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TROPICAL STORM HUMBERTO – WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN #15 – 0900 – 9/14/19

At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Humberto was located near latitude 26.6 North, longitude 76.6 West. Humberto is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph (11 km/h), and this motion is
expected to continue through tonight. A turn toward the north-northwest is expected by Sunday and a slower northward to northeastward motion is forecast to occur by Monday. On the forecast track, the system will gradually move away from the northwestern Bahamas later today, and then will move well offshore of the east coast of Florida this weekend and early next week.  Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast, and Humberto is expected to become a hurricane by Sunday night.  Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km)to the north and east of the center.  The estimated minimum central pressure just reported by an Air Force reconnaissance plane was 1004 mb (29.65 inches).

The only watches or warnings in effect for Tropical Storm Humberto is the following:  A Tropical Storm Warning for…Northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island.  There are no tropical storm watches or warnings for the continental United States at the present time.  The Tropical Storm Watch that had been issued for the Florida east coast counties was discontinued at 2300 EDT yesterday evening.

The following is an excerpt from the 0500 EDT Forecast Discussion issued by the National Hurricane Center, “During the next few days, a low- to mid-level ridge over the eastern United States and the western Atlantic is expected to slide southeastward, with a weakness in the ridge developing due to a mid- to upper-level trough over the northeastern U.S. This change in the steering pattern should cause the storm to slow down and turn northward off the east coast of Florida in 36 to 48 hours. Subsequently, the northeastern U.S. trough should dig southward, and this change should turn Humberto  northeastward and then eastward away from the U.S. The track guidance has shifted a little more to the east during the first 72 h, and the new NHC track has been nudged eastward as well during this time. The new forecast track lies near the various consensus models…Southwesterly vertical shear and dry air entrainment caused by the upper-level trough to the south is forecast to diminish during the next 2-3 days while Humberto moves near or over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. This should allow intensification, and Humberto is expected to become a hurricane in about 48 h.”

Since the issuance of the WCF SECTION SPECIAL Bulletin yesterday has significantly changed and for the State of Florida is a much improved outlook.  The following was included in the 1700 EDT Forecast Discussion that was issued yesterday afternoon, “An Air Force plane extensively investigated the disturbance near the Bahamas during the past several hours, and in the last portion of the mission, the crew was able to locate a center of circulation, although weak, near the convection. The center was a little bit to the east of the previous estimates…The track guidance has shifted to the east again, and this shift is larger due to the eastward formation of the center. Consequently, the NHC track forecast was adjusted in that direction, but it remains on the western edge of the guidance envelope.”  The National Hurricane Center discontinued the Tropical Storm Watch with the issuance of the 2300 EDT advisory yesterday evening.

At this time, all ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should continue to monitor the latest advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Storm Humberto.  There are several more areas of potential development that are active in the Atlantic basin that are being monitored for additional development as we are in the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.  Due to the significantly reduced threat to the ARRL West Central Florida Section and the State of Florida, the ARRL West Central Florida Section will not activate for Tropical Storm Humberto at this time.

This will be the last WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN issued for Tropical Storm Humberto, unless the track of Tropical Storm Humberto changes drastically.

END OF BULLETIN

At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the disturbance was centered near latitude 25.0 North, longitude 74.5 West or about 280 east-southeast of Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. The system is barely moving, but is expected to resume a slow motion toward the northwest and north-northwest later today. On the forecast track, the system is anticipated to move across the central and northwestern Bahamas today, and along or near the east coast of Florida Saturday and Saturday night.  Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 km/h) with higher gusts. The disturbance is forecast to become a tropical depression or a tropical storm later today or Saturday.  Environmental conditions are favorable for a tropical depression or a tropical storm later today or Saturday.  Formation chance through 48 hours…high…80 percent.  Formation chance through 5 days…high…90 percent.  The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb (29.80 inches).  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island.  A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Jupiter Inlet to Flagler-Volusia County line which includes: Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, and Flagler Counties on the Florida east coast.

The following from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1100 EDT for Potential Tropical Cyclone #9 explains the situation well, “The disturbance is embedded within a moderate shear environment, but
this parameter is not expected to be strong enough to halt development. The NHC forecast still calls for this system to become a tropical cyclone later today or Saturday. Global models develop the system and guidance suggests that the cyclone could even reach hurricane intensity by the end of the forecast period. By then, the system is expected to be over the Atlantic well southeast of the coast of the Carolinas. Due to a lack of a well-defined center, the initial motion is highly uncertain. It appears that there has been little motion during the past few hours. A weakness in the ridge over the western
Atlantic is forecast to develop and this pattern should steer the system slowly toward the northwest and then northward. In about 3 days, an eastward moving mid-latitude trough will force the system to recurve away from the coast toward the Atlantic. The guidance has shifted a little to east this morning and consequently the NHC track forecast was adjusted in that direction. However, the official forecast is still on the western edge of the guidance envelope. If the disturbance develops a little more to the east, the track forecast will probably adjusted to the right later today.

At the present time there are no watches or warnings in effect for the ARRL West Central Florida Section counties.  At the present time, ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES will remain at a no activation status until a greater threat from this system emerges and this will be re-evaluated with each advisory.  Please continue to monitor the latest advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center.

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN is scheduled for release following the 1100 EDT advisory tomorrow, unless conditions warrant a bulletin to be released sooner.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

STATEMENT CONCERNING VOLUNTEERING FOR HURRICANE DORIAN RELIEF IN THE BAHAMAS

There have been recently some inquiries about amateur radio operators volunteering for possible communications duty in the Bahamas following the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian.  The following statement from the ARRL West Central Florida Secton will hopefully address and clarify some of these questions:

“Any mutual aid that is to be mobilized through the ARES program, which is under the ARRL Field Organization, must be at the direction of ARRL Headquarters in Newington, CT.  Per ARRL policy, any mutual aid that is requested outside the Southeastern Division must be directed by ARRL Headquarters.  The Bahamas is a foreign county and therefore outside the Southeastern Division.  If there are any request for assistance either from or through the ARRL, the ARRL will notify the West Central Florida Section and the West Central Florida Section will issue a WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE concerning that request.  Individual amateur radio operators or informal groups of amateur radio operators may volunteer for another served agency on an individual basis if that served agency requests such assistance.  That arrangement must be made between the served agency and that individual amateur radio operator or a group of amateur radio operators.  As is normal, the ARRL recommends that amateur radio operators do not self deploy to a disaster but volunteer through a served agency.

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END OF PRESS RELEASE

FLORIDA ARES EMERGENCY NET TO BE DISCONTINUED
ARRL WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION ARES DEMOBILIZING FOLLOWING HURRICANE DORIAN RESPONSE

Per request of the State EOC, the Florida ARES Emergency Net on 3950 KHz, that was scheduled to run from 0700 through 1900 daily is to be discontinued after 1900 EDT this evening.  The Florida ARES Emergency Net on the SARNET repeater system is being discontinued after 1900 EDT this evening.

Due to the discontinuance of the Florida ARES Emergency Net on 3950 KHz and on the SARNET repeater system, the response to Hurricane Dorian by ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES is concluded.  ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES will demobilize at 2000 this evening and return to a No Activation status.

According to Karl Martin K4HBN, the Northern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator, 41 amateur radio operators had filled out the Florida ARES Operator Application and were willing to be deployed for mutual aid if necessary, which never materialized.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section Manager Darrell Davis KT4WX said the following, “I am extending my sincere thanks to all of you who took time away from your familes, friends, and even jobs, to serve the public interest with your amateur radio skills. Without you, we could have not served our served agencies.  Again, thank you for your service.”

END OF PRESS RELEASE

At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Dorian was located about 90 miles east-northeast of Daytona Beach.  Dorian is moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue today. A turn toward the north is
expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the northeast on Thursday. On this track, the core of Hurricane Dorian will move parallel to the Florida east coast and the Georgia coast through tonight. The center of Dorian is forecast to move near or over the
coast of South Carolina and North Carolina Thursday through Friday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts. A slow weakening is expected during the next few days.  However, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during this time. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). NOAA buoy 41008, located off the Georgia coast, recently reported sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a wind gust of 47 mph (76 km/h).  The minimum central pressure just reported by an Air Force Reserve
Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 964 mb (28.47 inches).

The following is from the 1100 EDT Forecast Discussion by the National Hurricane Center, “The track guidance is very tightly clustered, and the new forecast track, which has only minor changes from the previous forecast, lies in the center of the guidance envelope near the consensus models. It should be noted that the track is close to and almost parallel to the coast of the southeastern United State, and
any deviation to the left of the track could bring the center onshore anywhere in the Carolinas.  Dorian is expected to remain in an environment of light to moderate vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures during the next 48 h. As a result, the hurricane is expected to maintain Category 2 intensity as it passes near the southeastern United States coast. After 48 h, increasing shear and dry air entrainment should cause a weakening trend. Extratropical transition should begin near the 72 h time, and the cyclone is forecast to become a hurricane-force extratropical low by 96 h near or over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.  Since the NHC track prediction continues to take Dorian dangerously close to the southeast U.S. coast, all interests from northeast Florida to the Carolinas should remain vigilant to the possibility of experiencing destructive winds, flooding rains, and life-threatening storm surges from this hurricane.”

A Storm Surge Warning remains in effect for coastal Brevard, Volusia, Flager, Duval, and Nassau Counties.  All other Storm Surge watches for the State of Florida are discontinued.  All Hurricane Warnings for the State of Florida have been discontinued.  A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for only the northern portion of St. John’s, Duval, and Nassau Counties, and extends up to the Savannah River in Georgia.  A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Volusia, Flager, St. John’s, Duval, and Nassau County to the Savannah River in Georgia.  All other watches and warnings that are hurricane related have discontinued for the ARRL West Central Florida Section including the Tropical Storm Watch from Polk and Highlands County that were discontinued yesterday evening.

ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES will remain at a Level 3 Activation, which is a stand by mode.  Amateur radio operators in the West Central Florida Section are continuing to provide net control and relay service for the Florida ARES Emergency Net on 3950 KHz or 7242 KHz as an alternate due to propagation.  All ARES units have demobilized and returned to a No Activation status.  The ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES will remain at a Level 3 Activation until the Florida ARES Emergency Net on 3950 KHz and the SARNET is discontinued by the State EOC.  The three ARRL Florida Sections are holding another conference call today to assess the situation and another conference call is scheduled for tomorrow to do a “hot wash” and any further coordination that is needed.

This will be the last WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN for Hurricane Dorian.  The ARRL West Central Florida Section thanks all ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel and groups for your service over the last nine days.  The ARRL West Central Florida Section also thanks the amateur radio operators who are providing net control and relay service to the Florida ARES Emergency Net.  The ARRL West Central Florida Section also thanks all of those who filled out Florida ARES Operator Applications in case operators were needed for mutual aid.  Continue to keep watch on the tropics as there are several active areas out there and hurricane season is not over until 11/30/19.

END OF BULLETIN

STATE OF FLORIDA ARES EMERGENCY NET SCHEDULE UPDATE – 2000 – 9/03/19

Per direction from the State of Florida Emergency Operations Center, the Florida ARES Emergency Net on HF, which runs on 3950 KHz primarily or on 7242 KHz if propagation is poor on 75 Meters, will not run 24 hours effective at 1900 EDT this evening.  The new hours of the HF edition of the Florida ARES Emergency Net will be from 0700 EDT until 1900 EDT hours daily until the State EOC discontinues the call for the net. The Florida ARES Emergency Net that is running on SARNET is continuing to operate as scheduled.

All the net control stations and relay stations that are scheduled from the West Central Florida Section in the time slots from 0800 EDT through 2000 EDT, please report for your time slot tomorrow as scheduled.  The timeslots between 2000 and 0800 are excused and thank you very much for your willingness to serve.  If possible, any of the net controls and or relay that had volunteered to serve are most welcome to assist as either relief for the scheduled net controls or as additional relays.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section again extends its sincere thanks to who have volunteered to serve as net controls and relay stations.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 27.1 North, longitude 78.6 West. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 2 mph (4 km/h), and a slightly faster motion toward the northwest or north-northwest is expected
later today and tonight. A turn toward the north is forecast by Wednesday evening, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast Thursday morning. On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will gradually move north of Grand Bahama Island through this evening. The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late today through Wednesday evening, very near the Georgia and South Carolina coasts Wednesday night and Thursday, and near or over the North Carolina coast late Thursday and Thursday night.  Data from reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts.  Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days. Data from aircraft and buoys indicate that the hurricane is growing in size. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km).  The latest minimum central pressure based on data from Air Force
Reserve and NOAA reconnaissance aircraft is 955 mb (28.20 inches).

According to the latest Forecast Discussion issued by the National Hurricane the following is stated, “As Dorian moves near the east coast of Florida during the next day or two, little overall change in intensity is anticipated. After that time, increasing shear should result in a gradual decrease in the peak wind speed while the hurricane gains latitude and grows in size. The official forecast is in good agreement with the intensity consensus models. The initial motion estimate is 320/2 kt. A shortwave trough moving into the Great Lakes region is forecast by the global models to amplify a deep-layer trough along the  east coast of the United States on Wednesday. This should allow Dorian to begin moving slightly faster toward the north-northwest during the next 36 hours, followed by a northward and then northeastward motion near or over the coasts of South and North Carolina. After moving offshore of the Outer Banks, Dorian should get caught in the mid-latitude westerlies and accelerate northeastward. The NHC track is along the western edge of the interpolated track models through 36 hours, closer to what is depicted in the various global fields. After that time, the official forecast is near a blend of the faster GFS and slower ECMWF models.  Although the official forecast does not show Dorian making landfall along the Florida east coast, the increasing size of Dorian’s wind field along with any deviation to the left of the forecast track will bring hurricane-force winds onshore along portions of the Florida east coast.

The new forecast has necessitated numerous changes to watches and warnings along the southeastern United States coast.  Storm Surge Warnings are in effect for Martin County all the way up to South Santee River, South Carolina.  Storm Surge Watches are in effect from South Santee River, South Carolina all the way up to Cape Lookout, North Carolina.   Hurricane Warnings are in effect for Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, Volusia, Flager, and St. John’s Counties and for parts of the coast of South Carolina.  Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for Coastal Palm Beach, Okeechobee, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Lake, eastern Marion, Putnam, eastern Clay, Duval, and Nassau County and for numerous Georgia coastal counties up to South Santee, South Carolina.  A Tropical Storm Watch continues for Polk County, Highlands County and Lake Okeechobee.and from South Santee River, South Carolina all the way to Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

Late this morning, the three ARRL Florida Section ARES organizations held another conference call to continue coordination of preparedness activities for amateur radio emergency communications.  Another conference call is scheduled for tomorrow morning following the 1100 EDT advisory to assess the situation at that point.  The online Florida ARES Operator Application is still available if anyone wishes to apply to provide mutual aid outside of their own county, if at a later time that aid may be needed.  The form will state the qualifications necessary to apply.  The form is Google Docs form and is located at Florida ARES Operator Application. At the present time, applications are limited to amateur radio operators in the State of Florida.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section is returning to a Level 3 Activation which is a Stand by level.  Highlands County Emergency Management at approximately 1245 hours gave instructions to close shelters and Highlands County ARES was in the process of standing down.  Hardee County and Polk County EOC’s are in partial activation mode and are not contemplating opening shelters at this time but are standing by in case the need arises to open shelters.  The Florida Tri-Section ARES Net is now in operation on 3950 KHz or 7242 KHz, dependent upon propagation, and another net on statewide SARNET repeater system is in operation.   The hours of these nets may be modified on short notice to fit the situation.  Once the hours change another WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN will be issued to disseminate those changes.  Ben Henley KI4IGX, our Section Emergency Coordinator, and his staff are continuing to closely monitor the situation and are staying in communications with our local ARES Emergency Coordinators and the State EOC. Our ARES Emergency Coordinators are staying in close communications with their respective Emergency Management offices.

All ARES, ACS, and CERT groups personnel are requested to continue to closely monitor the latest advisories by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.  As we have seen, the risk to the ARRL West Central Florida Section may be reduced, at the moment, but it is by no means past and can change at any time.  All ARES, ACS, and CERT groups should continue to stay in communication with their respective leadership for their groups in case that group is requested to activate. Please do not self-deploy as there is a procedure in place to be considered for deployment.  If you wish to be considered for deployment, you may fill out the Florida ARES Operator at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDALiPFgt8cqPEyvIuY_2jJMgxyN8s_kOZqRBfEhMDOWmPSg/viewform.  The qualifications for deployment are listed on the form.  Once a request is entered into the State EOC system, the three Section Emergency Coordinators working together will go through the lists of applicants to see who can be deployed, as the applicants must meet the qualifications set by the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management.

The next WCF Section Special Bulletin will be issued following the 1100 advisory tomorrow unless conditions warrant a bulletin to be issued sooner.

THE WCF PRESSER ISSUE #41 SEPTEMBER 2019 IS NOW PUBLISHED

The WCF PRESSER Issue #41 September 2019, has been published on the Section website.  An announcement of the publication of the WCF PRESSER will be disseminated on the ARRL remailer shortly. If anyone has any information that is amateur radio related that you would like to go into the next issue of THE WCF PRESSER, please send that to our newsletter editor, Jim Weslager K3WR via email at weslager@gmail.com.

For the PDF version of this newsletter and past issues in PDF format go to http://arrlwcf.org/home/the-wcf-section-presser-arrl-west-central-florida-section-news/.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

The Florida Tri-Section ARES Net, will begin operation on Tuesday at 0800 and will run for 24 hours until the threat from Hurricane Dorian is diminished.  The Florida Tri-Section ARES Net is looking for volunteers to serve at net control and relay stations for the HF net on 3950 KHz or 7242 KHz.  By agreement between the three ARRL Florida Section, each day one ARRL Section will take it turn staffing the net control and relay time slots. Each net control time slot is two hours.  The Northern Florida Section will start the net on 9/03/19, the West Central Florida Section will provide net services on 9/04/19, and the Southern Florida Section will provide net services on 9/05/19.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section will provide Net Control operators from 0800 Wednesday 9/04/19 until 0800 Thursday, 9/05/19.  To facilitate the scheduling we have created a Google Docs spreadsheet for signup.  Operating times are broken up into two hour time slots and setup for a primary and 3 backup/relay stations.  There are some NCS slots still available and numerous relay slots.  Relay stations will be very useful to hear stations that the net control cannot hear as is often the nature of 40 Meters and 75 Meters.  Once a volunteer has entered their information they should exit the sheet so that it is not being locked by any one given person.  All net control and relay operators please use the ICS-214 & 309 forms to document their time/activities and to log any communications.  After the Florida Tri-Section ARES Net is concluded, instructions will be given as to where and how copies of the ICS214 and ICS309 are to be sent.

END OF BULLETIN

At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 26.8 North, longitude 78.3 West, or about 110 miles east of West Palm Beach. Dorian is moving very slowly toward the  west near 1 mph (2 km/h). A slow westward to west-northwestward motion is forecast during the next day or so, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest and north. On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Grand Bahama Island through much of today and tonight. The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late tonight through Wednesday evening and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Dorian is an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Although gradual weakening is forecast, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days.  Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).  The estimated minimum central pressure is 922 mb (27.23 inches).

The following is from the 1100 EDT Forecast Discussion issued by the National Hurricane Center, ”
As anticipated, the ridge to the north of the storm has weakened and the eye of Dorian has only been inching westward this morning.  The hurricane is expected to drift westward or west-northwestward
over the next 24 hours, which will cause a prolonged period of devastating winds and storm surge over Grand Bahama Island. By late Tuesday, the weakness in the ridge becomes more pronounced and
Dorian should turn northwestward near the east coast of the Florida.  By day 3, the hurricane is expected to make a northeastward turn ahead of a broad mid-latitude trough. The overall track envelope
has not changed much, and little adjustment to the previous NHC forecast was required.

It cannot be stressed enough that only a small deviation to the left of the NHC forecast could bring the core of the extremely dangerous hurricane onshore of the Florida east coast within the hurricane warning area. In addition, Dorian’s wind field is predicted to expand, which would bring hurricane-force winds closer to the east coast of Florida even if the track does not change.” So many people is getting stress due to this hurricane but they need to be aware of what is happening, that is why doctors are suggesting people to use cbd gummies to relieve stress and promote relaxation.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Lantana to the Flagler/Volusia County Line

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* North of Deerfield Beach to south of Lantana
* Flagler/Volusia County Line to the Savannah River

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Grand Bahama and the Abacos Islands in the northwestern Bahamas
* Jupiter Inlet to the Flagler/Volusia County Line

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* North of Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet
* Flagler/Volusia County Line to the Altamaha Sound Georgia

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* North of Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* North of Golden Beach to Deerfield Beach
* Lake Okeechobee
* Polk County
* Highlands County

Late this morning, the three ARRL Florida Section ARES organizations held another conference call to continue coordination of preparedness activities for amateur radio emergency communications.  Another conference call is scheduled for tomorrow morning following the 1100 EDT advisory to assess the situation at that point.  The online Florida ARES Operator Application is still available if anyone wishes to apply to provide mutual aid outside of their own county, if at a later time that aid may be needed.  The form will state the qualifications necessary to apply.  The form is Google Docs form and is located at Florida ARES Operator Application. At the present time, applications are limited to amateur radio operators in the State of Florida.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section is once again at Level 2 Activation which is a partial activation level.  Highlands County Emergency Management opened four shelters and Highlands County ARES is providing auxiliary communications for those shelters.   Hardee County and Polk County EOC’s are in partial activation mode and contemplating opening shelters but have not made the decision to do so at this time.   The Florida Tri-Section ARES Net that was scheduled to commence on 3950 KHz or 7242 KHz, dependent upon propagation, and another net on statewide SARNET repeater system has been postponed until 0800 tomorrow morning, 9/02/19.   Ben Henley KI4IGX, our Section Emergency Coordinator, and his staff are continuing to closely monitor the situation and are staying in communications with our local ARES Emergency Coordinators and the State EOC. Our ARES Emergency Coordinators are staying in close communications with their respective Emergency Management offices.

All ARES, ACS, and CERT groups personnel are requested to continue to closely monitor the latest advisories by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. All ARES, ACS, and CERT groups should continue to stay in communication with their respective leadership for their groups in case that group is requested to activate.  Any equipment checks, supply replenishment, and or home mitigation activities should already be at completion.  As we have seen, the risk to the ARRL West Central Florida Section may be reduced, at the moment, but it is by no means past and can change at any time.

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The next WCF Section Special Bulletin will be issued following the 1100 advisory tomorrow unless conditions warrant a bulletin to be issued sooner.