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 are
reminded that Part 97.101 (c) always gives priority to stations
providing emergency communications. All stations should be aware
that in a large-scale natural disaster, immediate threats to life
and property can happen quickly. In order for Amateur Radio to play
an effective role in supporting humanitarian efforts, it is key that
all licensees cooperate to minimize potential on-air problems.

Amateurs should also be aware that the primary users on the 60-meter
channels are using those channels extensively. Amateur stations, as
secondary users, must ensure that their communications are conducted
in such a manner to ensure that Federal government stations, as
primary users, can have immediate use of any 60-meter channel.
Amateurs, please make sure you are leaving adequate breaks between
transmissions to allow the primary stations to use the frequency. If
a primary user does break into an amateur contact on the frequency,
the amateurs involved should immediately cease their transmissions.

At this time, it is ARRL's understanding that only Amateur Radio
Emergency or Amateur Radio Priority traffic is moving in and out of
the affected areas. Amateur Radio Health and Welfare communications
are being queued up for later delivery into the affected area, as
the emergency and priority traffic eases.

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, it is human nature for
persons outside of the affected area to seek information on their
loved ones. Those wishing to send Health and Welfare queries are
encouraged to use the American Red Cross's ''Safe and Well'' website
to facilitate those contacts: 
https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php