Hurricane Watch Net

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

Woke to the glowing screen discussing upcoming hurricane season and necessary preps.

Found it interesting Florida has a tax holiday for purchase of such preps -- plywood, chain saws, water and other necessaries.

When a hurricane is nearing landfall, the Hurricane Watch Net activates and can be heard on ham radio, shortwave receiver (with upper/lower sideband capability) or over the Net.

Link:

How to listen to Hurricane Watch Net frequencies | The SWLing Post

When we have severe weather here in the Yankee North, we activate our local Weather Net on the two meter band; I've participated more times than I can count, also in formal message handling courtesy the Burning River Traffic Net.

I handled messages from many disasters, my favorite was out of a tornado strike out West: stripped of its header and other identifiers, the message was, and I quote:

"It's a Boy!"

The Hurricane Watch Net is boots on the ground reporting from the strike zone itself. 

Now to improve my antenna, recent high winds broke the anchor line and my wire antenna sagged to the sod ... I have an idea how to improve things and gain a significant vertical component ... but right now my idea is in the "Sounds good when you say it fast!" stage!

 

[Cypress Sun]

I wish it included plywood, chainsaws, water and the like...it doesn't. It does include the items below and some pet supplies. Still a good gesture to make people get somewhat prepared for what looks to be a busy hurricane season. Thanks for the post Linn

 

Here’s what it includes:

• Self-powered lights of $40 or less.
• Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio or weather-band radio of $50 or less.
• A tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or less.
• An item normally sold as, or generally advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit with a sales price of $100 or less.
• A gas or diesel fuel tank with a sales price of $50 or less.
• A package of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less.
• A nonelectric food storage cooler with a sales price of $60 or less.
• A portable generator used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less.
• Reusable ice with a sales price of $20 or less.
• A portable power bank with a sales price of $60 or less.
• A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a sales price of $70 or less.
• A fire extinguisher with a sales price of $70 or less.
• A carbon monoxide detector with a sales price of $70 or less.

[Calamity Kris]

Yes we keep prepared, as we did for earthquakes in Cali.  There are a few last minute things we're going to pick up like additional propane cylinders etc.  Other than that, we're good to go and are as ready as we can be for a busy season.  I pray all of our prep is for naught.

[Cypress Sun]

 

I can't remember if it was Hurricane Elena or a no name Low that came out of the Gulf in the Fall/Winter (after or before official hurricane season) but I replaced the receptacles in a house located on salt water that was flooded. It was owned by the original owner/builder of the house...a legit, multi-generational Floridian.

 

Due to the number of dwellings that were flooded, I had worked on three or four same type replacements prior to his. He was the only one that wasn't in either a 'tizzy' or a 'snit' over the flooding. He was just sitting there on his front porch in a lawn chair. After a little conversation, he said "Just replace the ones below the watermark."  I did.

 

It wasn't a big house, maybe 800 sq. ft., so there were about 20 various devices to replace. When I finished up, I added up the bill, presented it to him and told him "Out of all the calls related to the storm, you are the only one that's been calm."

 

He said "Son, when you live on the water...sooner or later, you live in the water."

 

 

[Chief Rick]

7 hours ago, Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103 said:

 

Now to improve my antenna, recent high winds broke the anchor line and my wire antenna sagged to the sod ... I have an idea how to improve things and gain a significant vertical component ... but right now my idea is in the "Sounds good when you say it fast!" stage!

 

I just ordered 1000' of antenna wire from DX Engineering.  Supposed to be here Tuesday.

 

I also just received a 49:1 Balun I ordered two weeks ago.

 

Plan to string up an EFHW for 80 meters, sloping from 10' off the ground to ~20' off the ground.

 

This is my first foray into HF, so...

 

I really want to a Yaesu FT-891 Mobile radio to make a go-bag, but that's going to have to wait for more funds to become available.

[Sedalia Dave]

On 6/1/2024 at 11:08 AM, Cypress Sun said:

He said "Son, when you live on the water...sooner or later, you live in the water."

 

 

 Which is why I’ll always live where the land is above the high water mark by a good margin. 

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

On 6/1/2024 at 1:59 PM, Chief Rick said:

I just ordered 1000' of antenna wire from DX Engineering.  Supposed to be here Tuesday.

 

I also just received a 49:1 Balun I ordered two weeks ago.

 

Plan to string up an EFHW for 80 meters, sloping from 10' off the ground to ~20' off the ground.

 

This is my first foray into HF, so...

 

I really want to a Yaesu FT-891 Mobile radio to make a go-bag, but that's going to have to wait for more funds to become available.

That antenna, in that config, should seize a signal with both hands and DRAG it over the horizon to you!

Well chosen, excellent elevations!

DX Engineering is "good people," I've shipped them my shekels without hesitation in the past!

(Unfortunately know what you mean about waiting for funds availability ... you'll be happy with the FT-891!)