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Hurricane Douglas - July 23, 2020+

Amateur radio operators throughout Hawaii responds to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Douglas that arrives in Hawaiian waters on Sunday July 20, 2020. This page provides progress information on the event. It is updated infrequently, so check the latest advisories from the National Weather Services and Emergency Management agencies. Last update is Fri Jul 24, 11:00 pm

Activities are chronicled here. It's not a question of "If", it's a question of "When".

Enjoy, and feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have any questions.


Overview

Early storm track forecasts had the track approaching the Hawaiian islands from the southeast.

JTWC TS 08 2020 Forecast 19

Hurricane Douglas information

Information on Hurricane Douglas and personal preparations can be found at these links:

Amateur Radio

The amateur radio leadership of NWS SKYWARN and Hawaii (State) Emergency Management Agency RACES and DEM (Department of Emergency Management) RACES coordinated a joint net for passing storm information to the National Weather Service Honolulu Forecast office at HIG Building, University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, with supplemental traffic for SCD and DEM. The repeaters of DEM RACES (Oahu County) and SCD were linked using ALL-STAR VOIP linking to create a eight node repeater cluster of both State-wide and around-the-island repeaters for Oahu for reporting and monitoring purposes.

Amateur radio operators participating in radio communications for Hurricane Douglas are encouraged to log their hours and report their hours as community volunteer participation. Send your time reports to your respective amateur radio operator lead.

The repeaters linked from State Civil Defense

  • 147.06+ PL 103.5, Diamond Head, Oahu
  • 444.325+ PL 103.5, Waimanalo, Oahu
  • 444.350+ PL 103.5, Diamond Head, Oahu

and Department of Emergency Management/EARC, Oahu County

  • 146.76- no PL, Mokuleia, Oahu
  • 146.64- PL 88.5, Laie, Oahu
  • 146.66- PL 88.5, Kailua, Oahu
  • 146.68- PL 88.5, Leeward Oahu
  • 146.88- PL 88.5, Diamond Head, Oahu
  • 146.98- PL 88.5, Frank Fasi Municipal Building, Oahu

Big island operations scheduled for:

  • 146.82-, BIWARN Mauna Loa
  • 146.76-, BIWARN Kulani Cone is currently stand-alone
  • 146.86- PL 100.0, Naalehu
  • 146.72-, HSVOAD Mauna Kea

HF operations were scheduled for:

  • 3880 kHz LSB, SKYWARN
  • 3993.5 kHz LSB, State Civil Defense RACES
  • 7080 kHz USB, SKYWARN (Monitor this frequency first)
  • 7088 kHz LSB, HI EMA RACES
  • 7095 kHz LSB, Hawaii County
  • 7178 kHz LSB, HI EMA RACES alternate
  • 7195 kHZ LSB, Hawaii County
  • TBD, DEM RACES
  • TBD, American Red Cross
  • TBD, Healthcomm

NWS SKYWARN

The Hawaii State VOAD repeater on 146.720- was turned on at 12 noon Saturday, July 25. SKWARN operation is scheduled to start on Sunday morning, July 26. Due to COVID-19, operators will monitor from home. The primary means of reporting is the SKYWARN 1-800 phone number.

Hawaii State Emergency Management Agency

HI EMA amateur radio operations will operate remotely from home, and submit radio message traffic to HI EMA EOC via WebEOC. HI EMA amateur radio operators will monitor the NWS SKYWARN net remotely and ready to provide additional assistance and relays of messages from SKYWARN to the HI EMA EOC. until the start of the HI EMA amateur radio net, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 6:00 am HST.

  • A joint SKYWARN/HI EMA amateur radio planning net was held on Friday, July 24, 7:00 pm and Saturday, July 25, 7:00 pm.

Hawaii County

HSVOAD Mauna Kea Repeater 146.72 MHz was turned on for Big Island traffic. Primary use is by HSVOAD and its member agencies including the local chapters of HSVOAD. Additionally, HCCDA has been granted secondary use on the 147.62 MHz repeater.

Maui County

Tom NH6Y is staffing the EOC. Stan KH6HHG is monitoring HF, VHF and DMR remotely.

Oahu County

DEM RACES is scheduled to start on Sunday morning, July 26, 2020 9:00 am.

American Red Cross plans to open nine shelters. Amateur radio operations will be as ARES. Operators are to report on Sunday at 7:00 am for start of operations at 9:00 am. Operators are expected to shelter at the shelter for the duration of the high wind and heavy rain event.

  • Campbell High School, pending an assignment
  • Hawaii Convention Center, no amateur radio operators needed
  • Pope Elementary, Keith WH7GG and WH6OM
  • Kalaheo, Mark KH6LT and Michael WH6FXL
  • King Elementary, NH6XL and Mark KH6LT
  • Mililani High
  • Nanakuli Elementary and Middle, Pono WH6CPH is coordinating
  • Waialua High, Steve KH6WG

Shelter reports to be filed via Winlink by 11 am daily.

Walmart is scheduled to close at 5 pm today.

Kauai County

Due to COVID-19, Kauai operations are to be remote with messages phoned in.

Healthcomm

Healthcomm is TBD.

Reminder

A reminder: Being prepared is a personal responsibility. Stock up ahead of time, and don't get caught in the mad rush to the store to buy stuff. The Star-Advertiser offers a list of items for preparedness and planning.

A reminder for the general population (and amateur radio operators alike) that the primary means of timely notification of an alert is via the NOAA National Weather Service Weather Alert radios.

Find out more by contacting:  rhashiro(remove this part)@hawaiiantel.net
Copyright © 1997-2020 Ron Hashiro
July 23, 2020. Updated: July 26, 2020

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