Communications Strategies and Challenges Before, During and After Severe Weather - How the National Weather Service is Improving Public ...
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Communications Strategies and Challenges
Before, During and After Severe Weather
How the National Weather Service is Improving Public Information
Jim Maczko
NOAA National Weather Service
2020 Michigan’s Statewide Interoperable Communications Conference
Our Current Session
Agenda As of February 6, 2020 ☺
Our Current Session
Agenda As of February 6, 2020 ☺
Longest Title on the Agenda!
19 Words
6 Words with 3 or more syllables
127 characters with no spaces
144 characters with spaces
Shortest and Best Title
Agenda As of February 6, 2020 ☺
Everyone Knows …
Meteorologists
Can Be Wrong ALL THE TIME
and Keep Their Jobs
The Perfect Answer Does Not Exist
The Perfect Answer Does Not Exist
The Perfect Answer Does Not Exist
Everyone Also Knows
…
You Can Always Count on Scientists to…
Communicate Effectively
“Blah Blah Big Word. Blah Blah Bigger Word.
Blah Blah Blah Biggest Word.”
“Let’s Move On”Scientists Tend To…
Need Structure & Rules
Over-Explain EVERYTHING!
Live Inside Our Own Bubble
Believe Everyone Shares Our PassionMeteorologists - Need of Structure & Rules
Helped The National Weather Service Build
Watch, Warning, Advisories 100 + Ways to Say
Watch Out! or Take Action!
Specific Criteria for Each Product
X amount of snow or X mph winds
Black and White Decision Points
Not Based on Impacts of WeatherMeteorologists – OVER-Explain Everything
We Usually Lead With the WHY of Weather
System relative isentropic ascent up the 700-600mb extension of
sloped baroclinic zone has led to persistent light snow and haze
from roughly the DTW airfield back to the west over Southwest
Michigan. Model data shows higher theta e content feeding up
this frontal surface will be stripped out to the east. As a result
should see a diminishing trend to already light snow activity
during the remainder of the morning hours.
“I’m Glad “Let’s Move On”
Everyone Got It”Meteorologists – OVER-Explain Everything
We Usually Lead With the WHY of Weather
System relative isentropic ascent up the 700-600mb extension of
sloped baroclinic zone has led to persistent light snow and haze
from roughly the DTW airfield back to the west over Southwest
Michigan. Model data shows higher theta e content feeding up
this frontal surface will be stripped out to the east. As a result
should see a diminishing trend to already light snow activity
during the remainder of the morning hours.
“I’m Glad “Let’s Move On”
Everyone Got It”Meteorologists – Live Inside Our Own Bubble
Traditionally We Only Talk and Listen to Ourselves
TV Weather “People Don’t Take
TORNADO WARNING seriously”
Universities
NWS
NWS
NWS “Let’s Create
Weather
Weenies NWS TORNADO WARNING EMERGENCIES”
NOTE: YES!!! Meteorologists Know Their Bubble is a CLOUD!Meteorologists – Believe Everyone Shares Our Passion
And They Like When We OVER-Complicate Things
“I’m Glad “Let’s Move On”
Everyone Got It”So How Do You Adapt Communication When Your System Has Been Around Forever?
And When So Many Inside Your Bubble
A well-oiled machine since 1870
Think Communication is Working Perfectly?You Need a Game Changer (or several)
Deepwater HorizonLight Switch Moments to Shake Your Core
NWS Not Known to Many People, Partners
What TV Station Do You Work For?
Partly Cloudy, 30% Chance of Rain
Doesn’t Mean Squat to Anyone
Severe Weather Isn’t Just Thunderstorms
All Hazardous Weather = Severe Weather
Needs are What, When, Where
No One Really Needs WHY Weather happensRealized the Need to Adapt - Learn - Grow
Refocus & Better Meet the Mission
& Build a Weather-Ready Nation
Weather-Ready Nation
To Help Communities Become…
✓ Ready ✓ Responsive ✓Resilient
To Increasing Vulnerabilities from Extreme Weather, Water, Climate Events, Environmental HazardsCatalyst for Bigger Change
Public Law 115-25 - 115th Congress (April 18, 2017)
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017Defined Core Partners And Support Services
Emergency Management
Government Partners
Community
Water Resource
Electronic Media
ManagementWhere Does the Weather Service Fit?
Mitigation Traditionally Mostly in Response
Some Preparedness
Maybe Recovery Too (though we weren’t aware)
Prevention
Warnings and 7-day Forecasts
Focused on Weather Leading Up to the Event ‘Bang’
Preparedness
Our Storm Reports, Summaries Serving Only Us
Response
Now and The Future - Active in All
Recovery With Service to Partner Needs Above Our Own
Understand and Become Emergency ManagementEvolution in Storm Survey Methods Traditional Approach - For Us, By Us Where We Want, When We Want May or May Not Have Told Local EM - EVER Media Gets Info First – Local EM Finds Out Whenever, However Now and The Future - Partner with EM, Community Mostly Where/When EMs Need and Ask, Sometimes Where We Want Always Inform EM Before Heading Out - Keep EM Updated Throughout Media Gets Info After EMs – Coordinated Messaging, Public Information
Plain Language + Simple Graphics
What, Where, When Focus
Keeping the Why To Ourselves
Delivered Before Decisions Are Made
Instead of When Model Data Comes In
Recovery Weather & Impacts
Supporting As We Get Back to NormalChanging How We Describe Weather
Learning to Relate and Communicate
Our Current Water Situation
Great Lakes Drainage Record High Water LevelsChanging How We Describe Weather
Learning to Relate and Communicate
SAY: The Sponge Is Full
Old: Total Soil Saturation
SAY: The Pipes Are Nearly Full
Old: River System is at Max Capacity
SAY: The Bathtub is Full
Old: Great Lakes are at Record LevelsChanging How We Describe Weather
Learning to Relate and Communicate
SAY: The Faucet Won’t Shut Off
Old: Precipitation Pattern Abnormally Active
SAY: Draining the Tub Takes Time
Old: Streamflow to the Oceans is a Lengthy ProcessLeverage Emerging Technology
Wireless Emergency Alerts
Tornado Warning
2012
Flash Flood Warning Targeted Phones
Blizzard Warning Hit People Where They Are At!
Ice Storm Warning Biggest Advancement in Weather
Warnings Since NOAA Weather Radio
Tsunami WarningEmerging Technology – Wireless Alerts
Tornado Warning
Flash Flood Warning
Blizzard Warning
Ice Storm Warning
Tsunami Warning
February 7, 2013: 45 Hours LongEmerging Technology – Wireless Alerts
Tornado Warning
Flash Flood Warning
Blizzard Warning
Ice Storm Warning
Tsunami Warning
February 7, 2013: 45 Hours LongEmerging Technology – Wireless Alerts Tornado Warning Flash Flood Warning Snow Squall Warning Tsunami Warning Fall 2018 Debut Meant for People on Major Roads/Highways
Emerging Technology – Wireless Alerts
Jan 8, 2020
NWS Mt Holly – 12 Warnings
Total Population Warned: 9.5 Million
Tornado Warning
Flash Flood Warning
? ? ?
Snow Squall Warning
Tsunami Warning
One Warning For: 2.5 Million PeopleEmerging Technology – Wireless Alerts
More Changes to Come
Tornado Warning
Flash Flood Warning (NWS saying 80% reduction of WEA 2020 and beyond)
Snow Squall Warning (will it stay or will it go?)
Severe Thunderstorm Warning (2020 or 2021?)
Tsunami WarningThe Perfect Answer Does Not Exist
The Perfect Answer Does Not Exist
The Perfect Answer Does Not ExistThank You! Safe Travels!
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