The Nuts and Bolts of These Community Preparedness Recognition Programs

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Rosamund McCoy
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1 The Nuts and Bolts of These Community Preparedness Recognition Programs Bill Sammler Warning Coordination Meteorologist NOAA s National Weather Service, Wakefield VA

2 Why is StormReady Important? Approximately 90% of all Presidentially declared disasters are weather related. On average there are 500 weather related deaths each year across America. Severe weather causes nearly $14 Billion in property damage each year.

3 What is StormReady? A grass roots program designed to improve communication and severe weather preparedness in communities. Helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs. Prepares communities for severe weather. Provides community leaders and emergency managers with guidance on how to improve warning and weather preparedness programs.

4 What is TsunamiReady? A part of the NWS StormReady Program. A grass roots program that promotes tsunami hazard readiness. A collaborative effort between federal, state, and local emergency management, and the public. A method to improve public safety during tsunami emergencies.

5 StormReady/TsunamiReady Objectives Create minimum standard community guidelines for adequate storm/tsunami readiness. Encourage consistency in educational materials and response. Recognize communities that have adopted StormReady/TsunamiReady guidelines. Increase public awareness and understanding of natural hazards. Improve community pre-planning for weather/tsunami disasters. Taking the pulse of the planet

6 StormReady & TsunamiReady Community Defined A group of people within a locality that have common social and economic interests with an infrastructure that supports the communication and education role of NOAA s National Weather Service to protect lives and property. Communities include, but are not limited to: counties; cities; towns; universities; Indian Nations; U.S. Territories; and, government and private entities.

7 As of March 2006 there are 1034 StormReady and 27 TsunamiReady Sites in 50 States StormReady TsunamiReady University/Lab Industrial Site Indian Nation

8 StormReady/TsunamiReady in Virginia Taking the pulse of the planet

9 How does a Community Become StormReady/TsunamiReady? Establish Communication and Coordination Plan 24 Hour Warning Point Emergency Operations Center Receive Critical Weather/Tsunami Warning Information NOAA Weather Radio NOAA Weather Wire Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) EMNet News Media (Radio/TV) Internet Pagers, cell phones, etc.

10 How Does a Community Become StormReady/TsunamiReady? (contd) Disseminate Weather/Tsunami Warnings Emergency Alert System Cable Override NOAA Weather Radio in public buildings/schools SAME compatible requirement in VA 10/1/06 NOAA Weather Radio on Community Access Channel Sirens Other systems unique to the area

11 How Does a Community Become StormReady/TsunamiReady? (contd) Increase Community Preparedness Weather/Tsunami safety presentations (CERT) Designate/establish tsunami area in safe zone Designate hurricane/tsunami evacuation areas and evacuation routes, and install evacuation route signs Provide written, locality specific, weather/tsunami hazard response material to public Schools: encourage weather/tsunami hazard curriculum, practice evacuations, and provide safety material to staff and students

12 How Does a Community Become StormReady/TsunamiReady? (contd) Administrative Develop formal weather/tsunami hazard operations plan Yearly meeting/discussion by emergency manager with NWS Visits by NWS official to community at least every other year SKYWARN Training Public and 911 Personnel

13 StormReady/TsunamiReady Recognition Process Community applies to local NWS Office. State StormReady Advisory Board reviews application. Local WCM/VDEM Regional Coordinator perform on-site verification visit. If criteria are not met, Advisory Board suggests improvements and works to implement changes. Once criteria are met, a recognition Ceremony is held for community. Taking the pulse of the planet

14 Successful Applicants Receive: StormReady/TsunamiReady recognition valid for 3 years. Two official StormReady/TsunamiReady signs. Authorization to use the StormReady/TsunamiReady logo. Instructions for acquiring additional signs. Information on how to notify the ISO for possible flood insurance rate adjustment (for StormReady). Listing on the Nat l StormReady Website. Taking the pulse of the planet

15 StormReady Web Site:

16 TsunamiReady Web Site:

17 The End!! Are There Any Additional Questions? Taking the pulse of the planet

18 NHC Wind Speed Probability Graphics Available for 34kt, 50kt and 64kt Winds Available through 120 hours Individual forecast graphics Cumulative probability graphic Replacing NHC Strike Probability Forecast Oriented Toward Sophisticated Customers Low Probabilities can be Significant

19 Existing TPC/NHC Products Used to Convey Uncertainty Watch/ Warning Graphic Indicates forecast track and long-term mean error

20 Existing TPC/NHC Products Used to Convey Uncertainty Strike Probability Graphic Indicates chances of a close approach of the center

21 Existing TPC/NHC Products Used to Convey Uncertainty Strike Probability Text Product

22 Why a new probability product? Need for improved means of conveying tropical cyclone forecast uncertainty to various types of users New product is about a weather event at any specific location Conveys chances of wind speeds of at least particular thresholds 34 kt (tropical storm force) 50 kt 64 kt (hurricane force) Accounts for combined uncertainty in track, intensity, and size Extends to 5 days Includes inland locations Will replace strike probabilities in 2006 Taking the pulse of the planet

23 What do the new probability products tell you? Answers to three main questions: What are the chances this event is going to happen to me? Do I need to prepare? Cumulative period probabilities New graphics and text products from NHC and CPHC When is the event most likely to start at my location? How much time do I have left to prepare? Individual period probabilities New text products from NHC and CPHC What are the chances this event will be happening to me on a particular day (or part of a day)? How long will the storm last? Will the weather be bad on Saturday? Incremental probabilities Potential future products from local NWS Forecast Offices Taking the pulse of the planet

24 NHC Website Probability Graphics 34 kt example

25 NHC Website Probability Graphics 34 kt example

26 NHC Website Probability Graphics 50 kt example

27 NHC Website Probability Graphics 50 kt example

28 NHC Website Probability Graphics 64 kt example

29 NHC Website Probability Graphics 64 kt example

30 NHC Wind Speed Probability Graphics 34 kt example Rita Advy. 17

31 NHC Wind Speed Probability Graphics Text Product Example

32 Cumulative (0-120 hr) 64kt Probabilities Note that chances of hurricane conditions at Tampa Bay and Port Charlotte are both around 30%! 18 UTC Thu August, 12 Hurricane Charley (2004)

NOAA s National Weather Service. National Weather Service

NOAA s National Weather Service Serving the Nation s Environmental Forecasting Needs Lynn Maximuk Regional Director National Weather Service Central Region Headquarters Kansas City, Missouri America s