Scott Reinacher Chairman, National Troopers’ Coalition Scott Reinacher Chairman, National Troopers’ Coalition WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS National Troopers’ Coalition

Background –Organization –Survey Requirements Impacts Summary/Comments Background –Organization –Survey Requirements Impacts Summary/Comments WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Overview

Organization –National Troopers’ Coalition: –Has ~ 45,000 members –Represents 48 state police and highway patrol associations in 45 states Survey –Responses from 28 states –Represents about 1 or 2 work sites per county nationwide –Most states have fixed wing and helicopters Organization –National Troopers’ Coalition: –Has ~ 45,000 members –Represents 48 state police and highway patrol associations in 45 states Survey –Responses from 28 states –Represents about 1 or 2 work sites per county nationwide –Most states have fixed wing and helicopters WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Background

National Weather Service State Systems (e.g. MNDOT) Commercial (e.g. Dyn-corp) National Weather Service State Systems (e.g. MNDOT) Commercial (e.g. Dyn-corp) WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Sources of Weather Information

Satellite service Telephone and teletype Internet *All rated current methods as sufficient Satellite service Telephone and teletype Internet *All rated current methods as sufficient WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Receipt Method

Info is posted and passed to troopers when hazards threaten operations –Report/Relay real-time weather conditions Providing storm tracking on maps valued most Large areas and geographical differences require tailored info Staffing needs and disaster response dictate weather info use Info is posted and passed to troopers when hazards threaten operations –Report/Relay real-time weather conditions Providing storm tracking on maps valued most Large areas and geographical differences require tailored info Staffing needs and disaster response dictate weather info use WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Factors bearing on source and receipt of weather data

Most prevalent hazard Impedes all operations Snow/ice and flooding most critical Any precipitation has an impact..intensity and amount exacerbate effects 0-3 hour forecast most important; 3-24 needed for planning; 1-7 day useful for scheduling Most prevalent hazard Impedes all operations Snow/ice and flooding most critical Any precipitation has an impact..intensity and amount exacerbate effects 0-3 hour forecast most important; 3-24 needed for planning; 1-7 day useful for scheduling WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Precipitation

Affects mobility and communications Rain, wind and hail most impact Visibility in storms also critical Lightning strikes affect personnel and communications 0-3 hour forecast most critical Affects mobility and communications Rain, wind and hail most impact Visibility in storms also critical Lightning strikes affect personnel and communications 0-3 hour forecast most critical WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Thunderstorms / Lightning

Personnel comfort, vehicle readiness, resource constraints, and survival under extreme conditions 6-12 hour forecast important 12 hour to 7 day useful for planning and scheduling Personnel comfort, vehicle readiness, resource constraints, and survival under extreme conditions 6-12 hour forecast important 12 hour to 7 day useful for planning and scheduling WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Temperatures

Fog and smoke reducing visibility to less than ¼ mile is important Visibility in tens of feet has greatest impact on safety and operations Response time to emergencies increases substantially 1-3 hour forecast critical 3 hours to 7 days useful for planning Fog and smoke reducing visibility to less than ¼ mile is important Visibility in tens of feet has greatest impact on safety and operations Response time to emergencies increases substantially 1-3 hour forecast critical 3 hours to 7 days useful for planning WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Visibility

Speed and direction become more critical with precipitation type and amount If sand, smoke or snow are present then winds 10 miles an hour have an impact and the stronger the wind the greater the impact 0-3 hour forecast most important 3 hour to 7 day forecasts useful for planning and scheduling Speed and direction become more critical with precipitation type and amount If sand, smoke or snow are present then winds 10 miles an hour have an impact and the stronger the wind the greater the impact 0-3 hour forecast most important 3 hour to 7 day forecasts useful for planning and scheduling WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Winds

Depends on toxicity Health and performance may be affected 1-2 day advisories useful Depends on toxicity Health and performance may be affected 1-2 day advisories useful WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Pollution

Safety of public and troopers Scheduling/availability Readiness to respond Health and morale Cost/benefit to taxpayer Mission effectiveness Safety of public and troopers Scheduling/availability Readiness to respond Health and morale Cost/benefit to taxpayer Mission effectiveness WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Impacts

Mission information Requirements Impacts Future –Better lead times in wx advisories in support of disaster response, dives, searches, canine tracking operations, and motorcycle patrols Mission information Requirements Impacts Future –Better lead times in wx advisories in support of disaster response, dives, searches, canine tracking operations, and motorcycle patrols WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Summary