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KF5JRV > ARES 07.10.16 01:44l 33 Lines 1992 Bytes #999 (0) @ USA
BID : 3166_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Florida ARES Acitvation
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N9PMO<NS2B<N0KFQ<KF5JRV
Sent: 161007/0033Z 3166@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQK6.0.13
The entire State of Florida was placed under an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
Level 1 -- or full -- activation on October 6, as Hurricane Matthew headed for landfall in the
US. The category 4 storm has already caused more than 100 deaths, most of them in
Haiti, as it moved northward through the Caribbean. The Northern Florida ARES Net was
called up on 3950 or 7252 kHz -- depending upon propagation -- and will remain
operational for the duration of the threat.
"This net is for life safety communications," ARRL Northern Florida Section Manager
Steve Szabo, WB4OMM, stressed. "This net is not for collecting weather data, idle
conversations, or 'chit chat.'" The Statewide Amateur Radio Network (SARnet) also
has been activated for statewide use for life safety communications, continuing
until terminated. SARnet is a network of linked UHF repeaters serving Florida.
"Hurricane Matthew relentlessly pounding the Bahamas...potentially disastrous
impacts for Florida," is how the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami
characterized the storm, which, at 1800 UTC, was about 65 miles
south-southeast of Nassau, the Bahamas, and 125 miles east-southeast of
West Palm Beach, Florida. Matthew has maximum sustained winds of
140 MPH and is moving northwest at 14 MPH.
The NHC has predicted that Hurricane Matthew is expected to first reach
hurricane warning areas in Florida by late today and will spread northward
within the warning area through Friday. Tropical storm conditions are first
expected in Florida within the next several hours. Hurricane conditions
are possible in the hurricane watch area in northeast Georgia and
South Carolina by early Saturday, with tropical storm conditions possible
on Friday night.
More than 3,000 Florida residents already had evacuated to shelters
by October 6, according to FEMA. Florida Gov Rick Scott said residents
should prepare for a direct hit on the state. "This is serious," he
said. "Don't take a chance."
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