ppw 6 28 04

Warning America: 

Warning America Partnership for Public Warning 2nd National Emergency Summit on Public Warning in America Mr. Scott Rayder Chief of Staff National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration June 28, 2004

Agenda: 

Agenda NOAA’s Mission NOAA’s Partnerships NOAA’s National Weather Service Warning Program Where we are today Where we are going Summary & Conclusion

NOAA’s Mission: 

NOAA’s Mission NOAA’s Mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs

NOAA’s Mission Goals: 

NOAA’s Mission Goals Four overarching goals for achieving NOAA’s mission… Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystem management approaches Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond Serve society’s needs for weather and water information Support the Nation’s commerce with information for safe and efficient transportation

NOAA’s Partnerships: 

NOAA’s Partnerships Who are NOAA’s Partners? Federal Agencies FEMA/DHS USDA State, Local and Tribal Government Agencies (Emergency Managers) Broadcast Media (Broadcast Meteorologists) Private Sector Academia Public (Spotters, Cooperative Observers)

Why is NOAA Here Today?: 

Why is NOAA Here Today? NOAA wants to: Be part of the team that helps identify ways that government and industry can work together to improve America's warning capability. Enhance communication and collaboration among the warning community. Discuss the important issues on the agenda.

What are All-Hazards?: 

What are All-Hazards? All hazards emergency messages include: Natural hazards, e.g., Tornadoes Hurricanes Floods Earthquakes Accidents Chemical releases Oil spills Nuclear power plant emergencies Terrorism Amber Alerts Other Hazards

NOAA Delivers All-Hazards Messages: 

NOAA Delivers All-Hazards Messages Criteria for NOAA to disseminate non-weather related Civil Emergency Messages Public safety is involved Message originates from an official government source Information is time critical Broadcast of all hazards emergency messages requires Message collection Authentication Dissemination

How Civil Emergency Messages Reach the Public Today: 

How Civil Emergency Messages Reach the Public Today Civil Emergency Message: Local, State, Federal Public

NWS Dissemination of Warnings: 

NWS Dissemination of Warnings How do NOAA and all hazards warnings reach people? Family of Services NOAAPORT NOAA Weather Wire Service Emergency Manager’s Weather Information Network NOAA Weather Radio Internet Media

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR): 

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) NWR is the voice of NOAA’s National Weather Service NWR operates 24 X 7 NWR is our main entry into the Emergency Alert System (EAS) NWR Covers 97% of the nation 900 NWR Transmitters

The Role of NWR for Civil Emergency Messages : 

The Role of NWR for Civil Emergency Messages CEM via NWR provides people an effective and timely first alert function We requested $5.5 million in FY04 funding to improve and streamline NOAA Weather Radio Benefits: Improvements in the civil emergency message process by providing emergency managers and first responders access into our dissemination systems Reduction in message time delays from 7 minutes to 2 minutes MOA signed between DHS & NOAA- June 17, 2004

The Role of NWR for Civil Emergency Messages (cont): 

The Role of NWR for Civil Emergency Messages (cont) Senate appropriation language: Supportive of DHS intent to use NWR as foundation of Homeland Security Advisory System Wants to increase NWR exposure Provides $10 million for NWR in schools throughout the Nation on a priority basis

The Integrated Warning Process: 

The Integrated Warning Process Detection and Warning: Detect threat and warn for it Communication: Communicate and deliver the message Response: Ensure the message prompts the appropriate response May 21-25, 2004 = Approx. 141 tornado reports, 124 flash floods: 6 fatalities May 12-18, 1995 = 173 tornado reports, 307 fatalities

Examples of an Integrated Warning System in Action:: 

Examples of an Integrated Warning System in Action: Van Wert, Ohio A “STORMREADY” Community Preparedness in Place Threat Detected Warning Issued Warning Understood Action Taken Bottom Line: Lives saved The integrated warning system is a direct result of a STORMREADY community Photo credit: Todd Campbell

What’s our Vision?: 

What’s our Vision? Every person in the U.S. gets climate, water and weather information: They want Where ever they are Whenever they want it, and Everyone at risk receives timely All-Hazards warning information NOAA is more than weather – we also predict and warn for: Tsunamis, harmful algal blooms, solar flares, and other hazards Future = Air Quality and Ozone forecasts and warnings

Summary: 

Summary PPW is performing their mission NOAA’s mission intersects Consensus for a future warning system is essential to its success NOAA depends on partnerships for the existing weather/water warning system to work We will continue to collaborate with partners to develop a more efficient and effective national warning system that ensures all warnings are as widely accessible as possible