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Raleigh, NC July 13, 1996
Although North Carolina Hurricane Awareness Week isn't until next week, Bertha wasn't going to wait. After dithering for a while in the Atlantic, threatening to visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and then appearing to break up, Hurricane Bertha picked up some steam, turned north and stormed up the North Carolina coast Friday (July 12, 1996). Bertha caused considerable damage along the coast, and spawned tornadoes 150 miles inland in the Raleigh area.
Dozens of Amateur Radio Emergency Service operators took their customary place in Emergency Operation Centers in the coastal counties and the state EOC in Raleigh. The Tarheel Emergency net (North Carolina's primary ARES net) went into continuous operation on 3923 kHz until midday Saturday. SKYWARN nets were activated along the coast and in Raleigh to keep the National Weather Service updated on changing conditions.
Although power and telephones were knocked out over wide areas, state emergency communications systems held up well, and amateurs had only limited opportunity to assist. The SKYWARN nets provided the most critical information, but even there, the hurricane generated tornadoes were very short-lived and sporadic, making warnings useless.
Bertha turned out to be more of a drill for amateurs than an actual emergency, but ham's efforts were recognized by North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, who sent this message to be passed on the amateur networks:
ALL RADIO AMATEURS AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE NORTH CAROLINA THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME EQUIPMENT AND EXPERTISE HELPING IN THE BERTHA EMERGENCY X YOUR DEVOTION TO PUBLIC SERVICE EXEMPLIFIES THE IDEALS THAT MAKE THIS STATE GREAT JAMES B. HUNT, JR. GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINAGary Pearce, KN4AQ,
Special Bulletin 17 ARLX017
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT July 12, 1996
To all radio amateurs
ARLX017 Hurricane Bertha Update 2
As of 0800 EDT Friday, July 12, 1996, Hurricane Bertha was about 140 miles south of Wilmington, North Carolina. Landfall is presently expected to be between Southport and Wilmington, North Carolina, later today.
ARES teams in North Carolina are operating from the State Emergency Operations Centers. The main North Carolina HF emergency net frequency is the Tar Heel Emergency Net is on 3923 kHz.
The Virginia ARES/RACES teams are expected to be activated today as well. The Virginia Emergency Net, Alpha on 3910 kHz will be handling emergency-related traffic on HF.
The Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz is also activated. Radio amateurs are requested not to transmit on these frequencies unless directed to do so by net control stations.
On July 10, 1996, the American Radio Relay League issued a special bulletin in regards to the approaching hurricane.
"As of 0900 EDT Wednesday, July 10, 1996, a hurricane watch continues for the North and South Carolina coasts. At 8 AM, Hurricane Bertha was located approximately 635 miles SSE of Wilmington, NC, and moving northwest at 18 MPH. Maximum sustained winds were 105 MPH. The current forecast track has the storm center off the coast from Charleston, SC, Thursday afternoon and then parallel the coastline and move toward the outerbanks early Friday.
The Hurricane Watch Net is expected to be active on 14.325 MHz as the storm draws near the US coast. Amateurs are requested not to transmit on this frequency unless directed to do so by Net Control Stations."
"The final transmission from the vessel said it was in the eye of the hurricane and people were jumping into the water," said Dennis Uhlenhopp, the Coast Guard spokesman in San Juan.
In another news report, the Wall Street Journal for July 9, 1996, mentioned that damage reports were being received from Puerto Rico by ham radio operators.
The single most asked question we've received a ScoutRadio WWW is what can I do help others with my handheld radio. Well this is it....
Mel Goldberg KO6TF ASM Troop 319 & Webmaster Advisor ScoutRadio@Scout.net http://scout.net/ScoutRadio/ ScoutRadio WWW is a "good turn project" of Troop 319, Huntington Beach, California USA. Our goal is to promote amateur radio in Scouting. Past & present Scouts & Scouters and Friends of Scouting.
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