NOAA National Weather Service: Warning Coordination Meteorologists’ Role in Outreach and Education Chris Maier National Warning Coordination Meteorologist Silver Spring, MD …to protect life and property and enhance the national economy. NWS Mission: Provide weather, Hydrologic and climate forecasts and warnings…

Overview of NOAA NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologists (WCMs)

National Outreach Campaigns 1173Communities in U.S. 40Communities in U.S. Community preparedness for disaster

NWS Outreach and Education Conference participation (e.g. AMS) Web sites (e.g. JETSTREAM) Tours, science fairs, museums, etc. Partner workshops (e.g. media) Booths at community events Science curriculum development Interviews and documentaries Student volunteers, summer hires Grass roots innovation!

Workload for a Typical WCM Outreach and Education (35%) is not the only duty of our Warning Coordination Meteorologists. We do utilize other WFO staff in our outreach and education. WCMs are a great marketing network that NOAA does utilize for promotion (e.g. NOAA’s 200 th ).

Our Challenges All major U.S. metropolitan centers (population of more than 2,000,000 based on 2000 DOC Census figures) are increasing in population. Several have increased in population by more than 30% over the previous decade ( ). U.S. coastal counties saw a population increase of nearly 14% during that same time. Our Outreach and Education budget has suffered in recent years. Activities such as Outreach and Education, and Training are always the first lines to be cut after items such as Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, and Technology. In 2002 we had $300K to support our WCM Program. We had no budget in FY06 and FY07. Yet our original paradigm of only one WCM FTE per office remains. They simply cannot do all the outreach and education work that is needed (and being requested) to support our ever-growing constituency. One solution is to optimize our NOAA-wide resources to support all Outreach and Education initiatives…a goal we are currently working toward.

National Warning Coordination Meteorologist x175 NOAA National Weather Service SSMC2, Rm 14442, Silver Spring, MD NOAA NWS education credo: We Start’em Young NOAA National Weather Service: Warning Coordination Meteorologists’ Role in Outreach and Education

Additional Background Slides

Ready Web Sites

WFO/WCM Outreach and Education Innovation: Annual “Weather Education Day at the Ballpark” a NOAA NWS partnership event with the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland News Media, other government agencies. Reached over 14,000 kids in two days prior to afternoon ballgames. “Women in Science” career workshops. Bring outstanding female scientists into a community setting and educate high school and jr. high girls on potential career paths. “Tsunami Media Kit” developed by NOAA NWS in Washington State. It is designed for broadcasters to help them educate their audiences on the tsunami hazard. Warning Coordination Meteorologists’ Role in Outreach and Education

NOAA TEAM END USERS PARTNERSPARTNERS Saving Lives Through Partnerships What Will The Future Demand of Us? Integrated Environmental Awareness