QST, February 1989, page 15 =
Hurricane Gilbert spawned far more records than simply the lowest pressure
ever observed in a Western Hemisphere hurricane.  It also saw the
implementation of new plans of action worked out by various members of the
Amateur Radio community.  Some of the communications support plans put to
use in this disaster had been formulated and exercised over the years, and
some evolved spontaneously.  An example of this was the operation of the
Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz.
First organized during Hurricane Betsy in 1965, this netowrk of radio
amateurs has constantly been undergoing changes suitable for the times and
technology. Some of the key players have come and gone, and others have been
there all along.  During and after each storm, they have handled things
slightly differently, but the basic procedure has alwoys been to disseminate
the official National Hurricane Center advisories and bulletins, to seek the
weather reports, ground truths, in the affected areas and to provide support
for disaster relief officials.  Key to this support is the organization of
the Dade County amateurs who man Amateur Radio equipment in the NHC, and the
members of the Hurricane Watch Net who gather reports from affected areas and
read teh NHC advisories to people on the net. +