06/16/2021

The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and continues through November
30, and two named storms have already shown up, although neither threatened the
US. There's still time to consider making sure you, your family, and your ham
station are prepared. Remember, your family's safety comes first.

Your first stop should be a visit to the National Weather Service (NWS) page
for personal and family hurricane season preparedness[1]. Next, prepare your
amateur radio station and equipment for possible service and/or deployment. For
example, be sure to have multiple sources of back-up power, such as batteries
and generators, and test them both to make sure they'll do the job, if needed.
Never test or run a generator indoors or in an enclosed area where anyone may
be nearby.

"I poured fresh gasoline into my Honda EG2800i generator and ran it for 30
minutes to check its status, which was good," said Rick Palm, K1CE, author of
QST's "Public Service" column. "I mounted my generator on a small utility
trailer for deployment, if necessary. The generator is rated for 120 V at 20.8
A."

Make sure you can take down and reinstall antennas quickly and efficiently when
there's a threat of severe storms. VHF antennas mounted on masts and typical HF
dipoles can be taken down and put up in minutes.

Also, test all radios and peripherals, especially those you may not use on a
routine basis but might want during a severe weather emergency. This might
include handheld transceivers (especially for VHF and UHF) and any HF gear than
can easily run from emergency power sources

Know the name, call sign, and email address of both your ARRL Section Manager
(SM) and Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC). Keep a list of emergency and
public safety nets handy.

Some hams establish a "hardened" facility that's essentially stormproof, with
ham gear installed inside. Rick uses a heavy steel shipping container, suitably
anchored. (Read "Shipping Containers for Sheltering Stations and Operators at
Deployment Sites" in the September 2020 "Public Service" column for more
information on using shipping containers for emergency shelter, including
container safety.) The typical garden shed would likely not suffice.

In addition, look for local/regional nets before a serious storm strikes, to
learn or practice net procedure and get acquainted with all the players you
might work with in a disaster: net and emergency managers, Red Cross, Community
Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Amateur Radio Emergency Service¿ (ARES), and
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) communicators. Obtain and learn
how to use Winlink HF mail.

"The advantages are clear, and that's why the Red Cross and others embrace
Winlink," Palm says in the July 2021 "Public Service" column. He went on to
say, "There is a learning curve to gaining Winlink proficiency, however. It's
not a system for spontaneous volunteers." On-air training is available.

The National Weather Service offers information[2] on personal and family
hurricane season preparedness.     

[1] http://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness
[2] http://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness

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