Surviving a tropical storm in Hawaii
Hawaii Island amateur radio operators are breathing more easily now that the Central Pacific Hurricane Center has downgraded Tropical Storm "Fernanda" to a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Remnants of this once potent storm should pass south of Hawaii Island Sunday or Monday, bringing a few showers and higher than normal surf. It appears those of us on Hawaii Island have dodged the proverbial "bullet". Local civil defense officials are keeping an eye on "Fernanda" just in case it pulls a switcher-roo like Hurricane "Iniki" did twenty years ago. "Iniki" passed south of Hawaii Island as a weak tropical storm and then found warm water, regained category 4 strength, and flattened most tall objects on the Island of Kauai. The "Garden Island" lost nearly all of its communications infrastructure, many homes, and several businesses. It took months to rebuild the place, thanks to National Guard personne...