Special Events Hazards Safety Support The Indy 500 Race Dave Tucek Warning Coordination Meteorologist National Weather Service, Indianapolis NOAA’s National Weather Service

NWS Mission: Same as Yours: Protect Life and Property The National Weather Service provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. Courtesy C. Gochenour

Public Event Support Weather safety at issue? NWS mission requires supportWeather safety at issue? NWS mission requires support Public events may includePublic events may include Outdoor Concert Facilities, Stadiums (*1787), TracksOutdoor Concert Facilities, Stadiums (*1787), Tracks County and State FairsCounty and State Fairs Outdoor Events (bike, run, fish tourneys, etc.)Outdoor Events (bike, run, fish tourneys, etc.) Support provided when requestedSupport provided when requested Requests can occur if active weather approachesRequests can occur if active weather approaches * 1787 Stadiums in the U.S.

Large Venue Close Calls Chicago Cub’s Wrigley Field, August 2008 (lightning, wind)Chicago Cub’s Wrigley Field, August 2008 (lightning, wind) Atlanta - Georgia Dome college basketball tourney, March 2008 (tornado)Atlanta - Georgia Dome college basketball tourney, March 2008 (tornado) Salt Lake City - Utah Jazz Delta Center basketball stadium, August 1999 (no game but tornado)Salt Lake City - Utah Jazz Delta Center basketball stadium, August 1999 (no game but tornado) Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium (lightning)Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium (lightning)

What’s the Right Call? Balance between safety action / inaction and odds of weather impacting the eventBalance between safety action / inaction and odds of weather impacting the event Hazard notification vs. time to evacuateHazard notification vs. time to evacuate Tornadoes are rare, lead time is shortTornadoes are rare, lead time is short Evacuate vs. shelter in placeEvacuate vs. shelter in place –“Stampede” injuries possible

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Track) Support Through 1994, support via phone request from track safety officialsThrough 1994, support via phone request from track safety officials 1994 weather changed operations…1994 weather changed operations…

Indianapolis Metro Area Track Airport Downtown NWS.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5 mile oval race track2.5 mile oval race track 250,000 seat capacity250,000 seat capacity 400,000 track capacity400,000 track capacity Largest and highest capacity sport facility in the worldLargest and highest capacity sport facility in the world Four Churchill Downs (Kentucky Derby Horse Track) could fit insideFour Churchill Downs (Kentucky Derby Horse Track) could fit inside

View from the Stands Jumbotron

Race Day 2004 Timeline May 30, 2004 Memorial Day Race Day Storm Prediction Center High Risk for IndianaStorm Prediction Center High Risk for Indiana Race crowd starts arriving 600 AM (filled by 11 AM)Race crowd starts arriving 600 AM (filled by 11 AM) Tornado Watch 1141 AM (volunteer spotters deploy)Tornado Watch 1141 AM (volunteer spotters deploy) First Tornado Warning 1238 PM (well south of Indianapolis)First Tornado Warning 1238 PM (well south of Indianapolis) Race begins ~ 100 PMRace begins ~ 100 PM 17 Tornado Warnings through ~ 600 PM17 Tornado Warnings through ~ 600 PM Race ends ~ 600 PMRace ends ~ 600 PM Indianapolis Tornado Warning 612 PMIndianapolis Tornado Warning 612 PM

Memorial Day 2004 Tornadoes Tornado ReportsTornado Reports 600 pm Little Point600 pm Little Point 615 pm Monrovia615 pm Monrovia 630 pm Mooresville630 pm Mooresville 645 pm NWS office645 pm NWS office 700 pm I-465 & SR37700 pm I-465 & SR pm I-465 & I-70 (east side)740 pm I-465 & I-70 (east side)

Memorial Day Tornadoes 1PM – 11 PM

May 30 WISH-TV Indianapolis

Operations Change Given the close call in 2004…Given the close call in 2004… Track safety officials request on-site supportTrack safety officials request on-site support NWS to provide Incident Meteorological SupportNWS to provide Incident Meteorological Support To agencies serving track officialsTo agencies serving track officials To track officialsTo track officials Support is for all hazardsSupport is for all hazards WeatherWeather HazmatHazmat

All Hazard Partner Support Public Safety Agencies at TrackPublic Safety Agencies at Track Fire / EMS: Speedway, Indianapolis Fire / EMS: Speedway, Indianapolis DHS, IDHS, Marion Co. DHS, FBI, FAA, DOT DHS, IDHS, Marion Co. DHS, FBI, FAA, DOT Police: Speedway, Indianapolis, State Police: Speedway, Indianapolis, State

NWS Track Safety Support Safety Officials in EOCSafety Officials in EOC Safety Officials coordinating crowdSafety Officials coordinating crowd

On Site Support Wireless connection viewing SPC web data, NWS workstation configuration / data

EOC Jumbo-tron Messaging

On Site Private Meteorology Support to Track Officials DTN / Meteorlogix : Commercial Weather Services Company - PC based radar and forecast data used by track safety officials TV: Local TV stations provide live weather broadcasts from track on race days TV : Local TV provided live, continuous weather coverage on May 30, 2004 (and for similar events)

NWS - NWS Coordination NWS office staffed 24 / 7 Two meteorologists all the timeTwo meteorologists all the time Race Day 2004 – six to eight meteorologists at NWS for severe weather operationsRace Day 2004 – six to eight meteorologists at NWS for severe weather operations Phone and contact with NWS at track

Races Supported © Copyright 2008 IMS LLC West 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222

NWS Race Day Preparation Monitor weather potential as race day approachesMonitor weather potential as race day approaches If Storm Prediction Center issues a Moderate or High Risk of Severe Weather (either day of or day prior to race and risk is for race day)If Storm Prediction Center issues a Moderate or High Risk of Severe Weather (either day of or day prior to race and risk is for race day) NWS initiates conference call to discuss weather potential NWS initiates conference call to discuss weather potential Conference call includes same officials at track EOCConference call includes same officials at track EOC

StormReady Speedway 24 hour warning operations at Police Dept. and at track EOC if needed24 hour warning operations at Police Dept. and at track EOC if needed Warning receipt via NOAA radio, cell, pager, TV, commercial radioWarning receipt via NOAA radio, cell, pager, TV, commercial radio Watch / Warning dissemination to crowd via Jumbo-trons, track radio station, PA systemWatch / Warning dissemination to crowd via Jumbo-trons, track radio station, PA system Safety actions for patrons include shelter below stands, in bathrooms, in tunnels, in placeSafety actions for patrons include shelter below stands, in bathrooms, in tunnels, in place

StormReady Supporter Requirements: Multiple methods of warning dissemination and receipt, all-hazards plan, safety training Supporter Status: May 2008 © Copyright 2008 IMS LLC West 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222

Issues How can large venue officials best protect people? Awareness, Preparedness Plan, Information Sharing

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