Hurricane IRMA Potential Need For Volunteers

Steve Szabo Section Manager WB4OMM There is a potential need for Amateur Radio operators to provide communications support in the Florida Keys. Volunteers will need to bring a dual-band HT with earphone/headset, external (gain) antenna, spare batteries, chargers.  While food & beverage, sleeping quarters and showers are available, responders need to be self-sufficient for other personal needs.  Deployment requests will vary as will the served agencies.  DO NOT SELF-DEPLOY.  These … Read more

Hurricane Irma Debrief

I hope everyone came out of the storm unharmed and your family safe. We at VARES are keeping those affected by hurricane Irma in our thoughts and hope for a speedy recovery. Like Matthew Volusia is very lucky. This could have been much more devastating if Irma took one of the earlier paths. VARES is still in a stand by mode in case emergency management require our services in the … Read more

Irma Level I Full Activation

Hurricane Irma has started turning North. This turn will increase the possibility of hurricane winds in Volusia County. With this danger, VARES has gone to level I Full Activation. We are active on the 147.240+ T123.0. We ask all ARES to report to the ARES net in case needed. — Karl Martin KG4HBN Emergency Coordinator Volusia Amateur Radio Emergency Service kg4hbn@gmail.com P/T 386-756-9861

ARES Update 7pm 9/10/17

Good Evening   In the past few hours tropical storm force winds have started coming in from the East. These winds will increase in strength over the next 6 to 12 hours and can reach up to Cat 2. All bridges in Volusia county have now been closed due to high winds. They will remain closed until safety officials have had time to inspect the bridges when the winds go … Read more

From ARRL HQ Operating Procedures During IRMA

Operating Procedures During Hurricane Irma ZCZC AG17 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 17 ARLB017 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT September 8, 2017 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB017 ARLB017 Operating Procedures During Hurricane Irma Please be aware that due to the breadth of this series of weather events, numerous emergency and public service nets are in session, especially on the 80, 40, and 20 meter bands. US licensees … Read more

Volusia County Emergency App

Volusia County Emergency Management has released an IOS/Android app. I highly suggest you download it. I have only used it for a few minutes but have found tremendous information. Some of the information is updated live.   You can find the app at the following link. From the VEM web site.      

ARES Net Tonight 9/8/17 at 7:30pm

Hurricane Irma is just days away from central Florida and continuing it’s track up the state. With no major changes expected, VARES will raise the activation level to Level III Monitoring. At this level ARES is expecting to be activated in the next 48 hours. Tonight at 7:30pm on the 147.240 T123.0 we will be holding a special session of the ARES net. I will explain the plan for Irma … Read more

Update Sandbag Information 9/8/17

In preparation for Hurricane Irma, sandbags are available at the following locations: Volusia County Residents who live in unincorporated Volusia County may pick up sandbags from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at the following locations while supplies last. ID is required. 10 sandbags are available per vehicle per visit. •Oak Hill Fire Station, 213 N. U.S. 1, Oak Hill … Read more