY-4 HURRICANE WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 150 MPH AND FORECAST TO TRACK OVER JAMAICA AND THE CAYMANS ISLANDS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami will reactivate operations sunday, AUGUST 19th at 8 AM EDT (1200z) and continue operations through Tuesday August 22nd as Dean is forecast to track over the Yucatan Peninsula.

We would appreciate weather data AND DAMAGE reports from land based stations and ships IN the affected area.

If you are in the affected area and normally stay on a local Net on VHF, 40 or 80 meters, we would appreciate your checking into the HWN NET or EchoLink/IRLP Net once per Hour TO RECEIVE THE LATEST HURRICANE ADVISORIES AND TO report your LOCAL conditions.

Please do not venture outside during the hurricane to gather weather data.

Your safety is the first priority.

There are many constantly changing atmospheric variables that affect the storm’s track and strength.

Please refer to the National Hurricane Center Advisories for official information. www.nhc.noaa.gov

WX4NHC will be monitoring the Hurricane Watch Net www.hwn.org on 14.325 MHz.

Secondary HF frequencies will be 7.268 MHz and 3.950 MHz +/- QRM, should we loose propagation on 20 meters.

EchoLink WX-Talk Conference Room and IRLP node 9219 will also be monitored. www.voipwx.net

WX4NHC will also monitor CWOP, APRS and MADIS/MESONET Automated weather stations in the affected area.

Surface Reports using our On-line Hurricane Report form will be monitored.

Amateur Weather Enthusiasts and ON-NHC Volunteers may report directly to WX4NHC on-line.

http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html

ON-NHC Volunteers are both Ham Radio Operators and Non-Ham weather observers that use their own weather instruments to submit “Surface Reports” directly to NHC over the Internet via the WX4NHC on-line report form. These “Surface Reports” are very important as they give Hurricane Specialists at NHC a better idea of what is actually happening on the ground level during the storm.

The WX4NHC Group continues to expand its efforts to increase the quantity and quality of surface reports to include many different modes of reception and groups of people; including HF, VHF/UHF IRLP & EchoLink, VHF & HF APRS, CWOP NOAA Program and ON-NHC Weather Observers Network.

(see our web site for more information on these programs): www.wx4nhc.org

WX4NHC is very proud to have maintained an active Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center for the past 27 years.

We appreciate all of the volunteers who help with our efforts.

OUR MISSION: TO HELP SAVE LIVES.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org

National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net 1 1
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Hello to all….

We have secured the VoIP Hurricane Net activation for Hurricane Dean as it crossed through the islands of Martinique, Dominica, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Barbados and surrounding islands. Damage reports were fairly significant with reports of structural damage to a children’s hospital on St. Lucia, several roofs blown off homes in Dominica with wind gusts exceeding hurricane force and significant damage in St. Vincent. Phone systems were affected in some areas of Dominica with phone service lost entirely on the island of Martinique.

You can view the reports that were received via the VoIPWXNet web site at http://www.voipwx.net and by clicking Report Viewer off the Main Menu. It lists specific reports from the Hurricane Dean activation as well as Hurricane Flossie.

A huge thank you to Clem James-J73CI, Joseph Russell-J73RJ from Dominica and Julien Dedier-9Z4FZ from Trinidad for all their reporting into the VoIP Hurricane Net. This is serving in WX4NHC, the National Hurricane Center Ham station’s mission of helping to save lives.

Dean’s path will be taking it close to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The potential currently exists for activation of WX4NHC and the VoIP Hurricane Net on Sunday for these areas. Further details will follow in future email updates on Hurricane Dean.

Thanks to all for their continued support of VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net 1
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Hello to all….

Dean has now become a hurricane with maximum sustained winds as of the 11 AM EDT advisory of 90 MPH. It’s track is expected to take the system through the Netherland Antilles with Dominica and Martinique bearing a potential direct hit from Hurricane Dean and other surrounding islands will also feel the impact of Dean.

Given there are EchoLink and IRLP stations in the affected area of Hurricane Dean, the VoIP Hurricane Net on Echolink *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 will activate. The start time for activation has changed. The start time of the activation for the threat of Hurricane Dean to the Caribbean islands will now be 2 AM EDT/0600 UTC. This could be subject to change based on the speed of Dean.

The Amateur Radio Coordinators for WX4NHC have indicated that they will also be activating for Hurricane Dean and man the station at the National Hurricane Center. In talking with Julio Ripoll, WD4R, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator, the start time of their activation will be 6 AM EDT/1000 UTC. This could be subject to change based on the speed of Dean. When an updated announcement on the WX4NHC Activation is provided, this VoIP Hurricane Net activation notice will be updated.

We have made contact with Clem James-J73CI who is on the island of Dominica. Clem has worked with us on several VoIP Hurricane Net activations for this area over the years and were happy that he will be able to help us once again. Other Amateurs from surrounding islands will be contacted to assist in relaying reports to the VoIP Hurricane Net.

The reporting criteria and activation policy for our net during hurricane net activations can be found on our web site at http://www.voipwx.net

Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems:

IRLP:
Reflector 9508 Sydney Australia Reflector channel 8.
Reflector 9129 New England Reflector channel 9.

EchoLink:
*KC4QLP-C* Node: 290251
*VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177
*N5API* Node: 77433

If any Amateurs have contacts with Dominica, Martinique and surrounding Caribbean islands and can relay reports from there, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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Hello to all….

The VoIP Hurricane Net Activation for Hurricane Flossie was featured on the ARRL web site this morning. See link below for information:

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/08/15/100/?nc=1

Special thanks to Dennis Dura-K2DCD, Assistant Director of VoIP Hurricane Net Operations for his support at ARRL Headquarters for the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane Net
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Hello to all….

In the Central Pacific, Hurricane Flossie was downgraded to a tropical storm at 0900 UTC by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical storm force wind gusts occurred over south and east parts of the big island of Hawaii but no significant damage occurred. Reports were received via reflector 9254 and 9219 from KH6SW-NWS Honolulu and the Hilo EOC. Special thanks to Connie-NH7IE, Jack-KH6DQ who operated at NWS Honolulu, Hawaii and Bob-AH6J and AH6JA-Harvey who operated at the Hilo EOC for their reports and information. The VoIP Hurricane Net activation was secured at 0900 UTC upon a downgrade of Flossie to a Tropical Storm.

Turning our attention to the active Atlantic and Gulf, Tropical Storm Dean is expected to undergo further strengthening and become the first Atlantic Hurricane of the 2007 season. The potential exists for Dean to become a major hurricane. Dean could potentially track through the island of Martinique and surrounding islands during the day on Friday. The potential exists for VoIP Hurricane Net activation on Friday as this system makes its way through the Caribbean islands. Further updates will be posted on Dean over the next couple of days.

Tropical Depression #5 has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Depression #5 has the potential to become a tropical storm before making landfall north of Brownsville Texas late Thursday Afternoon. If TD-5 strengthens as anticipated, it would be named Erin. At this time, this system is not expected to reach hurricane strength.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team continued to monitor developments in the Tropics. At this time, we are particularly interested in hearing from stations in the Caribbean islands chain so that we can obtain reports from that area for WX4NHC for a potential passage of Dean as a hurricane on Friday. Please contact, Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net, Rob Macedo-KD1CY at kd1cy@voipwx.net or kd1cy@comcast.net if you’re in the Caribbean and can help. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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Hello to all….

TD #4 is now Tropical Storm Dean and is making its way towards the Caribbean islands. It is expected to become a hurricane and potentially affect portions of the Caribbean islands towards the end of the week. This system has the potential to cause a VoIP Hurricane Net activation in the Friday to Saturday timeframe.

Another system is potentially developing in the Gulf of Mexico. Further details/comments on that system will be made after the Recon mission this afternoon.

All people in the Caribbean islands through Puerto Rico should closely monitor the progress of Dean. All people in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico region should closely monitor the area of disturbed weather in the South-Central Gulf.

Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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Hello to all….

In coordination with Connie McCurdy-NH7IE, VoIP Hurricane Net Control Operator and member of Hawaii SKYWARN and RACES and Julio Ripoll-WD4R, WX4NHC, National Hurricane Center Coordinator, the VoIP Hurricane Net will activate informally starting at 4 AM EDT/0800 UTC to monitor the threat posed by Hurricane Flossie to the big island of Hawaii. The informal activation is expected last through Wednesday Morning at this time.

While reports will be funneled to the NWS Office in Honolulu, Hawaii which is colocated with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in the same building, in coordination with Julio Ripoll, there is interest in their team and the NHC in Miami in obtaining the reports. Reports will be forwarded by the VoIP Net NCO team to Julio and the NHC team by various means.

Hurricane Flossie has weakened to a Category 3 Hurricane but it remains a formidible system and a threat to the big island of Hawaii with at least tropical storm force conditions. Any track deviation to the north could pose a bigger threat to the big island of Hawaii. The center is currently expected to track only about 80-90 miles south of the big island of Hawaii. A deviation of as little as 50 miles north or south could be a huge change in the impact to the big island. The other islands in Hawaii are not expected to be seriously impacted by Flossie but this is also dependent on the eventual track of Flossie.

There are several IRLP nodes in Hawaii that will be utilized to connect into *WX-TALK Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 reflector system. Folks from Hawaii will either be on continuously or check-in periodically with the VoIP Net team to give their reports. Given only one island and marine interests will be affected at this time, there is most likely not going to be a large quantity of reports but the reports that are received will be vital. If the track is closer, more reports and information could potentially be received.

The reporting criteria and activation policy for our net during hurricane net activations can be found on our web site at http://www.voipwx.net

Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems:

IRLP:
Reflector 9508 Syndey Australia Reflector channel 8.
Reflector 9129 New England Reflector channel 9.

EchoLink:
*KC4QLP-C* Node: 290251
*VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177

It is possible that the *N5API* EchoLink Node: 77433 listen only conference may also be connected to the system as it has permission to connect.

If any Amateurs have contacts with Hawaii and can relay reports from there, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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Hello to all….

Tropical Depression (TD) #4 has formed in the Atlantic southwest of the Cape Verde Islands of Africa. TD #4 is expected to strengthen and has the potential to become the first hurricane of the 2007 season. If TD #4 strengthens as predicted, it would be named Dean. The system poses no immediate threat to land for the next several days but could become a threat to a land area towards the weekend or early next week.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team will continue to closely monitor the progress of this system. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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Hello to all….

At 11 AM EDT/1500 UTC Monday August 13th, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) based in Honolulu, Hawaii has issued a Hurricane Watch for the big island of Hawaii for Hurricane Flossie. Flossie remains an extremely dangerous Category IV hurricane. Flossie is expected to weaken as it approached the big island but has the potential to bring hurricane force conditions to the big island. The track and intensity of the system will ultimately determine the impact to the big island of Hawaii.

The VoIP Hurricane Net management team has been in daily contact with Connie McCurdy-NH7IE, a Net Control for the VoIP Hurricane Net who is from Hawaii and is involved with SKYWARN for NWS Honolulu, Hawaii. We have discussed and are prepared to offer our support in whatever manner she sees fit. The support model here is different since the CPHC is co-located with NWS Honolulu, HI but she has already mentioned the possible need for NCO support during their overnight hours.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team is closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane Flossie and may offer support to Hawaii SKYWARN and Civil Defense to the extent that it is needed. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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