Advanced WAS*IS WorkshopNorman, OK

September 16, 2008

Melissa Tuttle Carr Manager, Weather Information Distribution

The Weather Channel

Kevin BarjenbruchWarning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service, Salt Lake City

I. WAS*IS Partnership Initiative

II. Communication: Key points to consider

III. Opportunities

IV. Wrap Up

Today’s Presentation

Beginnings

I. WAS*IS Partnership Initiative

• Initiative started at Summer 2006 WAS*IS Workshop based on strong illustration of need to work on public-private partnerships

• Worked with team of WAS*ISers from NWS and private sector to refine message

• Gave presentations and held interactive meetings at numerous locations (including NWS regional offices and NWS national headquarters); have spoken to 300+ people

Initiative Message

I. WAS*IS Partnership Initiative

Improved communication and collaboration within the weather enterprise will lead to improved products and services, and better and more understandable weather information.

This ultimately benefits the public as they receive the best, most useful weather information so they can take action and protect life and property.

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

• Understand how partner companies (whether government-private or private company B2B) use and disseminate your data and products

• Understand how the public uses your products and data; ensure you are providing the best services and information possible for their needs

• Start the thought process immediately upon project initiation – should be considered early in system and software development

• Ensure all levels of organizations are educated with this information

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

Example: NWS bulletin products

Actual complaint from a TWC viewer:

“During a severe thunderstorm warning, The Weather Channel scrolling message and weather.com pages often list the warned area as such: * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA EAST CENTRAL DURHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SOUTHERN VANCE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SOUTHERN GRANVILLE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

This is a terrible method of communicating a dangerous situation. Eliminating the words ‘in central North Carolina’ after every county would greatly speed up the delivery of the warning message.”

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

Example: NWS bulletin products – Large SVR

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

Example: NWS bulletin products – Large SVR

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

Example: NWS bulletin products – Tornado Emergency

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

Example: NWS bulletin products – Giant Flood Warning

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

Example: Storm-Based Warnings - Illinois

II. Key Thoughts1: Consider societal impacts in daily work

Example: Storm-Based Warnings: Charlotte Area

II. Key Thoughts2: Broader, more meaningful work on partnerships

• Keep lines of communication open

Good examples:

CAP Team

Early engagement/survey on NWS winter changes

• Think about how your actions will impact your customers and partners

Learning opportunities:

Western Region SVR/FFW combination

Los Angeles Zone Change delay

II. Key Thoughts2: Broader, more meaningful work on partnerships

Understand how your partners use your data and products, and provide support accordingly.

Examples:

NWS bulletin product formats – why they are important to the partner, and ultimately, to the consumer.

Detailed product documentation and support – what is needed and why?

III. Opportunities

1: NWS Bulletin Formatting

• Text product enhancements (NGWT / HWT experimental warnings)

Mixed case (easier readability)Better geo-targeting (for emerging technology platforms)Improved product set

• Reconcile how to serve multiple customer bases

• Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)

III. Opportunities

2: Emergency Alert System (EAS)

Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) introduction to EAS

Functionality:

Traditional information, plus audio, graphics, maps

Use by multiple alerting platforms, including cellular phones, websites, variable message signs, sirens

Will enable text to speech functionality and language indication

III. Opportunities

3: Web-enabled information management systems

WebEOC – Enables real-time sharing of crisis information to assist in decision making process

Key Functionalities:

Access to NWS Watches, Warnings, and Advisories using CAP

Multiple mapping services (ESRI’s ArcIMS, Microsoft’s MapPoint WebService, etc.)

III. Opportunities

4: Service Assessments / Shared Research

• Continue with social science aspect…drawing upon expertise of a pool of social scientists or those with related experience

• Illustrate value of private sector in reports

• Leverage public-private partnership to examine how warning information can be more effectively disseminated (wider distribution, clarity of message, etc.)

IV. Wrap Up

Melissa Tuttle Carrmtuttle@weather.com

Kevin Barjenbruchkevin.barjenbruch@noaa.gov

Thank you!

IV. Wrap UpBonus illustration of the broad user spectrum…

IV. Wrap UpBonus illustration of the broad user spectrum…