KG4VPY

From ARRL News:

Emergency Communications Bill Includes Amateur Radio as Interoperability Agent

NEWINGTON, CT, Jul 27, 2006–A bill to enhance emergency communication at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) includes Amateur Radio operators as part of an overall effort to provide interoperability among responders. The 21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006 (HR 5852), an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, passed the US House this week on a 414-2 vote and has gone to the Senate. Its sponsor, Rep David G. Reichert (R-WA) — who chairs the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology — says his legislation is designed “to improve the ability of emergency responders to communicate with each other” — interoperability.

(snipped)

His measure also would require the DHS to strengthen its efforts to improve emergency communications. HR 5852 calls for Amateur Radio operators to be part of a “Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group” (RECC Working Group) that would be attached to each regional Department of Homeland Security office. The RECC Working Groups would advise federal and state homeland security officials.

Membership in the RECC Working Groups would include state and local officials; law enforcement, first responders such as fire departments; 911 centers; hospitals; ambulance services; communications equipment vendors, telephone, wireless satellite, broadband and cable service providers; public utilities; broadcasters; emergency evacuation transit services; state emergency managers, homeland security directors or representatives of state administrative agencies; local emergency managers or homeland security directors, and “other emergency response providers or emergency support providers as deemed appropriate.”

(snipped)

According to the bill, the RECC Working Groups would function to assess the survivability, sustainability, and interoperability of local emergency communications systems to meet the goals of the National Emergency Communications Report. That report would be developed by the Assistant Secretary for Emergency Communications “to provide recommendations regarding how the United States can accelerate the deployment of interoperable emergency communications nationwide.”

full article

From the NHC:

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
530 AM EDT SUN JUL 30 2006

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC…CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO…

A TROPICAL WAVE AND ASSOCIATED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS LOCATED ABOUT 650 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY ONLY MARGINALLY FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT…THIS SYSTEM STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE HAS BECOME A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED THIS MORNING OVER THE NORTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA…HISPANIOLA…PUERTO RICO…AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. SOME SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY OVER PORTIONS PUERTO RICO…THE VIRGIN ISLANDS…AND EASTERN HISPANIOLA.

Images:
GOES-East Central Atlantic - Visible
GOES-East Caribbean - Visible
GOES-East Atlantic Hurricane Sector - Visible

From the NHC:

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1130 AM EDT FRI JUL 28 2006

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC…CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO…

A TROPICAL WAVE EXTENDS FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS ACROSS EASTERN CUBA AND THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA TO COLOMBIA. THIS SYSTEM IS PRODUCING WIDESPREAD CLOUDINESS…SHOWERS… AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION. ALTHOUGH UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE UNFAVORABLE FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION…LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN SQUALLS AS THE SYSTEM MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 20 TO 25 MPH.

A WESTWARD-MOVING TROPICAL WAVE IS LOCATED ABOUT 1000 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. THIS SYSTEM HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION THIS MORNING. HOWEVER…SOME SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

Images:
GOES-East Storm Floater - Visible | IR
GOES-East Atlantic Hurricane Sector - Visible
Meteosat-8 East Atlantic - Visible | IR

From ARRL News:

Hams, monitoring enthusiasts invited to aid wildlife researchers
(Jul 25, 2006) — Wildlife researchers areasking radio amateurs and VHF monitoring enthusiasts to help listen for radio tag signals from migrating birds. A non-profit organization in New Mexico wants to find the wintering grounds of the burrowing owl, which summers in the grasslands of Kirtland Air Force Base. “Twenty-eight of the birds have been fitted with pulsing radio-tags near 172 MHz, and attempts will be made to track them by aircraft to see if they go east toward Texas, west to California, or south to Mexico,” says ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV. “It’s likely that aircraft will lose contact with most of the owls, so volunteers throughout southwestern states and northern Mexico are being asked to listen for them.” Moell said July 25 that the birds “will start moving any day now.” Meanwhile, researchers at two Toronto universities are radiotagging 20 young purple martins at a breeding colony in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. “These beautiful birds are expected to start flying south in mid-August, probably to winter grounds in South America,” Moell says. “Hams in southern states from Texas through Florida are asked to be listening and possibly detect the flyovers.” He says those living in the migration zones and can receive 172 MHz signals can help. “If you have radio-direction finding equipment for VHF, so much the better,” he adds. Moell’s “Homing In” Web site has much more information on these projects

From ARRL News:

First ARRL Online Auction Planned for October

NEWINGTON, CT, Jul 26, 2006–The ARRL may be giving eBay and the other auction sites a little competition in the Amateur Radio arena this fall when the first ARRL Online Auction gets under way. Auction proceeds will help to support the League’s educational services and programs. The event now is in the planning stages, says ARRL Business Services Manager Deb Jahnke, K1DAJ.

“We will soon embark on an exciting new venture,” Jahnke said in providing the broad strokes of the online auction to ARRL Headquarters staff members. Jahnke and her Business Services team will plan, organize and manage the event, which is planned for late October — the exact dates haven’t been set yet — and she promises it will be lots of fun.

“This will not be just another boring auction, because we plan to include many unique and special items related to Amateur Radio,” she said. “We are hoping to offer items that will interest our audience, ranging from DXpedition vacation rentals to restored Collins 75A4s.” Jahnke says this inaugural online auction will be limited to 100 items.

The auction will be open to all — ARRL members and otherwise. Bidders just need online access to take part. “With an online auction, we can reach potential bidders across the nation and around the world,” Jahnke pointed out.

Jahnke says she anticipates that the online auction will be open for about two weeks, and participants will need to register in advance. “Stay tuned for more details as our auction plans start to gel,” Jahnke says. At this stage, she says, the auction planners are seeking additional ideas and, of course, offers of potential auction booty. Contact Jahnke via e-mail.

link to article

From the NHC:

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
530 PM EDT WED JUL 26 2006

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC…CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO…

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED ABOUT MIDWAY BETWEEN HOUSTON AND SAN ANTONIO TEXAS IS PRODUCING WIDESPREAD SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN TEXAS…AND ADJACENT GULF WATERS. THIS SYSTEM IS MOVING NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD AND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OVER LAND. THEREFORE…TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. HOWEVER…THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND POSSIBLE FLOODING. FOR ADDITIONAL AND FUTURE INFORMATION ON THIS WEATHER SYSTEM…PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS AND FORECAST FROM YOUR LOCAL NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE, AND STORM SUMMARIES FROM THE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER UNDER WMO HEADER ACUS43 KWBC AND UNDER AWIPS HEADER NFDSCCNS3.

CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS OVER PORTIONS OF MUCH OF THE LESSER ANTILLES AND ADJACENT ATLANTIC WATERS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE ENTERING THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA. WHILE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED AND BECOME A LITTLE MORE CONCENTRATED… UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR ANY RAPID ORGANIZATION OF THIS SYSTEM AS IT MOVES WESTWARD AT 20 TO 25 MPH.

Images
Texas/Gulf:
GOES-East Gulf Hurricane Sector - IR
GOES-East Storm Floater - IR | Visible

Atlantic/Antilles:
GOES-East Storm Floater - IR | Visible

From the NHC’s Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook:

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1130 AM EDT TUE JUL 25 2006

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC…CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO…

A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE AREA CENTERED OVER NORTHEASTERN MEXICO ABOUT 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BROWNSVILLE TEXAS IS MOVING NORTHWARD ABOUT 10 MPH. THIS SYSTEM IS GENERATING A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS… THUNDERSTORMS AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN SQUALLS OVER PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL AREAS. THE SYSTEM CENTER IS OVER LAND AND IS NOT CURRENTLY FORECAST TO EMERGE OVER THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. THEREFORE…TROPICAL CYCLONE DEVELOPMENT IS UNLIKELY AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER…IF THE CENTER DOES EMERGE OVER THE GULF…A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMS…THIS SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL TO PORTIONS OF EXTREME NORTHEASTERN MEXICO… SOUTHERN TEXAS…AND SOUTHERN LOUISIANA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

A WESTWARD-MOVING TROPICAL WAVE IS LOCATED ABOUT 650 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS. THE ASSOCIATED SHOWER ACTIVITY REMAINS MINIMAL…AND SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS NOT EXPECTED.

Images:
GOES-East Gulf Hurricane Sector - Visible
GOES-East Storm Floater - IR
Meteosat-8 - Visible
Fulldisk - Visible (Includes the Pacific’s Emilia; the storm in the Gulf; and Trop Wave in eastern Atlantic)

From the NHC:

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
530 PM EDT SUN JUL 23 2006

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC…CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO…

DISORGANIZED SHOWER ACTIVITY CONTINUES IN THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO AS THE AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER MOVES SLOWLY TO THE NORTH OR NORTHWEST. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM TOMORROW…IF NECESSARY.

Images:
GOES-East Gulf - IR
GOES-East Gulf Hurricane Sector - Visible

From the NHC:

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1130 AM EDT SAT JUL 22 2006

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC…CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO…

A TROPICAL WAVE IS PRODUCING AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE BAY OF CAMPECHE AND THE EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE CURRENTLY UNFAVORABLE FOR ANY RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM TO OCCUR. HOWEVER…CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE CONDUCIVE FOR SOME GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT AS THE SYSTEM MOVES SLOWLY NORTHWESTWARD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST OF MEXICO…ESPECIALLY OVER MOUNTAINNOUS TERRAIN… FROM VERA CRUZ NORTHWARD TO TAMPICO.

Image

The NHC continues to issue advisories for Tropical Storm Beryl.

TROPICAL STORM BERYL ADVISORY NUMBER 7
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL022006
1100 PM EDT WED JUL 19 2006

…BERYL CONTINUES NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD…

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS FROM PLYMOUTH TO WOODS HOLE…INCLUDING CAPE COD…NANTUCKET ISLAND AND MARTHA’S VINEYARD.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA…INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS…PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 1100 PM EDT…0300Z…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERYL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 37.0 NORTH…LONGITUDE 73.0 WEST OR ABOUT 265 MILES…430 KM…SOUTH OF NEW YORK CITY AND ABOUT 335 MILES…540 KM …SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF NANTUCKET MASSACHUSETTS.

BERYL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 9 MPH…15 KM/HR… AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH A TURN TO THE NORTHEAST BY LATE TOMORROW.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH…95 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME INCREASE IN STRENGTH IS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT…WITH WEAKENING EXPECTED BY LATE TOMORROW.

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