Let’s see……… Within the past year, we have witnessed one of
the costliest weather disasters in American History, Superstorm Sandy. More
recently, we have watched in horror as devastating tornadoes ravaged parts of
tornado alley, namely the Moore and El Reno tornadoes (but others too).
I would like to draw your attention to a couple of things
that both events had in common. First, both events were relatively well
forecasted from a meteorological/technical standpoint. Second, both events evoked vibrant and
important discussions because of challenges related to communicating or warning
for the hazard. In fact, NOAA modified its hurricane warning policy in the wake
of Sandy (http://www.climatecentral.org/news/in-wake-of-sandy-noaa-changes-hurricane-warning-policy-15829).
Where am I a going with this?
The AMS 41st Conference on Broadcast Meteorology and the Second
Conference on Weather Warnings and Communication (https://www.ametsoc.org/meet/fainst/201341broadcast2warning.html)
are being held next week in Nashville, Tennessee. Yet, many key federal meteorologists/professionals from
NOAA, National Weather Service, and other agencies are unable to attend because
of arcane travel restrictions, sequester, and budget stalemates. I am not
making this up. The two co-existing conferences will discuss best practices,
challenges, and opportunities for communicating weather threats to U.S.
citizens. They will also bring together communication/media stakeholders and
colleagues from the emergency management communities. Yet, many of the very colleagues at the top of the “weather
warning food chain” (NOAA, NWS personnel) may not be at the table. Some are even a short car ride away and
cannot attend.
I try to provide measured viewpoints on topics within our
community, and at times, people disagree with me (not often I hope J). However, even my 6-year
old son knows the value of attending his karate class or basketball practice to
learn the newest moves or latest strategies. Within conference formats,
stakeholders from the federal, academic, and private sectors convene, share
knowledge, and advance best practices.
This is required more than ever. For example, during the El Reno Tornado (Oklahoma), the
National Weather Service clearly communicated a message to stay off of roads
while messages from other sources may have given a different message. The intent
of this commentary is not to blame any person or organization. Rather, my
intent is to point out that our federal stakeholders cannot be on the sidelines
for critical discussions that involve weather and public safety. Yet, with the
shortsighted travel restrictions, this is exactly where they are.
Scientific conferences breed new ideas, new partnerships,
and knowledge transfer. And by the way, it doesn’t always happen in the
presentations so online/video alternatives are not always sufficient. Even
within my career, conference interactions have led to new proposals, ideas, and
connections. I am so fearful that a generation of early career professionals
will not experience these opportunities. I am equally fearful that students
(our “next generation” meteorologist workforce) will frown upon potential
opportunities in the federal sector because of limitations on travel and access
to scientific meetings.
I can’t imagine any successful organization, private or
public, not wanting its employees to consume and integrate the most
current/effective strategies, thinking or methods. Along the same lines, most
successful businesses want to interact with their customers to understand their
needs or preferences. Scientific
conferences or meetings with emergency managers provide that opportunity for
federal meteorologists but they can’t go.
The Sandy Town Hall at the AMS Annual Meeting (https://ams.confex.com/ams/93Annual/webprogram/Session33882.html)
in Austin (2013) brought together an array of stakeholders with differing
perspectives and opinions. I believe that it was a piece of the puzzle that led
to changes in hurricane warnings that will benefit U.S. Citizens. At the
meeting next week in Nashville, we will discuss critical communication and
perception issues that have equal significance to the public. As I stated
previously, many of the lives lost in recent tornadoes were likely not related
to lack of technology/warning but to human decision/communications challenge.
I think of federal weather colleagues as the “red checkers.” I think
of conferences/meetings discussing critical weather knowledge, communications
strategies, and warning methods as the “board.” There is no game without all of the checkers.
