Service Description Documents (SDD) for Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) Wendy Levine, Strategic Planning & Policy Office National Weather Service August 4, 2014 NWS Partners’ Meeting

Outline Background Summary of IDSS for Emergency Managers and Government Partners Next Service Description Documents Discussion – Partner input August 4, 20142

Background NAPA report expressed need for improved clarity on plans for initiatives supporting NWS Weather-Ready Nation Roadmap – e.g., Impact-based Decision Support Services (IDSS) May 2013 – NWS released Service Description Document (SDD) describing proposed enhanced IDSS for the Emergency Management (EM) Community May-September 2013 – Comments/Review period –13 responses received, largely from private sector partners –NWS interactions/discussion with partners in January 2014 and at NWS Partners meeting in February 2014 May 2014 – NWS release revised SDD for comment August 31, 2014 – Comments due on revised SDD 3

Concerns on Initial SDD Perceived expansion of scope of EM community supported by NWS into areas traditionally served by private sector Role of private sector in supporting the EM community NWS resource limitations Consistency of services Loss of transparency in provision of new services August 4, 20144

Service Description Document Summary Special NWS responsibility to support these partners –Mandated support for EM community –Many support EM response efforts (e.g., broad scope of ESFs— hospitals, utilities) but NWS IDSS focused on EMs/gov’t partners Recognizes role of AWCI in supporting both EMs and others involved in preparedness/response efforts –EMs and government partners may have internal or contract support— NWS must be flexible in the level of support provided –NWS support is focused on public safety and not tailored to business operations of others providing support to EM community –NWS prefers to interact with infrastructure providers who are already Weather-Ready (i.e., supported by AWCI) August 4, 20145

Service Description Document Summary Tiers of IDSS –Tier 1 – direct, specialized support (e.g, in EOC) –Tier 2 – coordination with many (e.g., pre-event webinar) –Tier 3 – common products/services to general public Presentation Format –On-site or remote –In addition to existing data/products, may use forms/formats needed by EMs and gov’t partners to best serve the event/incident –Continued use of a particular product/format/technology beyond event will follow standard external review processes Equitable level of support –Aim is equitable level of support to all EM community and gov’t partners –local office management will determine how to support multiple requests August 4, 20146

Additional Clarification of IDSS Activities NWS plans to write multiple Service Description Documents to clarify scope of IDSS activities Documents will undergo public comment/review – provide clarity to our partners on our IDSS plans, per NAPA report recommendations Address roles of NWS and others in weather enterprise in providing support Content of SDDs will serve as basis for internal policies on IDSS Additional SDDs may include IDSS for: –Health sector –Water resource managers –Ecosystems support –Public officials, supporting public policy decisions August 4, 20147

Discussion Input on revised SDD Suggestions for next SDD clarifying NWS IDSS activities August 4, Info on IDSS SDD: or

Backup Slides August 4, 20149

NWS “Core Partners” – EM Community Definition - public safety officials who serve as employees or contract agents of a government agency at the federal, state, local, or tribal level and are charged with protecting the public from hazards that are influenced by weather or weather-related events. Also includes: safety and emergency personnel, from universities or other large entities with large populations whose roles are functionally equivalent to public safety officials, Skywarn Net Control Operators, such as Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES). August 4,

NWS “Core Partners” – Government Partners Federal/state/local government partners who have missions that require close coordination with the NWS. Includes (but not limited to) the FAA, and water and land management officials. August 4,