Aware is published by NOAA’s to enhance communications between NWS and the Emergency Management Community Aware and other government and Private Sector Partners. November 2013

These new headlines will feedback that NWS and duplicate, not replace, “ Warning offer too much New and Improved EMERGENCY” or “FLASH advance notice to warrant WEA acti- EMERGENCY” in the last line of the vation. WEA messages will continue third bullet, the for the following warnings: Spotlight on Severe statement of the warning. and Flash This change does not impact the ‹‹ Tornados Severe Weather Statement (SVS) or ‹‹ ‹ Ed Clark, Hydrologist, NWS Hydrologic Flash Flood Statement (FFS) that ‹ Hurricane and Typhoon Services Division allow headlines for tornado and flash ‹‹ Extreme Wind flood emergencies. ‹‹ Dust Storm A more detailed description and Starting February 4, 2014, NWS examples of a and forecast offices will have the option a Flash that include to add the phrase “TORNADO EMER- the new headline are online. GENCY” to a headline in a Tornado Warning (TOR) and “FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY” in a (FFW). The headlines will and Ice Storms NWS is developing capabilities to only be used when ALL the criteria Removed from WEA activate WEA for weather and hydro- below are met for an event: logic events based on the expected

Mike Gerber, NWS Dissemination event impact rather than by warning ‹‹ Severe threat to human life is Services Meteorologist type alone. imminent or ongoing All major wireless carriers ‹‹ Catastrophic property damage On November 13, 2013, NWS and hundreds of smaller carriers is imminent or ongoing removed Blizzard and Ice Storm voluntarily send their users WEA ‹‹ Reliable sources confirm a Warnings from the list of NWS messages. To find out if your phone tornado or flash flood warning types which activate Wire- is WEA-capable or if you have other

less Emergency Alerts (WEA) by questions related to the receipt These headlines will spotlight default. NWS will continue to broad- of WEA on your cell phone, please the potential for large scale loss cast Blizzard and Ice Storm Warnings contact your wireless carrier or of life and catastrophic property over its other dissemination services. check the WEA website. damage in these extreme tornado On June 28, 2012, NWS began and flash flood events. The headline sending its most critical warnings to will be on a separate line directly the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and following the date/time line and Warning System (IPAWS) for broad- before the first line that begins “THE cast on WEA-capable cell phones. Decision Support NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN [WFO Since then, NWS has been collecting NAME] HAS ISSUED A…” The headline public feedback and using that will be preceded and followed by feedback to refine the list of NWS NWS Great Lakes Offices ellipsis: warning types that activate WEA. Expand Marine Outreach NWS makes determinations ...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR MOORE about WEA activation by factoring NWS News Staff, Silver Spring, MD AND SOUTH ... in urgency, severity and certainty of or the warnings types; on geo-targeting Protecting lives and livelihoods ...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR and on the current capabilities of on the Great Lakes was one of the CENTRAL KENT COUNTY... WEA-capable cell phones. Although first goals for the fledgling weather blizzards and ice storms are high warning service in 1870. Marine impact events, there was significant forecast services continue to be a book that offers flood education and awareness. The workbook was created after multiple major floods in the Delaware River basin. These horrific events left residents shocked and in disbelief that this could ever happen again. The workbook explains that severe floods will continue to happen, that residents should expect it, and that floods are part of the natural order. The workbook also provides tips on what to do to reduce losses from flooding. The key messages are: NWS Chicago Forecaster Stephen Rodriguez stands in front of the 1000-foot Burns Harbor after meeting with the captain and mates ‹‹ Get alerts ‹‹ Go to higher ground key component of the NWS mission services across the Great Lakes. Any ‹‹ Don’t drive into flood waters to protect life and property and proposed new/enhanced products ‹‹ Make a plan enhance the national economy. or services will be open for public To ensure that NWS effectively comment/review prior to opera- supports this mission, the five NWS tional implementation. forecast offices that issue open- NWS is also collaborating with waters forecasts for the Great Lakes Environment Canada to develop a (Chicago, Marquette, Detroit, Cleve- common suite of services between land, and Buffalo), together with the two agencies. The next step is to NWS Central Region and national expand this outreach effort to offices headquarters, have initiated a new which forecast for the near shore Great Lakes outreach effort. waters to gain a better perspective The program’s goal is to improve on the needs of recreational boaters. decision support services for mari- Improving decision support for ners on the Great Lakes by better those in the Great Lakes who rely on understanding their weather infor- NWS products and services benefits mation needs and the environment those individuals and groups directly, in which they operate. and it is another step in NWS’s efforts “Floods Happen. Lessen the Loss” is Staff members from the five to build a Weather-Ready Nation. a coloring workbook that offers flood offices are meeting with officers education and awareness. aboard freighters, tug boats, Coast Guard vessels and other craft that rely on NWS forecasts to determine Outreach Insights Each one of these educational which weather elements are most messages is taught in the workbook critical in decision making, how through different activities such these products are interpreted, the Floods Happen. Lessen as mazes, word finds, crossword perception of how well various situa- puzzles and more. tions are handled, and proposals for the Loss/Flood Safety They feature the characters, evolving marine services. This direct Workbooks Now Available “High Water Mark” and his dog contact will also help strengthen the “Noah.” Each message also has a full page illustration to color. Once all relationship between captains and Patti Wnek, NWS Service Coordination local offices. Hydrologist, Middle Atlantic RFC 6 pages are colored, kids can connect NWS offices will review the the pages to create their own flood information collected from these The Nurture Nature Center, a safety poster. visits to identify common themes non-profit organization in Easton, The workbook was made possible and issues. Based on the results, PA, has just released a new flood through a NOAA Grant. You can the offices will work together safety workbook. “Floods Happen. download and print the workbook to improve marine products and Lessen the Loss” is a coloring work- with your organization’s name, logo

2 | NWS Aware November 2013 and website address and distribute for a program to raise awareness of them to schools and youth groups the dangers of driving or walking into Video Brings Home in your community. The workbook flooded areas. make a terrific flood safety outreach Hector’s concern about flood Flash Flood Safety activity. safety began as a meteorolo- For more information and assis- gist at the NWS Brownsville, TX, Mike Cantin, WCM, NWS Honolulu, HI tance, contact Rachel Hogan Carr, office. While there, he became Director of the Nurture Nature concerned when hurricane evacuees Getting the public to take Center at RHogan@nurturenature. from the Texas coast had to relo- flooding seriously can be chal- org or call 610-253-4432. cate to the heart of Texas’ Flash lenging. NWS Honolulu recently Flood Alley. produced a Hawaii-specific flood Having grown up in Austin, TX, safety video to help bring the Turn Around Don’t Drown part of Flash Flood Alley, he was dangers home. Forecaster Tony also aware of the dangers associ- Reynes wrote, directed and filmed Trademark Renewed on ated with flash floods. “I wanted the movie which has been getting 10th Anniversary a catchy phrase along the lines praise from local media and emer- of the fire-safety mantra: “Stop, gency managers. Much of the video’s Katie Collins Garrett, Outreach, Drop and Roll.” After brainstorming footage was the product of collabo- Training and Interagency Coordinator, with a group of firefighters from ration with emergency managers and Hydrologic Services Branch Harlingen, TX, I chose ‘Turn Around other county officials from around Don’t Drown.’” Hawaii. The video is featured promi- Flooding remains one of the top Hector worked with a team from nently on NWS Honolulu’s YouTube weather killers with the average NWS Southern Region Headquar- and Facebook pages. number of annual fatalities totaling ters, and together they near 90. More than half of these partnered with the fatalities are vehicle related. The Texas Division of Emer- NWS “Turn Around Don’t Drown” gency Management, (TADD) campaign is dedicated to The Federal Alliance teaching the public about flood for Safe Homes, and safety. the Fort Worth Fire Department. The TADD program was launched in Texas in 2003. Once NOAA trade- marked the phrase, A new flash flood video includes dramatic footage of the program made local floods visualizes the impacts of flooding. its national debut in Future plans include videos high- 2004. Since then, officials have placed lighting ocean safety and tropical hundreds of permanent TADD signs weather. This project represents an along roadways prone to flooding important collaboration between across the country. The slogan has the Honolulu Forecast Office and become an often repeated catch- core partners around Hawaii. phrase in the media, classrooms and even homes. In addition to the education materials developed by Aware NWS, our partners also distribute NOAA’s National Weather Service resources promoting this safety Awareness and Performance Div. message. Division Chief: Cindy Woods The 10th Anniversary of the Branch Chief: Mike Szkil WCM Hector Guerrero shows a Turn national campaign will be high- Managing Editor: Melody Magnus Around Don’t Drown sign lighted during Flood Safety Editors: Donna Franklin, Nancy Lee Awareness Week, March 16-22, 2014. www.weather.gov/os/Aware/ In the early 2000s, Hector For more information about Subscribe/Unsubscribe Guerrero, the Warning Coordina- the national TADD program, visit weather.gov/os/Aware/awarelist.shtml tion Meteorologist at the NWS San the TADD Website or contact Katie ISSN 1936-8178 Angelo, TX, began formulating a plan Collins Garrett. November 2013 NWS Aware | 3