Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

InformationDisseminationTechnologiesandArchitecture:MeetingtheGrowingNeedsofDecision-MakersandthePublicforCriticalWeatherInformationMr.SamuelP.WilliamsonFederalCoordinatorforMeteorologyOfficeoftheFederalCoordinatorforMeteorologicalServicesandSupportingResearchNationalHurricaneConferenceTrainingSessionApril6,2004TrainingSessionOverview•Whyarewehere?–CriticalWeatherInformationImpacts–TrainingSessionPurpose–TrainingSessionExpectedOutcomes•Logistic–QuestionnaireandInformationDisseminationTechnology(IDT)Listing•TrainingSessionPanels•SummaryCriticalWeatherInformationImpacts•Discussgettingnaturalhazardwarnings(e.g.,hurricanewarnings)tothepublicandemergencymanagement•Watch/Warningmessagemustbeclearandconsistent•Soit’srelevanttothetargetcommunity•Criteriamaymustbeclearlyunderstood•Facilitateunderstandingandpromoteasaferesponse•Keypointthemessagemustgettothepublic•Capitalizeonstate-of-the-artinformationdisseminationtechnologies,likeNOAAWeatherRadioandReverse911•Partnerwithstate/localgovernmentsandtheprivatesectortofillinformationvoids•Note…ithasbeenreportedthatthegreatestaverageyearlythreatisposedbyfloodsandflashfloods•WarningsissuedbytheNWSreachthepublicthroughavarietyofmethods•Forwarningstoreachthepublicquicklyandaccuratelyrequirescooperation•Successalsohingesontheabilityofthepublictorespond•Insummary,eachstepofthewatch/warningprocessmustfunctionefficientlyCriticalWeatherInformationImpacts•1890,theWeatherBureauwascreated…hurricaneof1875destroyingIndianola,TX,withoutmuchwarningwasacontributingfactor•1900,theGalvestonhurricanekilled6,000people--greatestnaturaldisasterinUnitedStateshistory…noformalhurricanewarningissued•1920's,severalhurricaneshitwithlittleornowarning•1926,averystronghurricanebroughtgreatdevastationtosoutheastFloridacausingmorethan200deaths.Thewarningsforthatstormwereissuedatnightwhenmostresidentswereasleepandunawareoftherapidlyapproachinghurricane•1928,anotherseverehurricanehitsouthFloridaandkilledanestimated1,800peoplewhodrownedwhenLakeOkeechobeeoverflowedCriticalWeatherInformationImpacts•1933,thelargestnumberoftropicalstorms(21)developed…twowerehurricanesthataffectedtheeastcoastoftheUnitedStates,includingWashington,andwerebadlyforecastandwarned•1999,HurricaneFloyd…over20inchesinsomeareasofNorthCarolina…fifty-onepeopledied,andoveralldamageexceededsixbilliondollars…inspiteofamplewarningofFloyd'sapproach,mostresidentsinlandhadvirtuallynowarningofthefloodsthatengulfedthem,leavingmanytorescuethemselvesinthemiddleofthenight•2004,aBaltimoreareawatertaxicapsizedduetosuddenhighwindsintheInnerHarborareaofBaltimore,Maryland,nearFortMcHenry,killingfiveperson…investigationcontinuesintowarningsupportsurroundingthisincidentCriticalWeatherInformationImpacts•WhilewearehereattheNHCtodaytoconcentrateontheIDTsneededtogetwarningsoutinatimelymanner,wemustnotlosesightofthefactthereareotherissues,likesocialresponse,wewillhavetotacklealso.Suchas…•ItwasreportedthatafterbeingwarnedofthetornadothatstruckArkadelphia,AR,20minuteslater,anindividualdidtheonce-unthinkableact:shetraveledintoitspathtoretrievehersister•Therearealsoincreasingnumbersofpeopleputtingthemselvesinharm'swaybychasingtornadoeswithvideocamerasorbywatchingandwaitingtoolongafterbeingwarnedathome•AlargefractionofthetotaldeathsintheWichitaFalls,TXtornadoesof1979andHuntsville,ALin1994werepeoplethatwerecaughtintheircarsduringrushhourtryingtogethomeaheadofthetornadoCriticalWeatherInformationImpactsTrainingSessionPurpose•Examine:•CurrentandfutureIDTpolicy•Availableinformationdisseminationtechnologiesandarchitectures•Acquirefeedback:•HowdoestheemergencymanagementcommunityviewcurrentandplannedIDTresources•ArethereanyunmetIDTneeds?TrainingSessionOverallOutcomes•EnhanceknowledgeofFederalpoliciesandguidelines•Lookathowpoliciesandguidelinesareimplemented•Updateonresources(programs,tools,etc.)available•Stimulatefeedback!!TrainingSessionLogistics•NHCQuestionnaire--NaturalHazardWarningUser•Needfeedback•ExistingIDTtoreceivewarnings•Timeandplacelimitations•Starttobuildanassessmentofexistingwarningsystems•IDTlistingshowsthekindsofexistingtechnologiesweareawareoftodayTrainingSessionPanelStructure•Twopanelstohelpfocusourinformationflowandfeedback•PanelI:Federalnatural-hazardsinformationdisseminationpolicies,procedures,andtechnologiesfordecision-makers•PanelII:Anassessmentofnatural-hazardsInformationDisseminationTechnologiesandarchitectureformeetingthedemandsofpublicsafetyInformationDisseminationTechnologiesandArchitecture:MeetingtheGrowingNeedsofDecision-MakersandthePublicforCriticalWeatherInformationPanelIFederalnatural-hazardsinformationdisseminationpolicies,procedures,andtechnologiesfordecision-makersModerator:Lt.Col.FrankEstisNationalHurricaneConferenceTrainingSessionApril6,2004PanelIObjectives•ReviewFederalnatural-hazardswarningdisseminationpolicy•DescribecurrentIDTsystemsusedtogetthewordout•Provideinformationoncurrentcommunicationtechniques/technologies•SolicitfeedbackoncurrentIDTpoliciesandproceduresPanelIExpectedOutcomes•GainincreasedunderstandingofexistingFederalpoliciesan