SB QST @ ARL $ARLB040
ARLB040 Hurricane Watch Net Activated for Hurricane Keith

ZCZC AG40
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 40  ARLB040
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  October 2, 2000
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB040
ARLB040 Hurricane Watch Net Activated for Hurricane Keith

The Hurricane Watch Net and W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center
activated on 14.325 MHz over the weekend to monitor Hurricane Keith.
Right now, the storm remains stalled along the coast of Belize in
Central America with 80 MPH winds and is weakening slowly.
Reminiscent of Hurricane Mitch last year, the storm is dumping a lot
of rain on the region.

The National Weather Service is advising those in the northwestern
Caribbean and southern Gulf of Mexico to monitor the storm's
progress. Hurricane Keith could be downgraded to a tropical storm by
later today if it remains in place, but Hurricane Watch Net Manager
Jerry Herman, N3BDW, says the National Hurricane Center has been
relying on Amateur Radio field reports indicating the storm still
retains hurricane-force winds.

The Hurricane Watch Net activated September 30 at 1700 UTC to
collect reports via Amateur Radio for the National Hurricane Center.
Operators at the center gather the reports via W4EHW at the Center.

''Reports from Belize indicate extensive damage from wind and
flooding,'' Herman said October 2. ''Since the storm is sitting almost
stationary, I expect the full extent of the damage is not yet known
but that it will be catastrophic.'' He said the Net already has
gotten reports of homes and businesses destroyed.

Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, at the
National Hurricane Center, reports the Center continues to hear from
amateurs in Belize and Mexico.

Herman said the Net is attempting, whenever possible, to take
advantage of bilingual amateurs.

The Salvation Army Tactical Emergency Radio Network--SATERN--has
activated on 14.265 MHz to handle health-and-welfare requests and to
assist with relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Keith.

A Health and Welfare Network also will use the Web site
http://www.go.to/satern. This will provide a common area for Health
and Welfare information that all can use through the internet.

A VHF and a 40-meter net have been active in Mexico.
NNNN
/EX