Hurricane Watch Net secures

Hurricane Watch Net secures operations for Claudette: (Jul 11, 2003) — The Hurricane Watch Net secured operations on 14.325 MHz at 0130 UTC on July 11 for Tropical Storm Claudette. The storm had been predicted to reach hurricane status, but it is now diminishing in strength over the Yucatan Peninsula. The activation for Claudette at 1800 UTC on July 10 was the first of the 2003 hurricane season. HWN members share storm information with forecasters via WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Net Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, has cautioned that once the storm clears the Yucatan and heads into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it again could become a major threat to Gulf Coast communities. “We will continue to monitor progress of this storm and will advise if activation of the Hurricane Watch Net might again be called for,” Pilgrim said. “In the meantime, interested parties should access the weather advisories available at on the Net’s Web site or otherwise monitor the Maritime Mobile Service Net on 14.300 MHz for frequent updates of the tropical weather outlook.” At 1200 UTC, Claudette was reported heading north-northwest at 12 MPH with maximum sustained winds of 55 MPH. Meanwhile, Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) National Coordinator Pat McPherson, WW9E, is asking SATERN personnel in its Southern Territory to remain alert to further activation of the Hurricane Watch Net and to support net activities by monitoring and relaying if needed. “If Claudette becomes a hurricane and makes landfall, it is likely that SATERN will activate to pass emergency traffic and handle health and welfare,” McPherson said. The SATERN net operates on 14.265 kHz.