Virtual Operations Support:A Working Model Within the NWS

The Supplemental Assistance Volunteer Initiative (SAVI) Team

Activity Time!

Instructions:1. On Twitter, tweet your hometown and

state to #NWAVOST.

(i.e. “Norman, OK #NWAVOST”)

2. That’s it!

“VOST is a team of professional emergency managers and disaster volunteers around the country that lends virtual support to those on the site of a disaster, who may be overwhelmed by the volume of incoming data.”

- www.emergencymgmt.com

Something we can all relate too...

OK VOSTOklahoma Virtual Operations Support Team

● Modeled after Skywarn● Reduce fire hose flow to drinkable drops● Focus on intelligence gathering and message

amplification.

Midland/Odessa, TX Lubbock, TX

Atmo ScienceStudents

CommunicationsStudents

What do these “coordinators” do?

Provide information from the field AND echo/amplify the NWS message!

Provide Info:

Crowdsource reports from their county.

Relay quality controlled reports into NWSchat.

Diminish workload for the office’s social media/verification desk.

Amplify Message:

Nowcast for their one county area.

Echo NWS info to followers.

Provide local area specificity to forecast message.

NWSFO Nashville, TN

@NWSNashville

Let’s take this a step further...

Why can’t NWS forecast offices support each other when major events occur?

Check!Check!

Check!

1. Access to the internet2. Knowledge of meteorology

3. Ability to communicate with the office.

What do you need?

The NWS S.A.V.I. Team

● Supplemental Assistance Volunteer Initiative

● Comprised of volunteer meteorologists from WFOs across the country.

● When a major event is anticipated, office can request SAVI Team assistance in anticipation of a heavy SM workload.

June 16-18th

WFO Midland Meteorologists Amber Hluchan and Andrew Arnold aiding WFO Houston during TS Bill landfall.

Coordination!NWSchat log excerpt…

Symbiotic RelationshipAdditional HelpVast Workforce

Invokes Teamwork

S.A.V.I.