Improving Communication and Situational Awareness: Available tools for NWS operations13th Annual High Plains ConferenceNorth Platte, NE

Review of Multimedia Web Briefings A short recorded video which incorporates graphics, audio, and text information

Enables forecasters to explain the why of the upcoming situation as well as forecast concerns, confidence, uncertainty.Not only a data provider but a data interpreter

Multi-media Weather Briefing Integrated Work Team in the process of national implementation

Review of Emerging TechnologiesLive Chase CamsLive Chase CamsPietrycha, A. E., S. F. Blair, T. J. Allison, D. R. Deroche, and R. V. Fritchie, 2009: Emerging technologies in the field to improve information in support of operations and research NWA Electronic Journal of Operational Meteorology., 2009-EJ2, 1-24

Outline and Flow of Information of a Tech-Savvy Storm Observer

LaptopGPSSN GUIMobile ObsMobile VideoInternetviaCell Phone orBroadband CardsResearch ProjectsField CoordinatorNational WeatherService WFOs

Review of Emerging TechnologiesUtilize favorite SA tool to display pertinent information: Gibson Ridge Software (GRLevelX), Google Earth, StormLab, RadarLab HD, others Placefile Possibilities CR SA Displays Spotter Network NWS Warnings SPC Watches SPC Mesoscale Discussions SPC Day 1 Outlook/Probabilities MRESS observations METAR observations Local mesonet observations Local Storm Reports (LSR) WSR-88D algorithms Incorporated GPS location NOAA Wx Radio locations Amateur Radio Repeaters Customized GIS locations

Improving Office SA

Office Layout

Typical WFO Layout Majority of Weather Service Employees are introverts

Design tends to hinder communication

OOffice LayoutEmergency Operations Center LayoutDesigned to maximize situational awareness

Office Layout

OUN Layout

Office Layout

Increase communication and situational awareness

Challenge of many WFOsLimited Budget $$$

Takes a team effort

Real-time SA Tools

Live TV Streams Allows WFOs to monitor other television stations outside of their viewing area by placing a slingbox at the TV station or EM office.

May require outside internet connection

Traffic/Web cams Can supply real-time Verification

Not only found within metropolitan areas

Check with Schools, TV Stations, etc

TV Station Blogs/Live Chat Rooms Some TV stations monitor and post reports within a live forum

Viewers can post reports as well

Can be useful for verification

Post Storm Tools

Social Networking Quickly disseminate information to customers with little hassle

Reach newer, potentially larger audience

Upload waypoints from damage survey app

Utilize geo-locations to view tweets via maps. Could be potentially useful for reports.

Damage Surveys Can be used to upload waypoints of damage indicators

Automatically creates Google map with track damage and descriptors

Email or auto upload to social networking sites.

Mentioned on Motion X website

http://news.motionx.com/category/motionx-gps/

NSSL Hail/Meso GIS Plots

Allows WFOs to overlay hail/rotation plots atop Google Earth Maps Can be beneficial in identifying post event verification locations

Weather MailA SEVERE THUNDERSTORM warning was issued for your area at 613 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009. We would appreciate it if you contacted us with any information on severe weather you might have observed with this storm. We are interested in the following kinds of weather information: 1) Hail the size of a dime or larger. 2) Winds that cause any kind of damage, or that are estimated to have exceeded 60 MPH. 3) Tornadoes and/or funnel clouds. Please be as descriptive as possible, and keep the following in mind if you are replying... For All Events: Reference location of observed severe weather to cities, and road names. For Hail: Include size of hail stones (estimated or measured), and time it occurred. For Wind: Include speed (if known) or describe damage done, and time it occurred. As an example include diameter of any limbs blown from trees, and any details on other objects that where damaged. For Tornado/Funnel Cloud: Include description of where it was observed, if any damage was done, and time it occurred. You can follow the following link to a web-page hosted by the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy which can give you information on the SEVERE THUNDERSTORM warning, and where the storm was. http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings_cat.phtml?year=2009&wfo=EAX&eventid=188&phenomena=SV&significance=W

Reponse: hello and thanx for email here on the town square in kingston winds were approx 60 mph. i have a 30 foot top blown off of a 60 foot black locust tree in my front yard. there was also extreme ponding from 1 1/4 inch of rain falling in minutes..thankl you/ dennis yoakum

Used for verification

Sends out an email to spotters in database within polygon

Received ~700 responses during 2009 svr wx season

Possibilities with new technologyie include call back number and spotter network reporting via smart phones

Integrated Warning Team

Integrated Warning TeamOutgrowth of one slide from Dale Morris (2006) which built upon Integrated Warning System concept of Doswell, Moller, and Brooks, WAF 1999Who makes up the team?- EM community- Broadcast Media- NWSThinking of themselves as something larger than their organization?

Integrated Warning Team

Takeaways There was universal buy in with the IWT concept

The majority of the public get their information directly from the media, Sirens were a close 2nd

What does this mean:Weve got to do anything we can to support the media during severe weatherWe really need to push towards a uniform siren policy for warningsAttendees

6 TV stations and 2 Radio Stations were represented 20 NWS Meteorologists from 5 WFOs and CRH 60 EMs from in and out of the KC Metro 5 Social Scientists

Takeaways Conducted a 3 day workshop focusing on:The Integrated Warning Team concept (Day 1)RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships!! What social scientists can tell us (Day 2)WAS*IS group spoke on findings from post event surveys, communications research, other communities best practices Formulating a strategy for moving forward (Day 3)RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships!! Cost ~$8500 for invited speaker travel and lunch meals

Integrated Warning Team

External Communication Goals Work to get all 4 KC TV stations using unified svr wx bug colors (then expand outSt Joe, Kirksville) Investigate and work towards a unified siren policy Seek out local university social scientists to get their assistance conducing local research on public response Work for wider distribution through hwy msg boards Work to limit tornado warning length to 30 minutes when possibleInternal Communication Goals Get 90% IWT members using NWSChat during svr wx comms within 12 months- Develop local NWS Chat admin group to help NWS Keep Communications going- State Broadcaster Meetings- Conduct regionalized mini-IWT workshops- State and substate EM meetings Create KC MEMC task force to manage goals(co-chaired by media, em, and nws representatives)

Traffic Management Systems KC Scout working towards Weather Integration for Traffic Management

Future plans to integrate warnings/weather messages on message boards

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