Scott Reinacher Chairman, National Troopers’ Coalition

1. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS National Troopers’ Coalition Scott Reinacher Chairman, National Troopers’ Coalition

2. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Overview • Background • Organization • Survey • Requirements • Impacts • Summary/Comments

3. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Background • Organization • National Troopers’ Coalition: • Has ~ 45,000 members • Represents 48 state police and highway patrol associations in 45 states • Survey • Responses from 28 states • Represents about 1 or 2 work sites per county nationwide • Most states have fixed wing and helicopters

4. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Sources of Weather Information • National Weather Service • State Systems (e.g. MNDOT) • Commercial (e.g. Dyn-corp)

5. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Receipt Method • Satellite service • Telephone and teletype • Internet *All rated current methods as sufficient

6. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Factors bearing on source and receipt of weather data • Info is posted and passed to troopers when hazards threaten operations • Report/Relay real-time weather conditions • Providing storm tracking on maps valued most • Large areas and geographical differences require tailored info • Staffing needs and disaster response dictate weather info use

7. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Precipitation • Most prevalent hazard • Impedes all operations • Snow/ice and flooding most critical • Any precipitation has an impact..intensity and amount exacerbate effects • 0-3 hour forecast most important; 3-24 needed for planning; 1-7 day useful for scheduling

8. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Thunderstorms / Lightning • Affects mobility and communications • Rain, wind and hail most impact • Visibility in storms also critical • Lightning strikes affect personnel and communications • 0-3 hour forecast most critical

9. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Temperatures • Personnel comfort, vehicle readiness, resource constraints, and survival under extreme conditions • 6-12 hour forecast important • 12 hour to 7 day useful for planning and scheduling

10. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Visibility • Fog and smoke reducing visibility to less than ¼ mile is important • Visibility in tens of feet has greatest impact on safety and operations • Response time to emergencies increases substantially • 1-3 hour forecast critical • 3 hours to 7 days useful for planning

11. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Winds • Speed and direction become more critical with precipitation type and amount • If sand, smoke or snow are present then winds 10 miles an hour have an impact and the stronger the wind the greater the impact • 0-3 hour forecast most important • 3 hour to 7 day forecasts useful for planning and scheduling

12. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Pollution • Depends on toxicity • Health and performance may be affected • 1-2 day advisories useful

13. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Impacts • Safety of public and troopers • Scheduling/availability • Readiness to respond • Health and morale • Cost/benefit to taxpayer • Mission effectiveness

14. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Summary • Mission information • Requirements • Impacts • Future • Better lead times in wx advisories in support of disaster response, dives, searches, canine tracking operations, and motorcycle patrols