Weather Support for EmergencyManagement

Alan Gerard

NWS Jackson, MS

NWS ERMet Briefing MS Gov.

Phil BryantDuring MEMA

HurricaneExercise

NWS Southern Region

NWS: Background Federal agency under US Department of Commerce Federal agency under US Department of Commerce

and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administrationand National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Formed in 1870 as part of the US Army Signal CorpsFormed in 1870 as part of the US Army Signal Corps Mission:Mission: The National Weather Service (NWS) The National Weather Service (NWS)

provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global the private sector, the public, and the global community.community.

NWS Southern Region

NWS: Organization

NWS Southern Region

NWS: Saving Lives

NWS Southern Region

NWS and Emergency Management

Emergency management is our Emergency management is our key partnerkey partner in meeting our in meeting our mission of saving lives and mission of saving lives and propertyproperty

NWS Southern Region

Decision Support Services

Focus has become providing “decision support services” for emergency managers and other key partners

Training Emergency Response Meteorologists (ERMets) to provide this support

• ICS coursework

• Briefing training

• Other specialized coursework

NWS Southern Region

NWS and Emergency Management

One of our core efforts is the development and One of our core efforts is the development and enhancement of services to the EM communityenhancement of services to the EM communityNWSChatNWSChatGoToMeeting/Multimedia BriefingsGoToMeeting/Multimedia BriefingsSpecial WebpagesSpecial WebpagesTraining and EducationTraining and EducationStormReady ProgramStormReady ProgramDirect Event Support: Onsite and remoteDirect Event Support: Onsite and remote

NWS Southern Region

NWSChat

NWS Southern RegionApril 24, 2010 Tornado Outbreak – NWSChat logApril 24, 2010 Tornado Outbreak – NWSChat log

NWS Southern Region

Special Briefings

NWS Southern Region

SAFE Page

NWS Southern Region

SAFE Page

NWS Southern Region

NWS Southern Region

NWS Southern Region

Communities earn recognition based on six categories:

Communications Warning reception Monitoring Warning dissemination Community preparedness Formal hazardous

weather plan

NWS Southern Region

NWS Southern Region

EM Event Support - Training

JAN Decision Support Workshop AgendaJan 17-18 2012

17 Jan 0800 – Intro…Are you ready for change? (Dan)

0815 – Roadmap, future of JAN DSS and Pilot Projects… (Alan)0900 – What is first class Decision Support? (Dan, Alan)

1015 – Break 1030 – Effective presentations and briefings. (Dan, Steve)

1130-1300 – Lunch (Cheddars or Mugshot’s)1300 – JAN DSS trailer familiarization. (Dan)

1345 – Incident Command Systems (ICS) refresher (Dan, Mark)1445 – Break

1500 – WRF model and potential uses in the field (Greg)1545 – Software…Cameo/Aloha familiarization, Hysplit and FX-Net training. (Dan)

1630 – IMET Dispatches and Briefings (Dan)1700 – End of Day

 18 Jan

0800 – Media Training (Greg Flynn and Jeff Rent)1130 – Working Office Lunch (Lenny’s)

1230 – Full incident simulation… (Dan, Steve, Mark)Includes Operational, Media and planning briefing scenarios

1645 –Wrap Up 1700 – End of Day

2 Day Decision Support Workshopin January of this year.

Mainly tailored towards localonsite support.

NWS Southern Region

DSS Example – Hysplit Model

NWS Southern Region

Emergency Response Trailer

NWS Southern Region

Emergency Response TrailerNew and improved ERMet trailer

Workspace

Sleeping

Kitchen

Shower

NWS Southern Region

Madison County Exercise Nov 08

F3 Tornadohitting Nissan

plant

NWS Southern Region

Jones County Exercise Aug 09

Tornado/Hazmat/Terrorist Exercise.

Issued ExerciseTornado warnings

For event.

Real-time severeWeather was also

Ongoing.

NWS Southern Region

Jones County Exercise Aug 09

Tornado/Hazmat/Terrorist Exercise.

Issued ExerciseTornado warnings

For event.

Real-time severeWeather was also

Ongoing.

NWS Southern Region

Covington County Gas Leak Jan 11

Natural Gas Leak

Thunderstormseach day…

Concerned about Lightning.

Several briefings

Onsite supportfor 3 days

Gas/Water fromStorage cavern.

NWS Southern Region

Covington County Exercise Apr 12

Pipeline Leak

Provided Briefings and Hypslit Run

Interact with partners and demo capabilities

NWS Southern Region

Partial list of additional supported events Brandon Day Festival…Early May (2009-2010) Statewide hurricane exercise MEMA (Yearly) Grand Gulf Nuclear power plant exercise. (Yearly) Viking classic Golf Tournament…Oct (2009-2011) Yazoo/Jones county fairs River Fest (Apr 2012) 4 years running…Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – provided on-site support for large gathering of people (2007-2010)

(Onsite) Support for Hattiesburg Train Accident (2008) (Onsite) Naval Meridian air show in (March 2008, 2011) (Onsite) Post Yazoo City tornado support to Yazoo county for 5 days (Apr-May 2010) Youth baseball tournament in Jones county (2009) (Onsite) Brandon Days (2008-2009) (Onsite) Choctaw Indian Fair (Yearly) Thunder on the water…Grenada MS (Yearly) (Onsite and from Office) Copiah/Adams County Exercises (2010) (Onsite) Yazoo City Exercise (2011) True South Classic Golf Tournament (Jul 2012) (Significant T-Storm Activity for this event) Watermelon Festival Mize MS (Jul 2012) (Onsite and from Office) Choctaw Softball/Youth Baseball Tournament (July 2012) Dixie Major World series (July 2012) Neshoba County Fair (Current) Dixie Thunder Run (Aug 31-Sep 2 2012) (Onsite)

Note: All supports were in conjunction with MEMA, County EMA, Policeor Fire Department.

Sturgis South

NWS Southern Region

DSS from the OfficeLocally developed Local DSS

Display software.

Enter the Event on office calendar.

Display’s events on Situational displays automatically

Displayed as placefile on GR Level II

Will also display on Shift Log.

NWS Southern Region

Future EndeavorsFuture Endeavors

Increasing DSS to large events (Getting more and more requests

for this support)

In final stages of developing a statewide onsite support concept

Would be worked through state EMA through NWS Jackson and

involve other MS NWS offices

NWS Southern Region

Questions?