Hello to all..
***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO GO ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 9:00AM THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM MAJOR HURRICANE IRENE***
Major Hurricane Irene has been steadily strengthening and currently sits as a major, category 3 storm currently affecting the Bahamas and is poised to become a category-4 storm in the next 24 hours. Numerous computer model guidance products have established a track where the storm makes a direct impact to Long Island and/or New England during the day on Sunday as a Category-2 hurricane. Should the storm make landfall, this would be the first land falling hurricane in New England since Bob of 1991. For further meteorological updates, please see the NWS Taunton SKYWARN home page at http://www.wx1box.org
In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from Saturday morning, 8/27 through early next week. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NWS Storm Survey Teams, and hospitals as required. Keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies for any updates on this developing situation.
When sending your availability, please send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to hurricane@nsradio.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability.
What is ARES Stand-By mode?
ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.
Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org