Second Largest Tornado Outbreak in KY History - Amateur Operators Respond

Pat Spencer, KD4PWL

February 5-6, 2008 brought the largest tornado outbreak in the Commonwealth since 1995, and the second largest with 25 confirmed tornado touchdowns. Only the April 3, 1974 outbreak had more with 26. More evidence may be found, but as of Friday, February 8, 2008 the following counties had tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service (NWS); Allen, Bath, Calloway, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Harrison, Trigg, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Muhlenberg, Nelson, and Washington.

Seven Kentuckians lost their lives when the Spring-like storm system tore through the southeastern United States.

The Public Service Activities Reports submitted show amateur radio service in ARES Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13 and 14. More reports are expected to trickle in. This article will be updated as they arrive.

Reporting from District 1, Steve Poirier, KC6GNV shared that the Paducah Amateur Radio Association provided communication assistance to the NWS Office in Paducah and the Paducah-McCracken Office of Emergency Management with multiple tactical messages. Ten operators using the 147.060 W4NJA repeater were on the air for 3 hours assisting their communities. Key operators listed in the report were KC6GNV, KO4XJ, KY4OEM and N5BZA

District 2 suffered 3 fatalities in Muhlenburg County. Amateur radio participation was sparse in the district as agencies did not request formal assistance. Harvey Lawrence, WA4NUD reports that 6 operators were on standby and monitoring the weather and radio traffic in Caldwell, Christian, Lyon and Trigg Counties. Six operators; KI4YLB, KY1LAW, N4MHT, N4SCC, W4EXX and NA4NUD were on the air for 5.5 hours in the event that Tri-City ARES needed to activate and provide needed service.

Allen County in District 4 had four fatalities and multiple injuries when homes were flattened by an F-3 tornado. District Emergency Coordinator Chris Shaw, W4BGN reports that 31 amateurs across the southern Kentucky district were on the air for 8 hours assisting agencies in Allen and Monroe counties; which also had an F-3 tornado.

Using the 147.165 W4WSM Bowling Green, 146.940 KY4X Barren County, 146.755 KJ4OG Monroe County repeaters and emergency simplex frequencies when the KJ4OG was taken off the air; amateurs provided 248 hours of assistance to the stricken communities. Shaw reported key operators in the operation were K1EG, K4CIT, KE4WUP, KI4DON, KI4ZOD, KJ4OG, N4AAL, and W4BGN.

Moving northward to District 5, Shelby Ennis, W8WN reports that he and AI4VF used amateur radio while providing 18 hours of service with the American Red Cross. Ennis also provided reports to the NWS office in Louisville.

District 6 brings us the report from Pete Womack, KF4VCC. Womack operated the Louisville NWS station WX4NWS. For over 4 hours, using 6 repeaters the station passed in excess of 50 messages from many Indiana and Kentucky counties. Womack noted the contributions of KB9SOE, KY4SP, W8WN, and WB9LIA.

John Meyers, NB4K and Dick Wyatt, KY4UK in District 7 used the 146.760 K4KJQ repeater in Lexington to assist Harrison County when their 911 call center went offline. Meyers summed up the operation, "All power and utilities including phone lines were down on Harrison County. Northern Harrison County 911 calls were rerouted to Pendleton County and all southern 911 calls rerouted to Bourbon County. Any calls that came into Pendleton County were to be sent to the amateur that was in the Harrison County EOC. KY4UK was at the EOC Harrison County and NB4K was at the 911/EOC in Pendleton County."

District 9 operators in Eastern Kentucky activated to assist two NWS offices, multiple agencies, 911 centers, and even provided information to a television station that was providing public warning information. John Hagar, N4KJU reports that linking the 147.225 repeater in Paintsville and the 147.390 in Louisa provided a communication platform for serving Johnson, Lawrence and Magoffin counties in Kentucky and Wayne County in West Virginia. Providing over $20,000 of service, key operators were KB9ORD, KF4KPL, N4KJU, WA4SWF

Hagar commented that amateur radio communications helped to reduce the traffic load on public safety agency communication systems.

Heading west to Central Kentucky, several counties in District 13 and 14 had amateur radio activations.

In Madison County, Glenn Foley, KO4OL reports that he and KF4KEF, KO4UI and N4CQR provided communication support with severe weather reports for local emergency management. Communities covered were Berea, Moberly, Richmond, and Waco.

Continuing in District 13, Fayette County ARES activated a formal net with several messages passed to the NWS. Lexington didn't have a tornado, but like many counties, had pockets of severe damage incurred from straight line winds.

In the state capital and District 14, operators supported both KY State Government and local governments in Frankfort and Franklin County. Between state and local operations, some operators were on the air from 7 PM until 2:30 AM. District Emergency Coordinator Patrick Compton, KF4FMZ reports that he and K4MIS, KB5WCH, KE4MIA, KE4OER, KE4OES, KF4DSS, KG4JCZ, KI4JPA, KI4VEF, N4HZX, and WA4CMO worked the operation.

From Kentucky Emergency Management, Bob Stephens, WA4CMO wanted to tell hams all across Kentucky, "Thanks for the great work you all did during the severe weather we had last night."

Severe weather and follow up aftermath communications are one of the most common contributions that amateur radio operators make to their communities.