Joint Action Group for the National Wildland Fire Weather Needs Assessment 16 Mar 2007, 12:00 – 2:00 EST Cochairs: Dr. Al Riebau, Mr. Eli Jacks OFCM: USAF Lt. Col. Dave Andrus Telecon # , pass code # GoToMeeting ID is

Agenda Welcome and administrative actions Welcome and administrative actions Primary goal Primary goal JAG-established goals JAG-established goals Action item update Action item update Timeline Timeline Survey status Survey status Analysis status Analysis status Open discussion Open discussion Plans for next meeting Plans for next meeting Review new action items Review new action items

Welcome and Administrative Actions Welcome! Welcome! Administrative remarks Administrative remarks –Attendance roster –Facility information –GoToMeeting use ROA approval ROA approval

Primary Goal The Western Governors urge NOAA to: The Western Governors urge NOAA to: Complete a National Needs Assessment Report, by NOAA ’ s Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, of federal, state and local fire managers needs for weather information in their wildfire and prescribed fire decision making processes and a framework to meet those needs by the NWS and Predictive Services. Complete a National Needs Assessment Report, by NOAA ’ s Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, of federal, state and local fire managers needs for weather information in their wildfire and prescribed fire decision making processes and a framework to meet those needs by the NWS and Predictive Services.

JAG-Established Goals Comprehensive assessment of weather and climate needs of providers and users in their wildland fire and fuels management activities Comprehensive assessment of weather and climate needs of providers and users in their wildland fire and fuels management activities Assessment of provider agency capability to deliver weather and climate information to fire managers and other users Assessment of provider agency capability to deliver weather and climate information to fire managers and other users Raise the critical nature of fire weather to a new level of community awareness Raise the critical nature of fire weather to a new level of community awareness

Action Item Update Closed action items Closed action items – NWS provide information on product shortfalls and gaps (Hockenberry) – The online survey will be made available to the public until at least 12 Jan 07 – Mr Williamson sent information about our survey effort to agency-level fire directors – Volunteers agreed to lead and participate in subgroup analysis efforts – OFCM developed and posted analysis instructions and a template online for use by analysis subgroups Open actions items Open actions items – Predictive services provide information on product shortfalls and gaps (Ochoa)

Timeline Feb 28- Subgroup analysis deadline to OFCM Feb 28- Subgroup analysis deadline to OFCM Mar 1- OFCM begin analysis synthesis Mar 1- OFCM begin analysis synthesis –Identify potential plaudits, findings, recommendations –Work with Bob Katt to structure and begin draft of final report Mar 16- JAG meeting (discuss preliminary results) Mar 16- JAG meeting (discuss preliminary results) Mar Fire conference (assessment update) Mar Fire conference (assessment update) Apr 1- Assessment report development continues Apr 1- Assessment report development continues Apr 18- JAG meeting Apr 18- JAG meeting –Discuss status of report and seek JAG feedback May 28- Report completed and sent for printing May 28- Report completed and sent for printing Jun Results presentation to WGA Jun Results presentation to WGA Current as of 22 Feb 2007

Survey Status Early survey effort – 174 contacted, 83 returns Early survey effort – 174 contacted, 83 returns Fire Congress survey given to 437 federal attendees – 22 returns Fire Congress survey given to 437 federal attendees – 22 returns Online version sent to Online version sent to –1161 federal (who didn’t attend Fire Congress) –369 non-fed through various outreach efforts –??? others, as forwarded by JAG members –Total online distribution well over 1,500 –Online returns 640 Total contacts = 2,100+ Total contacts = 2,100+ Total returns = 745 Total returns = 745

Survey Respondents

42 National = CT 4 DE 2 DC 0 MA 4 MD 5 NJ 7 RI Survey Respondents

Survey Analysis JAG subgroups working on initial evaluation of responses within each functional area JAG subgroups working on initial evaluation of responses within each functional area –Subject matter expertise is critical component –Determine overall theme of responses –Document most prevalent needs, gaps, and concerns addressed by multiple respondents OFCM involved in all functional areas OFCM involved in all functional areas –Provide analysis framework & coordinate effort –Validate and augment initial results –Synthesize all functional area results JAG members will be given opportunity to comment throughout the process JAG members will be given opportunity to comment throughout the process

Survey Analysis Data collection, integrity, processing and archival Data collection, integrity, processing and archival –Paul Schlobohm (lead) –Mr. Steve Ambrose (assist with remote-sensing related responses) Fire weather research and development Fire weather research and development –Dr. Al Riebau (lead) –Dr. Janice Coen (assist) –Mr. Steve Ambrose (assist with remote-sensing related responses) Forecast products and services Forecast products and services –Mr. Eli Jacks (lead) –Mr. Heath Hockenberry (assist) –Mr. Rick Ochoa (assist) Modeling, prediction, and data assimilation Modeling, prediction, and data assimilation –Dr Janice Coen (lead) –Dr. Rod Linn (assist) –Dr. Tom Pierce (assist)

Survey Analysis Information dissemination and technologies Information dissemination and technologies –Mr. Larry Bradshaw (lead) Education, training, outreach, partnering and collaboration Education, training, outreach, partnering and collaboration –OFCM User response, decision support, and resulting user impacts User response, decision support, and resulting user impacts –Ruddy Mell (lead) –Alex Maranghides (assist) –Bruce Davis (assist) Funding and human resource considerations Funding and human resource considerations –OFCM Socioeconomic impacts Socioeconomic impacts –OFCM

Open Discussion Subgroup analysis results… Subgroup analysis results… Targeted table results… Targeted table results…

New Action Items –28 Feb deadline for subgroup analysis deliverables

Agenda Welcome and administrative actions Welcome and administrative actions Primary goal Primary goal JAG-established goals JAG-established goals Action item update Action item update Timeline Timeline Survey status Survey status Analysis status Analysis status Open discussion Open discussion Plans for next meeting Plans for next meeting Review new action items Review new action items

Backup Slides

JAG-Established Functional Areas Data collection, integrity, processing and archival Data collection, integrity, processing and archival Fire weather research and development Fire weather research and development Forecast products and services Forecast products and services Modeling, prediction, and data assimilation Modeling, prediction, and data assimilation Information dissemination and technologies Information dissemination and technologies Education, training, outreach, partnering and collaboration Education, training, outreach, partnering and collaboration User response, decision support, and resulting user impacts User response, decision support, and resulting user impacts Funding and human resource considerations Funding and human resource considerations Socioeconomic impacts Socioeconomic impacts

Meeting Plans Apr 18 Apr 18