http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-response-continues-as-hurricane-matthew-moves-up-east-coast

Accessed on 08 October 2016, 03:47 hrs, UTC.

Reporter:  ARRL.

ARES volunteers in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas are supporting emergency communications as Hurricane Matthew sweeps past the northeast corner of Florida packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.  The storm is already a killer, leaving more than 800 dead in Haiti.  Almost 500,000 residents of Florida are without power as high winds and torrential rains pound the Sunshine State.

KX4EOC at the St. Johns County, Florida emergency operations center in St. Augustine, Florida is operational using auxiliary power.  North Florida ARES is active on 7.242 MHz and 3.950 MHz.  The Statewide Amateur Radio Network (SARNET) has been activated to assist emergency management personnel where necessary.  Please keep these frequencies clear for emergency traffic.

Hurricane Matthew is expected to turn northeast and eventually loop around where it could cause some problems for the Bahamas.

According to various news networks, many Floridians who chose to “ride out the storm” regretted that decision and wished they had left for evacuation centers before the storm arrived.

The months of practice drills and ARES training sessions are now proving their worth as radio amateurs continue their response to the communications emergency created by Hurricane Matthew.

Russell Roberts, KH6JRM

ARRL Public Information Coordinator

Hawaii County, ARRL Pacific Section