The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is celebrating its 50th straight season of serving the National Hurricane Center in Miami, and it’s starting the 2014 Hurricane Season with an additional title — NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador. NOAA launched the Weather-Ready Nation initiative to “improve the nation’s readiness, responsiveness and overall resilience against extreme weather, water and climate events.” As a WRN Ambassador, the HWN is committed to working with NOAA to assist in effort to make the nation better ready to handle severe or extreme weather.

“One of the most severe weather events is the hurricane, and Amateur Radio’s ability to communicate under extremely stressful conditions has helped spread information into the affected areas and receive critical reports to be relayed to the National Hurricane Center,” HWN Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. “Amateur Radio operators are still able to get through in spite of challenges presented by loss of power, high wind, and storm surge.”

Graves said that by incorporating the Weather-Ready Ambassador message, the Hurricane Watch Net will help to spread the word about preparedness for severe weather.

Founded by Jerry Murphy, K8YUW, in 1965 during Hurricane Betsy, the HWN has continued to operate during every hurricane threatening land in the Atlantic, Caribbean Basin, and Gulf of Mexico, and has established a formal association with the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The Net activates on 14.325 MHz whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of projected landfall or becomes a serious threat to a populated area.