The following is excerpted from CQ Contesting Editor David Siddall, K3ZJ's, August column:
On June 22, a tornado swept through the Maryland property of contester Frank Donovan, W3LPL, almost
completely destroying the trees in front of his house under which several
hundred contesters had sat just three days earlier at his annual open house.
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| Tornado: 1, 200-foot tower: 0 This is what was left of W3LPL's 10- and 6-meter tower after a tornado ripped through his property on June 22. (Photo courtesy W3LPL) |
One of Frank’s
nine towers collapsed, and at this writing, Frank is inspecting his
other towers and antennas for possible damage.
The collapsed 200-foot rotating tower had supported three stacked
8-element 10-meter Yagis on 48-foot booms and a 7-element six-meter
Yagi on a 24-foot boom. Fortunately
Frank’s house was not damaged and he and his wife were unscathed.
Frank vows to have a replacement
tower and antennas up and running by contest season. A video taken of his station during a visit
by K3LR and W8WWV just a couple of weeks before the tornado hit can be viewed
at: <https://youtu.be/m1PzsVtxROc> and pictures are on the W3LPL QRZ page.