StormReady

1. StormReady Working Together to Save Lives Mary Jo Parker National Weather Service Wilmington, Ohio

2. Why do we needStormReady? • 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? • StormReady is a “grass roots” program that focuses on improving communication and severe weather preparedness in communities • StormReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs • StormReady prepares communities for severe weather - from tornadoes to tsunamis • StormReady provides community leaders and emergency managers with detailed and clear guidance on how to improve their warning and weather preparedness programs

4. StormReady Incentives • Improve timeliness of hazardous weather warning reception and dissemination for community • Help local Emergency Managers justify costs of hazardous weather-related programs • Provide an “image incentive” to community • Encourage surrounding areas to improve their hazardous weather preparedness programs • Receive 25 Community Rating System Points to possibly lower National Flood Insurance Plan premiums

5. As of April 2007 there were 1164StormReady Sites in 50 States • StormReady • TsunamiReady • University/Lab • Industrial Site • Indian Nation

6. As of April 2007 there were 8StormReady Counties in Ohio

7. StormReadyCommunity Defined • StormReady defines “community” as 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 the National Weather Service to protect lives and property • In Ohio we recognize Counties for the StormReady program.

8. Integrated Warning System • Detection and Warning • Communication and Dissemination • Response Detection and Warning is an important part of the Integrated Warning System. U.S. National Weather Service

9. Integrated Warning System • What we have learned from Social Scientists is that if any one part of the Integrated Warning System breaks down… the entire process fails U.S. National Weather Service

10. Goshen Church: Piedmont, AL March 27, 1994 • The NWS issued a tornado warning with 20 minute lead time • The detection and warning portion of the system was a success but… the system still failed because the Church did not receive the warning message! U.S. National Weather Service

11. Goshen Church: Piedmont, AL March 27, 1994 • Is there a safe place in the Church? • Did the Church have a weather safety plan? • Did they assess their vulnerability to severe weather threats ahead of time? U.S. National Weather Service

12. Van Wert Cinema: Van Wert, OH November 10, 2002 • The NWS issued a tornado warning with a 28 minute lead time • The detection and warning; communication and dissemination; and response portions of the Integrated Warning System were a success! U.S. National Weather Service

13. Van Wert Cinema, Van Wert, OH November 10, 2002 • There was a safe place pre-designated in the Cinema! • The Cinema had developed a weather safety plan! • The Cinema assessed their vulnerability to severe weather threats ahead of time! U.S. National Weather Service

14. Response • We want the public to respond correctly to a warning message • The warning message itself does not stimulate an immediate response from people • People will 1st assess their own personal risk • Public action depends on the content and clarity of the warning and the credibility of the issuing organization U.S. National Weather Service

15. Response (continued) • Potential for correct response increases if people have clear information that defines their personal risk and tells them what actions to take • Bottom Line: We need to provide consistent, credible, information from multiple trusted sources U.S. National Weather Service

16. U.S. NWS Communicationand Dissemination • U.S. NWS partners with the media and private sector to disseminate warning messages • U.S. NWS has multiple systems to use to get warning messages out to the public

17. NOAA Weather Radio The voice of the National Weather Service There are over 940 NWR Transmitters in all 50 States across the U.S. U.S. National Weather Service

18. NOAA Weather Radio and Emergency Alert System U.S. National Weather Service

19. Partnerships • Partners consist of multiple publics: • Emergency Management • Other Government Agencies • Private Sector • Media U.S. National Weather Service

20. Partnerships • Establishing close working relationship with partners is crucial to a successful integrated warning process • Allows you to do things together that you can’t do alone • Leverages resources to get the job done U.S. National Weather Service

21. How does a Communitybecome StormReady? • Establish Communication and Coordination Plans • - 24 Hour Warning Point • - Emergency Operations Center • Receive Critical Warning Information • - NOAA Weather Radio • - NOAA Weather Wire • - Emergency Managers Weather Information Network • - News Media (Radio/TV) • - Internet • - Pagers, cell phones, etc.

22. How does a Communitybecome StormReady? (contd) • Monitor Evolving Weather • - Weather instruments • - River gage monitoring • - Radar access (Internet, local providers) • Disseminate Warnings • - Emergency Alert System • - Cable Override • - NOAA Weather Radio in public buildings • - Sirens • - Other systems unique to the area

23. How does a Communitybecome StormReady? (contd) • Increase Community Preparedness • - Spotter and dispatcher severe weather training • - Public weather safety presentations • Enhance Internal Operational Procedures • - Review of hazardous weather action plan

24. StormReady RecognitionProcess • Community applies in writing to local NWS Forecast Office • Local StormReady Advisory Board reviews application • StormReady Advisory Board performs on-site verification visit to ensure all StormReady criteria are met • If criteria are not met, StormReady Advisory Board suggests improvements and works with the community to implement necessary changes • Once all criteria are met, a recognition Ceremony and Press Conference is held for community

25. Successful ApplicantsReceive: • StormReady recognition letter from local NWS Office Meteorologist in Charge, valid for 3 years • Two official StormReady signs • Authorization to use the StormReady logo • Instructions for acquiring additional signs • Information on how to notify the ISO for possible flood insurance rate adjustments • Listing on the Natl StormReady Website

26. StormReady RenewalProcess • NWS Meteorologist-in-Charge should send a notification letter to communities that need to re-apply with 6 months advance notice • Letter includes a copy of the original Application and a request that local officials review the application to certify that it is still accurate • Community official should provide an updated list of any new technology or information that has been added since the initial application was signed • Once a community official signs the application and returns it to the NWS local office, the 3-year renewal becomes effective

27. NWS StormReady Web Page • StormReady Main Page: Welcome to the program • Communities: National map of StormReady communities • How to Apply: Application process details. Application is available in WordPerfect, MS Word, PDF, and on-line formats. There’s also a “Tool Kit for Emergency Managers” • Awareness: Weather safety brochures and materials • Publications/Photos: FAQs, brochures, ceremony photos, StormReady History • Contact Us: State map of USA. Click on a state to get your local NWS StormReady contact

28. StormReady Web Resources • NWS StormReady Page: • www.stormready.noaa.gov

29. Thank You!