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

WFO Birmingham & Huntsville’s Goals

• Zero Direct Weather Related Fatalities Thru Improved Warning Communications

• Instant Messaging (IM)

• 800 MHz Radio

• Paging

• Graphical Communications

• Automated Programs

• Example: Hurricane Ivan

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

Actual chat script from May 7, 2003

800 MHz Communications

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

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)

Graphical CommunicationsGraphicast

Graphical HWO

WxThreatsDenotes Primary Hazardous Wx. Threat, which May or May Not be Covered by

Another Graphic

Sample Graphics

Activationreflects last statement in text HWO

StormThreatreflects severity of potential thunderstorms

FlashFloodThreatreflects coverage of flash flooding events

WinterThreatreflects severity of potential winter storms

Categorical Grids

WFO Birmingham, Alabama Weather Watch Graphic

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

Communication Is About Building Relationships

• Town Hall Meetings

• Severe Weather Booklets

• Radar Interpretation Training

• Frequent Meetings

• Feedback Sessions

• NWA Meetings

• FACE TO FACE

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

Media CommunicationsDuring Ivan

• Instant Messenger

• Media Briefings

• Live Interviews

• Press Conferences

• Interviews

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

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

Public Benefit

• Get a Single Message

• Get Warnings Faster

• Quicker Activation of Sirens

• Additional Time to Take Action

• Lives Saved – No Direct Fatalities

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.

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

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