NWA NEWSLETTER No. 05 –08, 09 August - September 2005 actions that must take place in order for what is now PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE called the integrated warning system to work properly. These steps range from communication of the impending by Steve Weiss threat to the public in advance to give them time to During the early part of September we could see on respond appropriately, to the planning, preparation, and every newscast, the aftermath of one of the worst natural mobilization of necessary relief efforts. A successful disasters to impact the United States –Hurricane Katrina. integrated warning system requires the presence of a The hurricane eye made landfall near the Louisiana- well-defined public-private partnership within the Mississippi border just east of New Orleans in the early meteorological community, where we work together to morning of 29 August. The hurricane produced advance the science of forecasting, to communicate catastrophic destruction along a large coastal area and potentially life-threatening weather information to the well inland with its record storm surge, an unusually large public, and to work closely with emergency preparedness region of hurricane and tropical storm force winds, heavy agencies to ensure the necessary public safety rains and the horrific flooding that covered 80% of New contingency plans are formulated, tested, refined, and Orleans with up to 20 feet of water after several levees kept up-to-date. that protect the city were breached. The evacuation and At the NWA Annual Meeting next month in St. Louis, subsequent displacement of approximately 1 million one of the highlights of the meeting will be a Forum and residents of the southeast Louisiana and southern Discussion Monday afternoon, October 17, entitled Mississippi region has placed inconceivable stresses on “Developing Effective Partnerships to Advance Operational local, state, and national social service and relief agencies. Meteorology”. We are honored to have George Frederick, Worse yet were the more than 100,000 people who were a NWA Past President (1986), serve as moderator. The unable or chose not to leave the area in advance of the distinguished panel members include Kenneth Crawford, hurricane. The death toll is in the hundreds at the time of NOAA/NWS and NWA Past President (1988), Bill Massey, this writing and will likely rise, and it is clear that Katrina Emergency Management Consultant (Retired from FEMA), will be the costliest hurricane to ever strike the U.S. I John McLaughlin, Broadcast Meteorologist and NWA Past want you to know that within a few days of landfall, your President (2002), James Moore, Professor and NWA Past NWA Council approved the donation of $10,000 to the President (1999), Barry Lee Myers of AccuWeather, Inc., Red Cross Katrina relief fund on behalf of all members. and Dennis McCarthy, NOAA/NWS. We anticipate this will Much of the nation is now very knowledgeable about be a most enlightening and relevant discussion of issues the geography and geology of the lower Mississippi river that are at the forefront of operational meteorology today, area, and the dangers that New Orleans in particular has and we sincerely hope you will be able to attend this faced as it has continued to slowly sink farther below sea important event. level over the last several decades. Numerous scholarly As keynote speakers for the 30th Anniversary studies have examined the potential impact of a major meeting, we are most fortunate to have Brig. Gen. (Ret.) hurricane striking New Orleans over the last decade, and D. L. Johnson, director of the National Weather Service, the predicted effects of flooding, destruction of buildings, and Dennis McCarthy, a long-time forecaster and former and the resultant horrific societal impact were well known. deputy meteorologist-in-charge of the NWS St. Louis It was clear that to prepare for a storm like Katrina would Forecast Office, who is currently head of the NWS Office require extensive public and private collaboration and of Climate, Water, and Weather Services. Gen. Johnson coordination involving, but not limited to, the has graciously agreed to provide a vision of public meteorological community, broadcast media, and weather services and operations in the coming years and numerous emergency preparedness agencies at all levels Dennis will provide a historical overview on forecasting of government, among others. and weather support changes over the last 30 years. As we learned in the aftermath of the destructive Again, the Annual Meeting will be held in St. Louis Palm Sunday tornado outbreak in 1965, the issuance of October 15-20 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel adjacent to the accurate forecasts for potentially catastrophic weather Gateway Arch. The complete program is listed on the events is only the beginning of a series of successive following pages. See you in St. Louis! - S. Weiss MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE NEWS NWA ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA We are pleased to offer a “Back-to-School” This preliminary agenda (as of 16 September 2005) is membership special covering the September 2005 - provided for members planning to attend and as crossfeed to all December 2006 period (16 months) at a rate of $34 for readers interested in knowing the variety of studies being done new regular members and $17 for full-time student in the public, academic and private sectors. The agenda will be members and retirees. Please share this information with updated periodically on the NWA Web site (www.nwas.org). your colleagues, and students interested in operational The 30th Annual Meeting of the National Weather meteorology, who are not yet members of the NWA. Association will be held 15-20 October 2005 at the Adam’s Encourage them to become members of the primary Mark Hotel at Fourth and Chestnut Streets, Saint Louis, organization serving the needs of operational Missouri 63102. Attendees can register at the meeting or pre- register by 7 October 2005 using the information/form in the meteorology. More information and an application can be July NWA Newsletter or on the NWA Web site found on the NWA Website at: (www.nwas.org). Online preregistration is also available. www.nwas.org/individual_app_form.html. To all prospective attendees -- please reserve a room at the Adam’s Mark Hotel as soon as possibleby calling 1-800-444- th 2326 and requesting the group rate for National Weather 4 Annual Association. The deadline has passed to be certain of obtaining NWA Scholarship the reduced rate, but check on space and rate availability. Golf Outing Check in at the NWA Registration and Information desk at the Adam’s MarkHotel as soon as possible after you arrive to obtain nametags and the printed program. Saturday, October 15th Saturday, 15 October 2005 Stonewolf Golf Club Fourth Annual Golf Classic: Betsy Kling is organizing the this (a Jack Nicklaus signature course) golf outing for the enjoyment of members and guests and to We’ll start with a wonderful lunch, then hit the links raise funds for scholarships as she did so successfully the last for some team scramble fun. three years. The Golf Outing with tee times beginning after lunch will be held at the Stonewolf Golf Club Please reserve your spot by e-mailing Betsy Kling: [email protected] (http://www.stonewolfgolf.com/home.htm) in Fairview Heights, Illinois. This is a beautiful course with great opportunities to win and be challenged. Several members have signed up already and Betsy wants to make sure EVERYONE knows they $90 are most welcome to play golf even if not attending the Annual Includes golf cart, green fees, lunch and Meeting. Any profits from the event will benefit NWA scholarship donation educational scholarships. Total cost is $90 for lunch, green fees, golf cart, and prizes*. Reserve your tee time by contacting Betsy at [email protected] or contact the NWA Office at (434) 296-9966; [email protected] by the first of October. E-JOURNAL NEWS *Extra prizes will be used for a raffle during the Annual Meeting; prizes will be given away at the Awards Luncheon on Two new E-Journal articles have been posted on the Wednesday, 19 October at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. NWA Web site at: www.nwas.org/ej/index.html. The titles Exhibit booths will setup on Saturday and be open daily are: An Overview of the Lower Mississippi River Valley Sunday through Tuesday evening for viewing. Exhibit Severe Weather and Flash Flood Event of 6-7 April 2003 applications and information are available from the NWA office by Eric E. Carpenter and John P. Gagan of the at (434) 296-9966 or [email protected]. NOAA/NWS Forecast Office in Jackson, MS; and, South Sunday, 16 October 2005 - Broadcaster Workshop Florida Seabreeze/Outflow Boundary Tornadoes by 0730 AMNWA Registration and Information Desk opens at the Russell L. Pfost, Pablo Santos, Jr., and Thomas E. Warner Adam’s Mark Hotel on the 2nd floor in the pre-convene area outside of of the NOAA/NWS Forecast Office, Miami, FL Promenade Ballrooms D, E and F. BROADCASTER WORKSHOP –Presentations and workshops Aware Fall issue is available on Web as shown below are for the continuing education of Television and Radio Weather Broadcasters and those in related fields, but all The NOAA/NWS Aware newsletter for Fall 2005 individuals interested are most welcome to register, attend and from the NWS Office of Climate, Water, and Weather participate. Services, is available in PDF version on Web site: 0830 AMWelcoming Remarks. NWA President Steven J. Weiss, weather.gov/os/Aware/pdfs/aware-fall05.pdf. It is to Science and Operations Officer at the NOAA/NWS/ NCEP Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK and Broadcaster Workshop Program enhance communications within the emergency Chair, Bryan Karrick of KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA management community.