National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC Developing a Weather-Ready Nation “Pilot Project: Impact-Based Decision Support Services” Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Off ice Open House 2012

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC Today’s Topic New Pilot Project to Enhance ServicesNew Pilot Project to Enhance Services –Weather-Ready Nation –NWS Role with Core Partners –Pilot Project Objectives

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC NWS Baltimore/Washington Overview Area of Responsibility Maryland –13 Counties –City of Baltimore –Chesapeake Bay West Virginia –8 Counties Virginia –22 Counties –11 Independent Cities The District of Columbia 9.3 Million People over 27,000 square miles Region is prone to all weather hazards Major Rivers –Potomac –Shenandoah –Rappahannock

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC NWS Baltimore/Washington Operations & Services WarningsWarnings  Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes  Winter Storms  Flooding  Temperature/Wind  Marine Hazards  Fire Weather Decision Support ServicesDecision Support Services Data CollectionData Collection  Climate  Cooperative Observers Forecasts Forecasts  Public  Marine  Aviation  Fire Weather  River

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC New NWS Initiative To build a “Weather-Ready Nation”

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC What is a Weather-Ready Nation? A nation that effectively prepares for and responds to hazardous weather events.A nation that effectively prepares for and responds to hazardous weather events.

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC What is Our Part in “Weather-Ready Nation?” To Improve Weather Forecast Services for Core PartnersTo Improve Weather Forecast Services for Core Partners Core partners make important decisions to protect communities during high-impact events.Core partners make important decisions to protect communities during high-impact events. We call it “IDSS”:We call it “IDSS”: –Impact-Based Decision Support Services

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC NWS Core Partners Emergency ManagementEmergency Management –State / Region / Local Other Government AgenciesOther Government Agencies –DOTs / Public Works –Public Health Public Universities and Colleges Public Universities and Colleges

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC Our Partnership NWS Emergency Response Meteorologists On-site deploymentOn-site deployment Provide critical information to Emergency ManagersProvide critical information to Emergency Managers Develop new forecast tools.Develop new forecast tools. Emergency Managers Receives critical weather information. Receives critical weather information. Shares it with local police/fire, etc. Shares it with local police/fire, etc. Deploys emergency responders. Deploys emergency responders. Critical Weather Information

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC A New Direction Not Just Forecasts….Not Just Forecasts…. …Decision-Support Services…Decision-Support Services ZONE FORECAST PRODUCT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 805 AM EDT WED MAY DCZ001-VAZ DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-ARLINGTON/ FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WASHINGTON... ALEXANDRIA...FALLS CHURCH 805 AM EDT WED MAY COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON....TODAY...CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS EARLY THIS MORNING... THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE MID 70S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 30 PERCENT..TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EVENING...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE MID 50S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 50 PERCENT..

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC How does it all work? Emergency Managers receive the information and coordinate with:Emergency Managers receive the information and coordinate with: PolicePolice FireFire HospitalsHospitals Dept. of TransportationDept. of Transportation SchoolsSchools Red CrossRed Cross End result=Community preparedness. A winter storm will impact the region. NWS ERS Meteorologists relay critical forecast interpretation to Core Partners.

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC Important emergency manager decisions:Important emergency manager decisions: –How many snow plows? –Do we open shelters? –Do we need emergency food/water? food/water? –How many police/fire personnel need to be on hand? personnel need to be on hand?

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC The weather will affect the answers to those questions.The weather will affect the answers to those questions. –How much snow –When it starts/ends –How heavy will it snow and will it impact the rush hour? –What’s the chance it will be worse? (or not so bad)

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 4 Pilot Project Objectives 1)Improve Information Flow -On-Demand Briefings -Video conferencing -Phone -On-Site briefings at Emergency Operations Centers Emergency Operations Centers

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 4 Pilot Project Objectives 2)Explain Range of Possibilities -Best / Worst Case -Probability

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 4 Pilot Project Objectives 3)Catalog Weather Impact on Society -What areas would be evacuated? -What would cause shelters to be opened? -What would cause travel disruption? 4)Build a Weather-Ready Nation -Work with the Public & Weather Enterprise -Everyone gets a clear message and knows how to protect themselves.

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC SummarySummary New Pilot Project to Enhance ServicesNew Pilot Project to Enhance Services –Emergency Managers & Other Core Partners ERS MeteorologistsERS Meteorologists –Build Relationships with Core Partners –Develop Impacts Catalog –Provide Enhanced Weather Support (on & off site)

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC LinksLinks Weather-Ready NationWeather-Ready Nation Weather-Ready Nation YouTube VideoWeather-Ready Nation YouTube Video National Weather Service Baltimore/WashingtonNational Weather Service Baltimore/Washington