NWS Memphis Civil Emergencies Program

1
NWS Memphis Civil Emergencies Program

• Jonathan L. Howell
• National Weather Service - Memphis, TN

2
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Impetus for WFO Memphis Civil Emergency Program
• Brooks Road Memphis, TN HAZMAT Incident
• WFO Memphis has Capability Resources to Respond
  to HAZMAT Incidents
• Protect Lives Property in the Mid-South
• Important Role Weather Plays in HAZMAT Situations
• Winds / Stability Impact Plume Spread
  Dispersion
• Weather in general can Impact Recovery Efforts
• Provide Local Emergency Managers / First
  Responders Weather Information that is Critical
  to Decision Making
• Evacuations
• Emergency Response Crew Positioning / Planning
  Hazard Mitigation

3
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Created WFO Memphis Civil Emergency Response Team
  
• All WFO Memphis Forecasters Provide Off-Site
  Support
• Small to Medium Scale Incidents or Large Scale
  Incidents Better Served from WFO Memphis
• Incident Support Meteorologists (Currently 4
  Staff Members) Provide On-Site Support
• Large Significant Incidents Requiring Local,
  State, Federal Support

4
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Civil Emergency Team Action Items
• Local Training for WFO Memphis Meteorologist
• Purchase Equipment for Improved On-Site Support
  Communications
• Introduce Incident Response Capabilities /
  Procedures to Customers
• Create an Incident Worksheet to Support
  Meteorologists Responding to Off-Site Incidents

5
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis HAZMAT Teletraining All WFO Memphis
  Staff
• NWS Support During Hazardous Materials
  Emergencies
• Provides NWS Forecasters Training for Response to
  a HAZMAT Incident
• Forecasters Learn to Provide Pertinent Weather
  Information to Emergency Responders
• Dispersion Basics
• Basics of Dispersion Meteorology Plume
  Dispersion Properties
• Introduction to Operational Dispersion Models

6
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis HAZMAT Teletraining All WFO Memphis
  Staff
• CAMEO/HYSPLIT Dispersion Models
• Detailed Review of CAMEO/HYSPLIT Dispersion
  Models
• Interpreting Dispersion Model Output
  Distributing Information to Emergency Responders

7
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis HAZMAT Training Incident Support
  Meteorologist
• Additional HAZMAT Teletraining via Commerce
  Learning Center
• ICS 100 Introduction to Incident Command System
• Purpose of ICS How the Structure Works
• Command/General Staff Functions
• ICS 200 Basic Incident Command System
• ICS Leadership Management
• Functional Areas Positions / ICS Organizational
  Flexibility
• Forecasters Learn how to Work Within the
  Organizational Structure Briefings / Support
  Planning Operations Sections
• Incident Experience (Not Required But
  Preferred)
• Experience Working On-Site HAZMAT / Wildfire
  Events
• Previous Experience in Dispersion Modeling / Air
  Pollution Meteorology

8
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Optional HAZMAT Training
• ICS 300 Intermediate Incident Command System
• ICS Staffing Organization
• Unified Command
• ICS 400 Advanced Incident Command System
• Command/General Staff Complex Incidents
• Organizational relationships between Area
  Command, Unified Command, Multi Entity
  Coordination Systems, and Emergency Operation
  Centers
• ICS 700 An Introduction to the National
  Incident Management System
• Teaches the NIMS and how different branches of
  Govt work together during Domestic Incidents
• ICS 800 An Introduction to the National
  Response Plan
• Trains how Federal Govt works with Local, State,
  Tribal Groups to Respond to Disasters

9
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis HAZMAT Training All WFO Memphis
  Staff
• WFO Memphis In-House Training Exercises
• Mock Response to Canned HAZMAT Events
• Test Train Staff on Effective Response,
  Communications, Use of Mobile Equipment
• Joint Emergency Management / NWS Drills
• TN-SONS 2007 Exercise (Regional Earthquake Drill)

10
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Civil Emergency Response Equipment
• In House Equipment
• Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System
  (AWIPS)
• Extensive Communications Capability
• Forecaster Collaboration
• On Scene Dispatched Equipment
• Portable Davis Vantage Pro 2 Weather Station
• Civil Emergency Laptop
• Internet Access
• FXConnect Software
• WFO Memphis Cell Phone
• Satellite Phone
• Future 800 MHZ Radio Communication

11
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis Incident Response
• Emergency Management / Responder Requests Weather
  Assistance
• Senior Forecaster Determines if Off-Site or
  On-Site Response is Necessary Based Upon
  Magnitude / Significance of Event
• If On-Site Support is Required
• Incident Support Meteorologist is Contacted
  Dispatched to Scene w/ On Scene Dispatched
  Equipment
• Senior Forecaster will Schedule Relief Personnel
  for Deployments gt 12 hrs.
• Local Forecast Staff will Conduct Off-Site
  Support Duties to Support Dispatched Incident
  Support Meteorologist
• If Off-Site Support is Required
• Local Forecast Staff will Initiate Off-Site
  Support Duties
• Senior Forecaster may call in Additional Staff if
  Necessary

12
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Off-Site Incident Support
• Initial Weather Briefing Request for Hazard
  Information
• Forecaster Provides Emergency Responder Critical
  Time Sensitive Weather Information
• Forecaster Requests the Exact Specifics of the
  Incident

13
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Off-Site Incident Support
• Initial Weather Briefing Request for Hazard
  Information (Cont.)
• Forecaster Requests the Emergency Responders
  Contact Information

14
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Off-Site Incident Support
• Initial Weather Briefing Request for Hazard
  Information (Cont.)
• Forecaster Requests Hazardous Spill Information

15
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Off-Site Incident Support
• Request for HYSPLIT Modeling
• Forecaster Determines if HYSPLIT Modeling is
  Appropriate for Incident
• If HYSPLIT Modeling is Necessary then NCEP will
  Run Local Plume Modeling for the Incident
• Model Run 15 Minutes
• Local WFO Memphis Forecasters will Diagnose Model
  Output for Usefulness Based Upon Ongoing
  Forecast Weather Situation
• Forecaster Injects Own Forecast Using Model
  Output as Guidance Only

16
HYSPLIT Model Output
17
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Off-Site Incident Support
• Full Weather Briefing HYSPLIT Model Output

18
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Off-Site Incident Support
• Full Weather Briefing HYSPLIT Model Output
  (Cont.)

19
Civil Emergency Response Program

• On-Site Incident Support
• Incident Support Meteorologist (IM) is Dispatched
  to Incident Scene
• IM Arrives on Scene Establishes Contact with
  Emergency Manager / Incident Commander
• IM Establishes Communication with WFO Memphis
• Collaborate Current Forecast Weather
  Information w/ WFO Memphis Forecasters
• IM Sets up On Scene Dispatched Equipment
• Performs Meteorological Duties as Established by
  the Incident Commander

20
Civil Emergency Response Program

• On-Site Incident Support
• On-Site Capabilities of IM
• Access to Meteorological Observations Model
  Data
• Take Record On-Site Observations
• Initiate HYSPLIT Model Runs
• Conduct Weather Briefings w/ Command or General
  Staff
• Initiate All-Hazard Messages (Shelter-In-Place /
  Evacuation Orders) via All Hazards Radio
• Assist On-Site Dispersion Modelers
• Serve as Public Information Officer Concerning
  Weather Matters
• News Conferences
• Media

21
Off-Site Response Lawrence County, ARNovember
18, 2007
22
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Lawrence County Off-Site Incident Support
  November 18, 2007
• Lawrence County 911 Initial Call to Request
  Weather Support
• Call Received 445 AM
• Informed of Major Propane Leak at the Texas
  Eastern Products Pipeline Company Pumping Station
• County Road 349 SE Lawrence County
• WFO Memphis provided low-level wind information
  upon initial call / weather briefing
• Light Northeast Winds
• Specifics on Spill were not Available at Time of
  Initial Call
• Arranged for Lawrence County 911 to Conduct a
  Follow-Up Call when Specifics of Spill were
  known

23
Lawrence County HAZMATCourtesy of KARK Channel 4
http//arkansasmatters.com/media_player.php?media_
id20056
24
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Received a Follow Up Call from Lawrence County
  911 615 AM
• Mandatory Evacuations Issued for 100 Households
  within a 2 Mile Radius of Plant
• Specifics on Spill Collected
• Latitude / Longitude Provided
• 35.94 North
• -90.92 West
• Cause of HAZMAT
• Leak from Propane Tank
• Plume was Spreading Several Miles Downwind
• Height of Release
• Ground up to 20 Feet
• WFO Memphis Informs Lawrence County 911 that
  HYSPLIT Model Run will be Requested

25
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis Initiated HYSPLIT Request through
  NCEP
• Specifics on Spill Provided to the NCEP Senior
  Duty Meteorologist (SDM)
• SDM Initiated HYSPLIT
• HYSPLIT Model Results Provided to WFO Memphis
  15 Minutes via Secure Weblink
• HYSPLIT Results Sent to Lawrence County 911 via
  Local Webpage Link
• Output Expected Plume Behaviors Explained to
  Emergency Management Officials
• Extensive Weather Briefing Accompanied HYSPLIT
  Results

26
HYSPLIT Model Output
27
Sfc Wind Pressure Analysis 12z
28
1200 UTC Little Rock Sounding
29
250mb Jet Stream Analysis 12z
30
500mb Wind Height Analysis 12z
31
850mb Wind Height Analysis 12z
32
Surface Based Instability 12z
33
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis Forecast
• Stationary Front Initially South of HAZMAT Site
  Forecast to Move North of Site by Early Afternoon
• As Mid Level Shortwave Approaches
• Low Level Jet Strengthens
• Low Level Winds (below inversion based 5kft)
  initially northeast 5kts
• Becoming Easterly 5kts (8am-10am)
• Becoming Southeasterly 10-15kts (by early
  afternoon)
• Low Level Winds Moving Plume Initially slowly
  towards the SW then W after 8am near the Surface
• Plume Remaining Trapped Below Inversion Based at
  5kft Through Mid Morning
• Plume Remaining Concentrated w/ Light Winds
  Limited Venting Through Mid Morning

34
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis Forecast
• Inversion Forecast to Mix Out by Mid Morning as
  Front Lifts North
• Instability Increase Behind Frontal Passage with
  Deep Mixing
• Plume Concentrations Becoming Increasingly
  Diluted by Mid Day
• Additional Evacuations in Egypt, AR Surrounding
  Areas based on Forecast
• Spill Contained by Late Morning and HAZMAT
  Support Terminated

35
On-Site Response Shelby County, TNAugust 5,
2006Brooks Road Incident
36
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Shelby County On-Site Incident Support August
  5, 2006
• Shelby County EMA Initial Call to Request On-Site
  Weather Support
• Call Received 530 AM
• Informed of Major Chemical Fire at the Pro-Serve
  Industrial Complex
• Brooks Rd. / South Memphis S. Shelby County
• Large Intense Fire Threatened Large Storage Tanks
  Filled w/ Toxic Herbicide Chemicals
• Potential for Lethal Toxic Plume Dispersion to
  Impact Nearby Populated Residential Areas
• WFO Memphis Decision to Provide On-Site Support
• Magnitude of Event in Large Urban Area
• Incident Support Meteorologist Dispatched to the
  Scene / Arrived 1000 AM

37
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Shelby County On-Site Incident Support August
  5, 2006
• Incident Support Meteorologist (IM) Dispatched to
  the Scene
• IM Arrived On Scene at Mobile Emergency Command
  Center 1000 AM
• Located 10 Blocks from Fire
• Established Contact w/ Randall Roby (Command
  Staff) Shelby Co. EMA
• Assisted w/ Set-Up of On-Site Meteorological
  Observing Equipment
• Davis Instruments Vantage Pro 2
• 15 Minute On-Site Observations
• Conducted Command Staff Weather Briefing 1100
  AM
• Included Shelby Co. EMA, WTEMA, Memphis/Shelby
  Co. Police/Fire, Contract Short-Range Dispersion
  Modeling Team (Univ. of Arkansas)

38
Sfc Wind Pressure Analysis 12z
39
1200 UTC Little Rock Sounding
40
250mb Wind Height Analysis 12z
41
500mb Wind Height Analysis 12z
42
850mb Wind Height Analysis 12z
43
Surface Based Instability 12z
44
Civil Emergency Response Program

• WFO Memphis Forecast
• Stationary Front Positioned Over North-Central
  Mississippi
• Low Level Winds out of the North at 5-10kts
  Forecast to Strengthen to 10-15kts w/ Gusts by PM
• Plume Forecast to Transport to the South
• Plume Forecast to Remain Concentrated in Limited
  Area to the South w/ Dispersion from Well-Mixed
  Unstable Low Level Atmosphere and Gusty North
  Winds
• Convective Chances Forecast Low
• Longer Range Forecast was for Stationary Front to
  Return North as a Warm Front Early Aug. 6

45
Civil Emergency Response Program

• Additional Evacuations Ordered South of Fire
• Continuous Weather Watch Updating Command Staff
  Concerning Any Weather/Wind Changes
• Coordinated w/ Randall Roby (Shelby Co. EMA)
  Senior Forecaster at WFO Memphis to Arrange for
  Relief Met. Support
• Attended Another Command Staff Briefing 230pm
• Began Work with Army Dispersion Modeling Team
  Following PM Briefing
• Fire Contained by Late Afternoon and HAZMAT
  Support Terminated

46
Summary

• Overall Goal is to Provide Accurate Reliable
  Weather Support to Emergency Management /
  Responders during Natural Manmade Disaster
  Situations
• WFO Memphis has the Capability, Manpower,
  Expertise to Provide this Type of Support
• Fits into Service Evolution Allows WFO Memphis
  to Provide the Necessary Tailored Weather Support
  to our Customers
• Continues to Allow WFO Memphis to Fulfill our
  Commitment of Protecting Life Property in the
  Mid-South

47
Special Thanks

• Sammy Crews Shelby Co. EMA
• Mike Eckert NCEP
• Greg Thompson UCAR
• Phil Baker WFO Memphis
• All Others Who Assisted w/ this Presentation