Andy BaileyWarning Coordination Meteorologist

Pleasant Hill, MOandy.bailey@noaa.gov

AgendaNWS OverviewOur personalityOur view of our role in the IWTPerceived ChallengesPerceived ConstraintsPerceived Relationship

NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill

To protect life and property through the issuance of forecasts and warnings, and to enhance the national economy.

To protect life and property through the issuance of forecasts and warnings, and to enhance the national economy.

Profile of a Typical NWS Forecaster Passionate about weather

(likely from an early age)

Very committed to the job and believes in the mission

Proud to work for the NWS

Personality of a Typical NWS Forecaster(70 percent are MB - ISTJ)

Quiet and reserved (introverted) Strong internal sense of duty Loyal, faithful, dependable Tend to believe in laws and traditions Excellent ability to take a task, define

it, organize it, plan it, and implement it through to completion

My perspective on our Role in the IWTWe are the technical weather experts We lead the IWT with respect to:

Threat analysis, prediction, and warning

We are the severe weather authority There is no group better equipped or

trained than a NWS WFO for this task Through our technical role, we are here

to support the work of EMs and the Broadcast Media

My perspective on our Role in the IWTWe view emergency managers as partners who make the warnings effective at the local level

We view the media as partners who communicate the warning to the masses

It is in our (NWS) best interest to help our IWT partners be as successful as possible. Doing so helps us achieve our mission.

Perceived ChallengesAchieving “perfect warning” statistics and what are failure does to our credibilityPolygon vs Tor trackNature of inexact science

Communication capabilityPersonal as well as technological Internal strugglesAccuracy vs. service/interpretationAgency cultural inertiaDefining our IWT role

Perceived ConstraintsWe can’t change policy quickly, or independently from other WFOs (also remember our personality)

Technical limitations (science and tools)

Our budget has essentially been cutStaffing will not increase

Relationship Challenges It is difficult to build relationships with 44 county officials, and many, many more city/town officials

We occasionally get sucked into the fray of media competition

I don’t feel our relationship with media is good - and I’m not entirely sure what to do about it

What I want out of the WorkshopMore “team” thinking among all facets of the IWT.

Strengthened relationships/increase in trust among IWT

Identify ways we can work together to get a better response from public to our warnings

Commitment to build on this workshop

Discussion?