Hurricane Preparedness Week 2008: Monday May 26, 2008

From the NWS Charleston website:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT MON MAY 26 2008

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK RUNS FROM MAY 25 THROUGH MAY 31...

NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK BEGAN YESTERDAY AND RUNS THROUGH THROUGH SATURDAY. PARTNERS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE... EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT... AMERICAN RED CROSS AND PROJECT IMPACT ALL AGREE THAT PREPAREDNESS IS THE KEY TO MINIMIZING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PREVENTING LOSS OF LIFE. THIS ANNUAL EVENT GIVES PERSONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND REVIEW THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WEATHER HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES AND OTHER TROPICAL SYSTEMS. THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON WILL TRANSMIT AWARENESS INFORMATION AND PREPAREDNESS TIPS EACH DAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT.

THE OFFICIAL ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS ON JUNE 1 AND CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER 30. HOWEVER...TROPICAL SYSTEMS CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME. THUS...IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL PERSONS BECOME FAMILIAR WITH HURRICANE SAFETY PROCEDURES AND FORMULATE A SAFETY PLAN OF THEIR OWN.

THE IMPACTS OF HURRICANES AND OTHER TROPICAL SYSTEMS ARE NOT ONLY FELT AT THE COAST BUT POSSIBLY HUNDREDS OF MILES INLAND AS WELL. EVEN THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL SYSTEMS CAN PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. FOR EXAMPLE...THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM ALLISON IN 2001 PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IN HOUSTON TEXAS AND THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANES FRANCES AND JEANNE PRODUCED TORNADO OUTBREAKS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO DESIGN A HURRICANE SAFETY PLAN LONG BEFORE A HURRICANE ACTUALLY THREATENS. WE WILL DISCUSS SUCH PLANS AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS HURRICANE HAZARDS BEGINNING ON TUESDAY.

Southside Fire Station 14

I finally have had a chance to find out what Station Number the new Southside Fire Station on Elba Island has; it is Station 14. I was able to catch SSFD's morning radio checks today and hear them do a radio check with Station 14/Engine 14. No doubt this is the new station and Engine that will cover the area that Southside recently took over from Savannah Fire.

I wonder if they have skipped Station 13 for reasons of superstition or if there is another station expansion planned?

In regards to Elba Island, it was recently reported in the Savannah Morning News that El Paso LNG and the City of Savannah have come to an agreement in which Savannah Fire will continue responding to the Elba Island facility. I can't help but think that, from the public safety perspective, they have come to the most common sense decision.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

VMFA-122 "Werewolves" Base

VMFA-122 has recently changed it's squadron Base frequency. Formerly using 253.100, they are now using 361.800. 361.800 was previously used at MCAS Beaufort by VMFA-115 for their squadron Base.

VMFA-115 is currently deployed, so we'll have to see what they use for their squadron Base frequency when they return.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; 01-14 May 2008

I haven't had as much radio time as usual the last few weeks, so I apologize for the lack of monitoring recaps over that time. Below is a recap of what monitoring I've been able to do over the first half of May.

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
309.000 - PMSV
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert
38.150 - B-169 AVN "HURRICANE OPS"
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops

ARMY 35357 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN?)
ARMY 35372 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN?)
ARMY 45462 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 45464 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57013 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN
ARMY 03748 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26189 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26408 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26412 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26416 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26417 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 262 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
GUARD 296 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
TESTHAWK (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6542 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
PAT 435
RAIL ## (RC-12)


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
121.900 - Ground
348.600 - Ground
120.400 - Approach/Departure
380.025 - Approach/Departure
125.300 - Approach/Departure
387.100 - Approach/Departure
118.400 - Approach/Departure
307.225 - Approach/Departure
225.750 - 165 AW CP
225.050 - 165 AW
237.000 - CRTC Ops
293.300 - CRTC Discrete; 95 FS a2a
328.500 - CRTC Discrete; 95 FS a2a
363.900 - CRTC Discrete; 95 FS a2a
139.2125 - CRTC, 95 FS support personnel

DAWG 0# (C-130H, 165 AW)
BONES ## (F-15, 95 FS)
PROTON ## (F-15, 95 FS)
EAGLE 01 (MD-500, Chatham Co.)
CHATHAM 02 (fixed wing, Chatham Co.)


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.626 - Marne Radio
51.050 - Helicopter Common


MCAS Beaufort
251.700 - Approach/Departure
301.200 - Approach/Departure
281.800 - Base Ops
358.900 - MAG-31 Base "KAISERS"
361.800 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
354.400 - VFA-86 Base
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1
363.825 - VFA-86 Tac 2
250.300 - VMFT-401 Tac
268.300 - VMFT-401 Tac
345.800 - VMFT-401 Tac

NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
SNIPER ## (F-5, VMFT-401)


Charelston AFB
349.400 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

IMPAC 80 (C-17, 437/315 AW)
JOSA 197 (C-21)


McIntyre JNGB
298.300 - 169 FW "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169 FW V14
143.625 - 169 FW V15
143.250 - 169 FW V16

MACE (F-16CJ, 169 FW)
VIPER (F-16CJ, 169 FW)


Shaw AFB
320.525 - 79th FS Ops
141.600 - 79th FS V9
141.775 - 79th FS V10

SLASH (F-16CJ, 79 FS)


Jacksonville IAP/125th FW
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
251.250 - 125th FW Maintenance/Ops
234.800 - 125th FW Aux 6

FANG (F-15, 125 FW)


Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA
269.000 - Gamecock D MOA Discrete


SEALORD (USN FACSFAC Jax)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
267.500 - South Primary
349.800 - W-157 Discrete
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
341.100 - Sealord Discrete
301.000 - S. TACTS Range
381.175 - N. TACTS Range


Miscellaneous
CARDFILE 713 (P-3C)
GREYHAWK 36 (E-2C, VAW-120)
MAD FOX 09 (P-3C, VP-5)
MADHOG ## (A-10)
NAVY LF 124 (P-3C, VP-16)
NAVY LF 161 (P-3C, VP-16)
RED TALON 714 (P-3C, VP-16)
ROMAN ## (F/A-18, VFA-106)

8.971 USB - USN TSC Jacksonville "FIDDLE"
285.000 - USN TSC Jacksonville "FIDDLE"
310.200 - NAS Jacksonville Base Ops


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick Low
281.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
282.300 - Jax Center Alma High
285.650 - Jax Center Statesboro High
290.400 - Jax Center Waycross Low
319.200 - Jax Center Aiken High
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
346.250 - Jax Center St. Augustine
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
379.100 - Jax Center Charleston Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon
335.650 - Atlanta Center

255.400 - Flight Service


USS Theodore Roosevelt CSG
267.500 - Sealord South Primary
225.350 - Pinecastle Range
5.381 USB - TANGO WHISKEY Net
6.700 USB - TANGO ZULU Net
258.625 - Strike
273.675 - Tactical
322.800 - unknown
326.575 - TANGO ZULU Net
350.000 - Aerial Refueling

BEAR 60# - E-2C, VAW-124
RAWHIDE ## - C-2, VRC-40)
THUNDER - E-2C, VAW-124

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Bicylce Portable

I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Exercise is the order of the day now, but I just can't get into walking so I bought a bicycle. After a week or so of riding the bicycle, I decided that I wanted to be able to bring along a radio, be it an amatuer radio HT or a portable scanner.

I tried clipping a radio to my belt, but that just didn't work out well; I couldn't hear it very well. Earphones of some sort are out of the question because their use on the road would be unsafe. I recently removed a RAM portable radio mount from the car after replacing the mobile BC780 with a BC996 (more on that in a future post). Searching the RAM website I came across a ball mount used for 3/4' - 1' diameter boat railings (just the size of the tubing used in the bicycle handlebars). The ball mount, part number RAM-231 (top photo below), easily fit onto the handlebars and the portable radio mount attached to the ball mount.

The radio now mounts in front of me in a good position. Most importantly, I don't have to take my eyes completely off of the road to see the display, press a button, or turn a knob. The speaker fires directly toward me, making the radio easy to hear. So far both the Uniden BC396 and the Yaesu VX-150 work well with this mount, allowing me to get the exercise I need to lose weight and stay healthy and enjoy my favorite hobby.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

FIghter Units Visit the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry Area

95th Fighter Squadron

F-15s from Tyndall AFB's 95th Fighter Squadron are at the Savannah CRTC this week. They flew missions today in the offshore special use areas against F-5s from VMFT-401. Some good frequencies to catch the 95th FS aircraft on are:

257.800 Savannah IAP Tower
380.025 Savannah Approach/Departure
387.100 Savannah Approach/Departure
282.200 Jacksonville Center
284.500 SEALORD Primary
237.000 CRTC Ops
293.300 CRTC Discrete
328.500 CRTC Discrete
363.900 CRTC Discrete


VMFT-401

F-5s from the USMC Agressor Squadron VMFT-401 are working out of MCAS Beaufort this week. They have been flying missions against the 95th FS F-15s mentioned above in the offshore special use areas. You can catch VMFT-401 on:

301.200 MCAS Beaufort Approach/Departure
284.500 SEALORD Primary
250.300 VMFT-401 air-to-air
268.300 VMFT-401 air-to-air


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Mothers Day Morning Storm Monitoring

Thankfully, Savannah and Chatham County were spared the worst of the storms and Tornados that moved through southeast Georgia on Mother's Day morning. Compared to the Tornados that struck to the south and northwest of Savannah, I only heard a few dispatches for lightning strike fires and some downed power lines.

As the thunderstorms moved in, I disconnected all of my outside antennas and monitored using portable scanners only. I used the BC396 to monitor CEMA 1 (TG 6224) on the Chatham-Effingham TRS. CEMA 1 was an excellent way to keep apprised of what was going on; the CEMA staff were using it pass reports on what was going on within Chatham County. With one radio locked on CEMA 1, the old BC250 was used to scan Chatham County public safety.

No formal Skywarn Nets were established in the area, but amateur radio operators were on the 146.970 repeater in Savannah and the 146.745 repeater in Springfield passing weather observations and other storm information. As mentioned above, the outside antennas were disconnected, so I used crossband repeat and portables to monitor the repeaters. A Yaesu FT-50 was used to crossband through the Yaesu FT-8800 for the Springfield repeater because it is out of portable range at home. The Yaesu VX-150 was sufficient for getting into the 146.970.

Mac McCormick III
kf4lmt@comcast.net