With this message from the American Radio Relay League, it's also time
to remind our folks in Hurricane Country to begin NOW to prepare for
these potentially deadly storms.

At http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml
gives tips for disaster preparedness.

Don't forget that http://www.ready.gov gives you help as well while
http://www.fema.gov/areyouready gives information about the Are You
Ready book.

Contact your local emergency manager or the American Red Cross for
information about what hazards you face locally.

Make a plan based on those hazards. Include evacuation planning, as
in, what will you do and where will you go, if you have to leave your
local area? How will you get there?

Build a kit that supports the plan you just wrote.

Practice the plan.

Then, help someone else who has not done this.

As for the hurricane nets, please, also, visit http://www.voipwx.net
for information about the net.

73

SB SPCL ARL ARLX007
ARLX007 National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC Sets On-The-Air Station
Test

The annual WX4NHC On-the-Air Station Test from the National
Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami takes place Saturday, May 30,
1300-2100 UTC. "The purpose of this annual Station Test is to test
all of our radio equipment, computers and antennas using as many
modes and frequencies as possible. This is not a contest or
simulated hurricane exercise. New equipment and software will be
tested, and we will also conduct some operator training," said
WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Volunteer Coordinator Julio Ripoll,
WD4R.

Ripoll said that WX4NHC also will be testing new computers and
software, as well as conducting operator training. "NHC Director
Bill Read, KB5FYA, will be at WX4NHC, making contacts," he said.
WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF and UHF, plus 2 and 30 meter
APRS. Suggested SSB frequencies are 3.950, 7.268, 14.325, 21.325 and
28.525 MHz, +/-QRM; WX4NHC reports that they will mostly be on
14.325 MHz and will make announcements when they change frequencies.
WX4NHC also will be on the VoIP Hurricane Net 1700-1900 UTC (IRLP
node 9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference) and on South Florida area
VHF/UHF repeaters and simplex; APRS and e-mail will also be
monitored.

Stations working WX4NHC exchange call sign, signal report, location
and name plus a brief weather report, such as "sunny," "rain" or
"cloudy." Non-hams may submit their actual weather using the On-Line
Hurricane Report Form. QSL to WD4R and include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope. Do not send cards to the NHC. Due to security
measures, no visitors will be allowed at NHC during the test.
NNNN
/EX