NWS Pacific Region

1. NWS Pacific Region Ed Young NWS PR Acting Director April 5, 2013

2. NOAA/NWS Pacific Region Weather Service Offices • WFO Honolulu • WFO Guam • DCO Hilo, Lihue • WSO Pago Pago, American Samoa • Compact of Free Association • Federated States of Micronesia • WSO Chuuk • WSO Pohnpei • WSO Yap • Republic of the Marshall Islands • WSO Majuro • Republic of Palau • WSO Koror • Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, Ewa Beach, Oahu • International Tsunami Information Center, Honolulu, HI • Central Pacific Hurricane Center (collocated with WFO Honolulu)

3. Weather Forecast Office Guam NWS PR Info Brief

4. WFO GUAM’S AREA OF RESPOSIBILITY

5. Guam Summary • Unique Mission Responsibility • Non-center providing tropical cyclone support • Largest area of coverage of any WFO • Multi-International Support • One-of-a-kind outreach program • Logistical End Point (personnel and equipment) • Unique Opportunities with Diverse Responsibilities • Demonstrated resourcefulness NWS PR Info Brief

6. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center NWS PR Info Brief

7. RIFT Forecast Japan Earthquake of 2011

8. International Tsunami Information Center

9. ITIC – INTERNATIONALIOC Mandate & Functions (1977) • Monitor/Recommend Improvements to PTWS & other tsunami warning systems • PTWS covers 46 countries and 14 times zones • Communications, data networks, evaluations, dissemination • Assist in establishing regional and national tsunami systems • Comprehensive risk reduction • Serve as technology transfer resource; Encourage research to improve evaluations; Conduct trainings to build capacity (80 week-long trainings since 2005, 80% international) • Serve as an information resource for preparedness/education • Develop, publish, distribute materials • Serve as an information resource on historical tsunamis • Maintain database, post-event surveys NWS PR Info Brief

10. Pacific Islands Compact WSO Pohnpei – Construction completed in Oct 2012 NWS PR Info Brief

11. Overview and History • Provide weather support for former Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) UN Trusteeship 1947 • US Governed TTPI in 1979 • Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) • Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) • Republic of Palau (ROP) • Islands gain sovereignty, became “Freely Associated States (FAS)” in 1984 (RMI/FSM) and 1994 (ROP) under the Compact of Free Association (COFA) treaty • Prior to FY04 funded through DOI Reimbursable • Direct APPN since FY04 • WSOs operated under contracts with 3 Governments NWS PR Info Brief

12. Overview and History • Main difference is that NWS is unique in providing support through reimbursable contracts with the nations rather than grants or aid. This creates special challenges in procurement and payroll of each government as well as long lag times in getting invoicing for reimbursement. • Our small staff in Guam and PRH have a variety of roles and US contract regulation (FAR) does not align well with the challenges of running a 24/7 operation in the FAS. • Also, we are challenged when we have other appropriations line items that are closely related but not specific to COFA that support (indirectly and directly) our COFA operations. • WSOs operated under contracts with 3 Governments NWS PR Info Brief

13. CommunicationsImproving Ability to Disseminate Warnings Systems & Networks Expertise: Easy deployment & maintenance, reach the difficult to reach • EMWIN Upgrades • Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) Transition to NOAA GOES-15 (West) at Pacific Island Met Service and Disaster Management Offices • RANET • Remote Asia Pacific Information Dissemination Broadcast (RAPIDCast) – uses GE-23 satellite to reach the West Pacific • Chatty Beetle • Early Alert Warning Text Message System, uses Irridium Short Burst Technology. More data now from remote atolls • Text based alert & messaging device – provides a‘heads-up’ CHATTY BEETLE

14. NOAA Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center

15. NOAA Pacific Regional Center – Ford Island • Multi-phase project that includes restoration of historic facilities and new construction • $331M project partially funded under the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act • Provides 310,000 square feet of laboratory and offices for over 700 staff • Consolidates and co-locates 12 NOAA offices on Oahu into one facility • Marine science and storage facility and life support systems for marine life • Port warehouse and pier facilities for NOAA vessels • Environmentally Sound Design – LEED Gold Certification • 24/7 Operation of Pacific Tsunami Warning Center • Significant Exhibit Space for education and outreach

16. NOAA Ship Piers 9 & 10 NOAA Finger Piers Fisheries Cooperative Observer Facility (166) Port Warehouse (184) Marine Science and Storage (130) Main Facility (176, A, 175) 2

17. Benefits from the Inouye Regional Center • Mission effectiveness • Operational efficiency • Cost avoidance • Increased Collaboration • Expanded Partnerships • Historical Preservation • Public Education and Outreach

18. Sustainable Design Features • Lowers carbon footprint with up to 40% less energy use • Utilizes a hybrid passive ventilation system for cooling • Maximizes use of natural lighting systems • Incorporates photo voltaic and solar thermal energy • Utilizes natural ventilation with constant fresh air supply • Utilizes existing buildings material and sustainable products • Incorporated rain water capture and gray water systems 30

23. QUESTIONS Mahalo! • Edward H. Young, Jr. • Acting Regional Director • NOAA National Weather Service Pacific Region • Edward.Young@noaa.gov • http://www.prh.noaa.gov