Hurricane Watch Net Update on Grace and Henri

The following is from Hurricane Watch Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV:

The Hurricane Watch Net will activate for Hurricane Grace at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) August 20 on 14.325.00 MHz and continue on this frequency until we lose propagation. We will startup on 7.268.00 MHz at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC) and continue for as long as we have propagation. Grace, as of 1800 UTC, is a Category 1 Hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph, is expected to make landfall sometime around midnight local time between Túxpam and Veracruz. Henri, a Tropical Storm, forecast to become a Hurricane later today, is expected to hit the New England area on Sunday. Therefore, we will activate Sunday morning at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) on 14.325.00 MHz and remain active there as long as propagation allows. We will start up on 7.268.00 MHz at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC) and remain active there until we lose propagation. If required, we will resume operations on Monday beginning at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) on 14.325.00 MHz As with any Net Activation, we welcome your observed ground-truth data from those in the affected area. The information forecasters at the National Hurricane Center need includes Wind Speed, Wind Gust, Wind Direction, Barometric Pressure – if available, Rainfall, Damage, and Storm Surge. Measured weather data is always appreciated but we do accept estimated. We are also available to provide backup communications to official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers, Red Cross officials, and Storm Shelters in the affected area. We also collect and forward significant damage assessment data to FEMA officials stationed in the National Hurricane Center. Once we have completed operations for Grace, we will shift our focus to Herni. Henri is expected to make landfall in the New England area on Sunday. We will announce activation plans for Henri as soon as possible. We are quickly approaching the heart of hurricane season. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you have a Family Emergency Plan in place as well as reviewing your Emergency Supply Checklist. If you don’t have one of each already, you can download them from our website homepage, www.hwn.org.