The Philip B. Petersen Collection Broadcast December 13, 1989

     In the third week of September 1989, Hurricane Hugo, packing winds up to 150 miles per hour, made a devastating path of death and destruction through the Caribbean islands.  The islands of St. Croix, Montserrat and Puerto Rico were among the hardest hit.
     A few days later, Hugo struck its final devastating punch to Charleston, South Carolina.  Most homes were damaged and many were completely destroyed, leaving many homeless.  Radio amateurs on the islands using emergency generators were on the air making requests for food, drinking water, medical supplies, clothing and portable generators.  Radio amateur networks were passing messages to many relief organizations -- the Red Cross, Salvation Army and so many others that helped with supplies.
     Radio amateur Bill Dixon, N2CXX, of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey and Gerry Silverman, WB2GYS of Tinton Falls, New Jersey were on the air from the Fort Monmouth amateur radio station K2USA.  Charles Gspann, W2ZEE was operating from his home in Deal, New Jersey.
     "Yeah, Nick, this is for your station and your Red Cross stations in San Juan.  This is for the Red Cross stations only, OK?"
     "OK.  I copied Red Cross stations.  What about San Juan?"
     "OK.  This is also for the Red Cross in San Juan.  QSL?"
     Thousands of other radio amateurs were monitoring and ready to respond quickly for messages directed to their areas.
     Mrs. Major Lawrence Moretz of the Salvation Army in Puerto Rico kept a diary of the hurricane.  I quote in part:  " ... News network is sending out constant warning messages to the people....  Prepare is the key word.  Christine remembers the windows and masking tape is quickly applied. -- We pray for Ponce and Guayama (Guayama is a tiny town of humble houses.).  Please God cover them with your mighty hand.  News Flash!  The hurricane has made a sudden and dramatic change of direction.  Guayama and Ponce might be spared.  3 AM - longest night of the year.  The wind sounds incredible --  Electricity is gone. -- 6 AM - Winds are 75 MPH and increasing.  WOSO is back on the air but evidently something terrible is happening in Old San Juan.  Auggie is frantic on the air.  His studio wall crashed in and is now broadcasting from a studio next door."
     The hurricane stopped at about 2 PM.  Now the need for radio communications became more critical.  For the next several weeks, radio amateurs were busy transmitting priority relief and health and welfare messages until the commercial communications systems were again in operation.

December 13, 1989

** Broadcasts recordings preserved and presented here by Mr. Robert Buss and Mr. Bernie Ricciardi, Phil's friends and fellow Marconi Chapter 138 QCWA members **

Page updated January 12, 2004  page created June 11, 2001