21st Century NWS Warning Communications: The Future of Warning Dissemination Is Here

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21st Century NWS Warning Communications The
Future of Warning Dissemination Is Here

• Timothy W. Troutman, NWS Huntsville
• Kenneth E. Graham, NWS Birmingham
• Faith D. Borden, NWS Birmingham

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WFO Birmingham Huntsvilles Goals

• Zero Direct Weather Related Fatalities Thru
  Improved Warning Communications
  
• Instant Messaging (IM)
• 800 MHz Radio
• Paging
• Graphical Communications
• Automated Programs
• Example Hurricane Ivan

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Instant Messaging (IM) Importance

• Externally Dedicated PCs Internet Lines
• Bridges the Gap Between Media NWS, Message of
  Partnership Mission
  
• NWS Forefront of Svr. Wx. Communications
  Collaboration
  
• Advanced Warning Notification
• Discuss Meteorological Situation at Hand
• Sharing of Real Time Damage Reports

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Actual chat script from May 7, 2003
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800 MHz Communications
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Importance of 800 MHz

• Dedicated Communication Link-Main Dissemination
  Method with EMAs
  
• All 4 NWS AL-NW FL Offices Use It. Talk Group 17
  for N. AL/Srn. TN Counties-Others Coming
  
• Weather Briefings in Advance of Big Wx. Events
• Instant Two-Way Communication-Vital during Svr.
  Wx. or Anytime as needed, plus Damage Reports
  Questions.
  
• 11/10/02-Tornado Outbreak-300 Individual
  Briefings-WFO Birmingham
  
• 5/06/03- 95 Coordination Calls-100 Year Rain F1
  Tornado Event-WFO Huntsville
  
• Heads Up Paging to Notify of Svr. Wx. Events

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Paging and Automated Watch/Warning Methods

• WFOs BMX HUN Page County EMAs in Advance of
  Official Watches/Wx. Briefings
  
• PageGate System-Allows for Groups Within County
  to Receive Page within Seconds!
  
• Gives EMAs/SKYWARN a Further Heads Up that Svr.
  Wx. is Possible/Imminent, 20 to 30 min. Lead
  Time
  
• Svr. Wx. Warnings paged, Internet EMWIN Program
  WXMESG (Lloyd)

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Graphical Communications
Graphicast
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Graphical HWO
WxThreats Denotes Primary Hazardous Wx. Threat, w
hich May or May Not be Covered by Another Graphic
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Sample Graphics
Categorical Grids
Activation reflects last statement in text HWO S
tormThreat reflects severity of potential thunder
storms FlashFloodThreat reflects coverage of fla
sh flooding events WinterThreat reflects severit
y of potential winter storms
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WFO Birmingham, Alabama Weather Watch Graphic
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Auto CEM Program

• EMAs Can Compose Send Non-Weather Related
  Hazardous Info. directly to NWS
  
• Process Takes Less than Two Minutes
• Is Authenticated by EMAs NWS

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Communication Is About Building Relationships

• Town Hall Meetings
• Severe Weather Booklets
• Radar Interpretation Training
• Frequent Meetings
• Feedback Sessions
• NWA Meetings
• FACE TO FACE

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Lessons From Ivan

• Must Have Event Coordinator
• Regular Products Were Not Enough
• Special Weather Statement was our Inland
  Hurricane Local Action Statement
  
• It was the SERVICES and LOCAL EXPERTISE that
  Made Our Offices Successful

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Media CommunicationsDuring Ivan

• Instant Messenger
• Media Briefings
• Live Interviews
• Press Conferences
• Interviews

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Emergency ManagementCommunication During Ivan

• 800 MHz Radio
• Briefings Local Officials, The Decision Makers
• Paging
• Press Conferences Involve Public Officials
• Town Hall Meetings
• Being With EOC Staff
• Meteorologist Stationed at AL EOC-Clanton, AL

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Public Communication During Ivan

• Live NWR
• Back to Human Voices for SPS
• Press Conferences Were Widely Viewed Due to
  Wall-to-Wall Coverage
  
• Morning Radio Show Interviews
• Evening APT Interviews

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Public Benefit

• Get a Single Message
• Get Warnings Faster
• Quicker Activation of Sirens
• Additional Time to Take Action
• Lives Saved No Direct Fatalities

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Quotes

• The 800MHz briefings were A, on most occasions
  we had hundreds of people in attendance.
  Tallapoosa County EMA
  
• IM Was Priceless. ABC 33/40, Birmingham
• Your briefings from the Birmingham Weather
  Office really helped us make decisions, thank you
  so much. American Red Cross
  
• The National Weather Service did a great job for
  us. We have never been more prepared. Gov. Bob
  Riley.

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More Quotes

• We at Jackson County EMA were particularly
  satisfied with the two and sometimes three a day
  briefings that we had, even if no conditions had
  changed. We know that you are staying on top of
  things. Victor Manning, Director, Jackson
  County EMA
• I just wanted to commend Huntsville National
  Weather Service for a job well done during the
  extreme bad weather we had during Hurricane Ivan.
  The briefing were informative and to the point.
  We received information as needed to make
  necessary decisions for our county. We are very
  grateful for the Weather Service. It is very
  helpful to have you in our area to keep us
  informed of weather updates. Again, thanks for a
  job well done! Hillard Frost
• Director , Lawrence County EMA

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Summary

• Zero Direct Weather Related Fatalities Thru
  Improved Warning Communications
  
• Instant Messaging (IM)
• 800 MHz Radio
• Paging
• Graphical Communications
• Automated Programs
• Example Hurricane Ivan
• Warning Order IM, 800 MHz, Warngen, NAWAS