<div dir="ltr"><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Dear CEDAR and GEM colleagues,</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">As you are no doubt aware, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a category 5 storm on September 20. The eye and 100+ mph winds affected virtually all of the island. The Arecibo Observatory withstood the storm, and we are happy to say that all the staff members and their families are safe and accounted for. The staff has spent the past weeks performing cleanup activities as well as inspecting physical structures and research equipment. We are greatly relieved that the Observatory sustained less damage than feared to its equipment and facilities.</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The meteorological parameters recorded along the hurricane Maria by the weather station on top of the platform show wind velocities above 40 mph for more than 24 hours and maximum wind gusts of about 115mph just before and after the eye passage. During the same time a dramatic change of the barometric pressure was detected (29.8in in to 28.4 in), and the accumulative rain during the storm was more than 35 inches.</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">As consequence, part of the radio telescope structure was damaged, but damages were minor considering the magnitude of the storm. The 430 MHz line feed antenna and the 46MHz transmit/receive system collapsed due to the strong winds, along with parts of the waveguide and the catwalk (the bridge that goes to the platform). Pieces falling from the platform caused damage to the spherical reflector. About 30 of the panels (the main dish) were broken and some of the heliax cables from the HF radar system were bent. In contrast, the Gregorian Dome and integrated ISR system do not appear to have been affected. Proper tests will be performed as soon as commercial electrical power is reestablished.</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Recovery activities started one day after the storm. Most of the staff was back in action repairing damage, removing debris, testing equipment and doing assessments of technical damage. After one week, we ran the first lidar experiment and started to collect data continuously from the passive radio and optical instruments. The radio telescope performed drift scans, observing pulsars after the storm. We continue a strategy of continued testing of equipment and capabilities as more resources become available.</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Besides all of the hard work performed onsite, the Arecibo Observatory staff is also taking an active role in the recovery efforts of Puerto Rico. We have provided hundreds of people within the community with clean potable water, and we have given support to FEMA officials and search and rescue operations. Several Arecibo Observatory staff members who lost homes are temporarily living on site.</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">We want to thank the entire Arecibo Observatory staff for their incredible dedication and efforts in helping reestablish operational capabilities at the facility. Its people are the soul of the Arecibo Observatory. The Arecibo Observatory is committed to Puerto Rico and the community. We know that together we will soon be on our feet and achieving great things.</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Sincerely,</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Francisco Cordova, MSCE, PE</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Director - Arecibo Observatory</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">SRI International</span></p><p align="justify" style="font-size:12.8px;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify"><span dir="LTR" style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,17);background-image:none;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Phone: <a href="tel:(787)%20878-2612" value="+17878782612" target="_blank">787-878-2612 ext. 212</a></span></p>
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