WAS*IS Government/Private SectorWAS*IS Government/Private SectorWeather Partnership ProjectWeather Partnership Project

Melissa Tuttle Carr Manager, Weather Information Distribution

The Weather Channel

Kevin BarjenbruchWarning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service, Salt Lake City

National Weather Service Partners Meeting

AMS Annual Meeting

January 18, 2007

Today’s Presentation

I. Introduction

II. About WAS*IS / Project Initiation

III. Key Project Messages

IV. Actions/Progress

V. The Future

VI. Wrap-Up

II. About WAS*IS / Project InitiationWAS*IS

Weather and Society – Integrated Studies

Concepts and Knowledge:

Communication, forecasting, risk assessment, GIS tools, qualitative research, decision support systems, economics, vulnerability, verification… and more!

Partnerships:

Building a passionate and dedicated community of people for lifelong collaboration and support

II. About WAS*IS / Project InitiationThree WAS*IS workshops• Original: Nov. 2005 / Mar. 2006, Boulder• Norman, OK: April 2006• Summer: July 2006, Boulder

Upcoming WAS*IS workshops• Australia: January 2007• Boulder: Summer 2007

Applications now being acceptedfor Summer 2007!

http://www.sip.ucar.edu/wasis/index.jsp

Over 85 participants… and growing!Over 85 participants… and growing!

II. About WAS*IS / Project Initiation

WAS*IS lives on after the workshops!

Participants continue their WAS*IS work and learning via numerous projects initiated during the

workshops

A few of the many projects:

Societal resilience to weather hazards

Social verification of warnings

…and this partnership project

II. About WAS*IS / Project InitiationProject Leads

Melissa Tuttle Carr The Weather Channel

Kevin BarjenbruchNWS, Salt Lake City

Project TeamTanja Fransen, Brent MacAloney,

Ernie Ostuno, Mike Stavish, Greg Stumpf, Britt

Westergard, Ray WolfAnd consultation from:

Amanda Graning, Pamela Szatanek, Neil Stuart

…plus, input and ideas from many others!

III. Key Project Messages

Improved communication and collaboration between the government and private sectors will be of benefit to the entire weather enterprise and to the

public.

Examples include:

• Enhancing communication between sectors

• Cross-sector collaborative efforts

• Strategic planning of the weather enterprise

III. Key Project Messages

A synergistic approach within the weather enterprise will lead to improved products and services and

increased visibility.

Specifically, this project focuses on:

• Advocating full engagement of private sector prior to and during product development

• Launch of storm-based warnings and functional CAP/XML feeds for NWS bulletins

III. Key Project Messages

The public will benefit by receivingbetter and more understandable weather

information.

Project has been presented numerous times:

• 9/26/06: NWS Western Region Headquarters

• 11/3/06: NWS National Headquarters

• 11/15/06: The Weather Channel – brief introduction

• 12/5/06: Storm-Based Warnings Workshop at Texas A&M

• 1/17/07: AMS Intelligent Transportation Systems/Surface Transportation Committee Meeting

In total, approximately 115 people in attendance fromthe government and private sectors, academia,

and other groups

IV. Actions/Progress

Progress is being made

New, productive partnerships are being formed between private sector and the NWS via face-to-face meetings initiated by project work

• Working with Ron Gird, NWS Outreach Program Manager, on NWS Partners Meeting format enhancements

IV. Actions/Progress

First change is in effect as of today, with the inclusion of the private sector on the agenda for this

meeting

Progress is being made

• Working with Ken Graham, NWS Service Evolution Director

IV. Actions/Progress

Partnership Project ideas, Ken’s role with the NWS, and opportunities for collaboration

Starting talks about dynamic ideas for strengthening the

weather enterprise

Progress is being made

• Increased attention to importance of effective CAP/XML feeds for NWS bulletins, including:

- Discussion at the NDFD Technical Workshop (11/2006)

- Strong cross-sector support at the Storm-Based Warnings Workshop (12/2006)

- Ongoing work with Bob Bunge, NWS Internet Dissemination Officer on potential CAP feed improvements

IV. Actions/Progress

Progress is being made

• John Ferree, Severe Storm Service Leader: Storm-Based Warnings and Next Generation Warning Tool Implementation

• Pam Heinselman and Daphne LaDue: Public/Private Sector Partnership Distance Learning module, based on a program lead by John Toohey-Morales and Ed Johnson (http://www.ncim.org/pppcourse2006/)

• NWS Team: Partners Registration Site

• 2007 Central Region Headquarters: Presentation/meetings

IV. Actions/Progress

This project continues to grow!

We now have a much larger, exciting initiative, with momentum and numerous people

ready to get involved, effecting real change throughout the weather enterprise

V. The Project’s Future

Challenges to address…

• Time and resource constraints

V. The Project’s Future

• Effective communication with a busy project group spread across the country

• Ways to integrate all of the additional people who are eager to join the project

Some ideas for 2007 and beyond…

• Continue to spread the partnership message; make contact with others who are interested in this initiative

• ‘Advisory board’ concept to communicate with and gather ideas from others outside the project group

• Interface between Ken Graham (NWS Office of Service Evolution) and presentation attendees from both sectors

V. The Project’s Future

VI. Wrap-Up

Melissa Tuttle Carrmtuttle@weather.com

Kevin Barjenbruchkevin.barjenbruch@noaa.gov

Thank You!Thank You!