The AM Forum

I just learned that Chuck, W3FJJ suffered major storm damage.  Hearing the details, he is very lucky to be alive.  I have attached a picture showing some of the damage to Chuck's home.  

Here is his current status as he relayed the information to me:

"Well good news is I am ok, and I think the cat is ok, although she hasn't ate or drank anything in days, and I have only seen her twice she scared sh*tless literally.

I'm still living in house, but no running water or bathroom, so probably not for long.  

The Tree crushed  my main radio shack, bedroom, bathroom, work room and  corner of living room.

Lucky to be alive,as i was in bedroom when it happened, if i was in radio room i probably wouldn't be, the main radio shack floor caved in with homebrew rigs plasma generator, DX-100,30s1 Amp, FT1000, 2m rig,  etc..  Not sure if anything survive."  

 

OMFG

Here is another shot of the damage to Chuck's-W3FJJ home. 

Joe, W3GMS

Yeah, having been to his place a few times, I can see that this devil came from the hill up behind his house, within striking distance. Your second shot --  that spread of branches -- took out more than a few beams.

We had an old guy killed in my county, tree hit the upper corner of his house where he was. Yet it was just the corner, not a major collapse like Chuck's.

And another place in west Annapolis got hit by a tree on the SAME corner as during a storm about 15 years ago. Newspaper had its original story and photo, alongside the one from the other day. 

Sad, very sad.

Wow!  That is terrible.

I have been thinking about having a couple of trees taken out that are a little too close to the house, these photos definitely made me sure they will soon be gone.

Very sorry for Chuck.  Fond memories of operating with him at Bowie fester on Frank's 4x1. 

Wonder if we can do something as a group for Chuck?

I mentioned getting together a work party to give him some help.  I recommended that the house contents be put in POD storage until the place gets rebuilt.  His house contents sure need to be protected from the weather. 

I have not heard his intentions concerning the next step.  I certainly will keep all informed.  Chuck is only about 30 miles south of me and I can be down to his place at a drop of a hat. 

That is one of the great things about our hobby, helping each other out especially in times when they need it the most.   

Joe, W3GMS 

HOLY CR@P!  Glad the sentient beings survived.  I agree Joe.  Need a storage POD ASAP so as to contain damage.  Chuck will be in my prayers

Al

Ouch, that is terrible and sad.

Dont tell the FD, PD, or anyone else or the town will condemn it and not allow anyone in.

Get the insurance guy in ASAP and then get a qualified crew to lift the roof and get a new one on real fast to get it weather tight.

Might be best to remove the tree immediately if the adjuster OK's and then camoflauge tarp it over to make it semi invisible.

Carl

I just got off the phone with Chuck and he is doing amazingly well considering what he is going through.  The adjuster was there today.  Chuck has very good Homeowners Insurance.  They will probably total the place and just build a new house.  They are setting him up in temporary quarters for the duration.  The personal belonging in the house are all well insured so financially he should be fine.  

I told him at the end of the conversation now he can build the Hamshack of his choice since he will be starting all over again.  The radio gear in the dinning room did not get damaged so he has that.  The other stuff was driven through the floor when the tree smashed the house.  That stuff is down in the basement which is full of water.  

Joe, W3GMS  

Yikes. Sorry to see and hear of Chuck's misfortune. Glad to hear HE is OK though. With all the big tree surrounding my house I worry about this very thing.

Here's hoping he gets the house rebuilt soon.

Gads.  The floor gave out and the gear is now in the basement flooded. Talk about worst case. Sorry to hear.

Back in the mid 90's, a bunch of us stayed over at Chuck's after a party. I remember sleeping the night on the floor next to that room. Chuck left the receiver on all night and we all awoke at 7AM to the sounds of Irb on 3885 ringing the chimes and calling CQ... :o

Quick story: There was a house down the street that got hit by lightning about five years ago. It burned to the ground. No one hurt. The family built a Taj Mahal with the insurance proceeds. It's the most beautiful house on the street.   Point is, even though it is painful now, Chuck will end up with a brand new home that will be designed as he sees fit. In a few years he will look back and probably say it was a wonderful "toke" of good luck, not bad.  It will be a transistion from an old house to a new solid, bigger abode with the new house smell. Great retirement.

Keep thinking good thoughts Chuck, and you will get through this like a trooper - with your own Taj Mahal, new shack, etc.  Time goes by quickly.

T

Checkout QRZ for a selection of some "before" photos of his most excellent equipment. Makes it all the sadder.

That was a narrow escape. Too bad about the floor and basement, didn't even think about that as we have no basements in TX. I guess the radios are pretty much ruined? That's a real shame about that. His cat OK now? Hope she's eating gain. At least there wasn't a fire too.

Thanks Joe.
Pam and I woke up over coffee talking about him before I checked in here.
He's a helluva nice guy and we are sad that such a bad thing happened to him.

I hope he looked up to see this yesterday morning, like I did, glad to be alive.

Yikes, I hope the gear in the living room was all garbage gear...MFJ tuners, 2 meter HTs, old ICOMs ... and the good stuff was somewhere else.

Wow. That could have been any of us.

Glad you were in the right place in the house Chuck!

Thanks for the update on Chuck's storm damage Joe. I'm very glad he was not injured and can only imagine what that sounded like as it came crashing down on the house. It looks like it might be a while before we hear the big signal from W3FJJ rolling into New England. Hopefully, his favorite chunks of gear can be brought back to life without too much effort!

Looking at those pictures of Chuck's damage, I think I'm going to put the 100 foot pine tree that sits in my front yard up for sale. Any takers?

Rob W1AEX

Sorry to hear about Chuck's house damage due to the storm. I'm glad he is OK and not hurt. Good luck with the rebuilding process.

73 Jerry W1ZB

Wow, that is really, really bad.  Please relay to Chuck that I'm sure glad he was OK.  Rigs and be replaced.  Life cannot.

Regards,

Steve

Geez, nothing drives the point home like photos of a fellow AMer's place trashed like that. It's amazing Chuck got out of it unscathed, that is one massive tree and the damage is pretty substantial.

Sad to hear that so much of his gear took the hit. Hopefully he can haul it out once the tree is removed and dry it out. That stuff is pretty resilient, especially the milspec FRT transmitter if that was involved. He'll likely be able to salvage more radio gear than house by the looks.

Thanks for posting the info, Joe. Please add my best wishes to the list as well when you speak with Chuck. If not for the upcoming medical procedure next week I'd be up there with you to give him a hand when the time comes.

Hi Guys, thanks for the concerns, wishes and help. I feel very fortunate to have great bunch of people
willing to help and talk too. Everything is going amazingly well, and I am doing much better than many from this storm,
All the people that got killed, or lost their house totally, people still with out power etc..
I actually have power, but no running water or facilities. Yesterday they got the tree off the house,
 maybe today, I will  be able get some stuff out of the ham shack.  The Stuff on the perimeter, may have survive, not sure how much rain came
down on it, but peering in from window  doesn't look smashed and hadn't fell to cellar yet.  KA3PTX-ED and W3WMD-Walt
are coming over today to help, and I will know more.  I think if i was sitting in my chair in ham shack when this happen, I wouldn't be here typing this message,
talk about luck...
Thanks guys, I miss talking to you all on air.  I think its going to be awhile before I'm TXing again, , but I am going to rig up some kinda RX....
73-Chuck-W3FJJ

Great to hear from you Chuck.  Your right; far more are in more dire straights. Hope all goes well on your house rebuild and reclaiming of ham gear.  Whew! You had a close call.

Wow - Sorry to hear about the damage to your house/gear. Glad you survived though.
73, Dave - W3NP

I just received this from one of Chuck's friends, Ed-KA3PTX who was down at Chucks today to lend a hand on the cleanup. 

"Just got back from Chucks.  Managed to savage some radio stuff.  Pictures explain all the carnage.  Especially look at the one titled "Chucks Bed"  that is where he was
when the roof came down on him."

The 4th attachment will be posted in a separate posting. 

Joe, W3GMS

 

Final picture of the grouping. 

Joe, W3GMS

i wonder if the power was off when this happend. Very lucky a fire did not start.

Put a couple of sets of guy wires on it until some tree cutter gives a reasonable price.

Carl

Hi Guys, Many Thanks to Ed-KA3PTX, Walt-W3WMD, and Don Donovan, they help me immensely, yesterday, getting a bunch
of stuff out, from my shack. I haven't plugged in anything yet, but doesn't look like
this stuff got too wet or smashed. Equipment pulled out, included my Ft-1000, Ft-920, NRD-515,  SX-28, CE-20a, 810 rf deck,
Johnson matchboxes, two large mod
xfrms, PC, PC monitor, Audio rack. Wow what a great day! few days ago I though that all of that may of been lost.
Some Equipment still in question are 4-400 rig, 304TL rig ,3x3000 amp, DX-100, Collins 30s1 amp, RE20 mic. but it's too dangerous to go further.

Here's a couple shots

Ed and Walt  removing 1kw mod iron


Ed with audio Rack/NRD, and roof fixed to good as new!.

Ed with Audio Rack and Roof good as new!

Chuck:

Seeing your progress is heart-warming. It does look like much of your gear will be useable, and am glad you got the tarp up. Let's hope that ALL of your gear is good and more importantly your house gets restored quickly.

I am proud to be part of this group seeing the help you received.

I hope your heart is feeling more optimistic these days seeing your progress.

Wish I was down there as I would have enjoyed helping.

Please keep us informed.

73,
Dan
W1DAN

Chuck, I very sorry to hear about your misfortune. but glad your OK.  It sounds like a real close call.  I'm also glad to hear that you can salvage much of your outstanding collection. 

Please keep us pasted of your progress and hope to talk to you on the air again sometime soon.

I'm glad to see some of the equipment being saved. I hope the rest of it isn't all ruined.

Holy Hornswaggles Chuck! That was close. And another nor-easter is bearing down so batten down ye hatches.

We have had tragedies in the AM community this year, that is for sure - and some accidents too in the past. Do you remember Dave Smith N2KSZ who was from my hometown part of the world up near Canton NY? He died tragically in a farm accident in 1997 at the age of 37. He was buried in a suit but under that suit was an Electric Radio Tee Shirt.

Best of luck on rebuilding,

Mike WU2D

Chuck, I heard about your dilema from Ray, WD2AFJ. Damn glad you got out with your cardiovascular system still intact! I along with others here will be glad to assist in any way we can! I hope to 'Mod-U-Lator'!

Chuck,

Sent an e-mail to you .. Whatever you need man after you start to rebuild..parts, tubes, iron, just name it! Glad you're ok, and things will end up ok fine..

Jeff

Chuck I am very glad to hear you've been able to salvage some hardware.
But the best thing to have made it is software -- YOU.

Right now, Sunday afternoon, I'm listening to quite a few people hearing about your disaster on the AWA PM-AM Net on 3837Kc, and reacting with concern and best-hopes as you rebuild and put your life back together.

A lot of people care about you, dood, and they're pulling for you.

Joe/GMS has described how the tree company discovered a huge rock beneath the tree that fell on your house, and how that might have blocked the roots from really taking hold all these years to withstand the kind of winds that moved through.  That's interesting, because from looking at the sawed-ends of the tree sections I didn't see much if any rot, like hollow center, etc.

Ya just never know.

Take care

Yeah, Paul, I was one of the ones on 3837 just learning of Chuck's misfortune. Joe GMS had told the net about it, and said the photos were here, so came up to see.

Chuck, I will add to the chorus of sympathy and well-wishes. Guess a CW QSO in the 1929 BK in a few weeks, as we've had in the past, isn't likely at this point. We'll all be looking forward to hearing you on the air as soon as possible. So glad you are OK.

-Larry

Thanks everybody again, Things are moving along, I spent last two days packing stuff up,
loading up my shed with crap that nobody would want but me.amazing how much of that there is..
Hope to get contractors here and open up wall to try and get some more stuff out but with the nor
east'r coming may not be for awhile..   Paul, I thought   I took picture  of the boulder under neath the center of stump, but I cant find it, might be on my cell phone..
they pushed the stump back over so can't see it now..  Larry, I will miss operating  in the Bruce Kelly AWA event this year, I hope to
at least be listening to some wobbling carriers! I hope you are doing better with your accident, I think that is worse than my situation.
thanks again folks..  BTW, tinker bell, my cat, is back to her old self, seems she is starting to get used to all the commotion...
73, Chuck

Pics   Stump, footlocker from attic, tinkerbell

I honestly don't know which is worse, Chuck, my situation or yours. Neither one is fun. On the bright side, we'll both recover. A big milestone for me will be my 12-week follow-up appointment with the surgeon, three weeks from today. That's when they'll let me start putting some weight on my right leg. How much is TBD, but once I can start using it, even a little, progress will be faster.

Glad to hear the cat is back and doing well; I was going to ask. Have two cats here, both are great company. One constantly hangs out with me and "helps" with whatever I'm doing.

Chuck

Tinkerbell is a very pretty kitty.  Glad she survived and is thriving.  I'm sure you will be a comfort to each other.  I know my Rosie is

Al

Yay! Tinkerbell is OK! it would have been heart breaking to loose a pet and friend on to of the rest of this tragedy.

Chuck,
If you want, come on up to GMS Radio, I will set up my original 1929 TNT transmitter for you to use during the 1929 BK AWA event!  We can do a multi op station.  I bet that has never been done before on that particular event.  
73,
Joe, GMS    

Chuck,

Hope to hear your strong signal down Virginia way again soon.

Good luck!

73,
Brad K4RT

Al, rosie looks like a cousin to tinker bell, I was so happy she survived, she may of been
in radio room when it happen, i didn't see her for a day and then took two more days beforeshe came out
to eat and drink. . BTW,  I got that same EV EQ, I like that, I think it survived.

Joe, that would be cool multi op 1929 rigs!

Just heard from N2JTD, i was wondering about him, being near jersey shore, him and maggie are ok
but sounds like some of his neigbors weren't as lucky..

I do feel very blessed , and feel for those up NYC that are still with out power, lets hope this nor'easter
don't do more damage..   73, Chuck

Harley has some advice, Chuck, after reading and seeing the photos:

Yes, New Jersey and lower New York were hit hard. My friends N2IRJ and N2SAG had no mains power and were without any telephone service for almost two weeks. The situation there is still a little 'iffy' as weakened trees continue to fall.

Chuck, ever since the days when I heard you with the "B" in your call on my old Racal, you have put out a quality signal. And I am sure that the renovated station will continue -- and probably extend -- that tradition. Nature has intervened, but your mind will create a new FJJ station. That quality has always come from your mind and your creativity anyway, and not from any particular piece of gear. Even if all you had was a pile of parts, or any scratchy-sounding stock rig you care to name, you'd get to work and create an "FJJ quality" signal all over again.

I lost everything a few years ago, and am planning a comeback myself. Sometimes a terrible disaster, unwelcome as it is, can clear the decks for something new and even better. Best of luck and have fun building the new FJJ.

73,


Kevin, WB4AIO.

Hi Kevin,  Sorry about your total lost, yikes...Sounds like you on the up swing, now that's good. GL...
You were an inspiration, to me,  back in the 80's, with your big signal, great audio, and no doubt, one of the smarter, technical guys, on the air.
I hope to hear you on soon

Just a quick update. I've moved into apartment in Newark, close to University of Delaware, while my house is getting demolished , and they rebuild.
This will probably be at least 6-8 month process. I still haven't  got my stuff out of the ham shack or basement, so don't know what the real damages
are,  but  since I got alot of stuff out already, unscathed, it's been far better than I first thought..


 I plan on getting on AM, from the University  Club Station,  in the  next couple of weeks,  I miss talking to you guys.
73, and happy t-day coming up, Chuck

Hey that's cool. Get the UD station on AM!

Good luck on the rebuild and hope to hear you on the air soon.

Thanks for remembering the good old days of AIO labs -- I sure remember all those great QSOs. Remember when 3785 was one of the main AM frequencies? I think WA4GGL pioneered that one... it was where he used to call "CQ Margot Kidder" and "CQ Pat Benatar" if no one was around.

Have fun at the University station and enjoy your new home!

73,


Kevin, WB4AIO.