Building a Weather-Ready Nation Thank you to the 2015 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium Sponsors

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Virginia EM Symposium Town Hall Meeting Bill Sammler - WCM – NWS Wakefield VA Phil Hysell – WCM – NWS Blacksburg VA Chris Strong – WCM – NWS Baltimore/Washington

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Clarifying The Process StormReady in Virginia o Initial Applications Reviewed/Approved by State Advisory Board – VDEM Local Coordinators, VEMA Rep, NWS WCMs o NWS Offices Responsible for ALL Renewals – No Advisory Board Involvement

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Testing - NWS Sterling Area Weather Prepared

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Testing - NWS Sterling Area Weather Prepared When a weather disaster arrives, If you: receive the NWS warning in advance receive the NWS warning in advance have a plan activated before the threat arrives have a plan activated before the threat arrives have trained on your plan before the threat arrives have trained on your plan before the threat arrives... your outcome will be much better than your neighbor who responds in a panic.

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Testing - NWS Sterling Area Weather Prepared Goals of StormReady, But Open to All…Goals of StormReady, But Open to All… Knowledge of Weather Threats Receive the Warning Redistribute Warning Plan for Action Triggers Defined Train/Drill

Building a Weather-Ready Nation NWS Sterling Area Weather Prepared Testing, but OperationalTesting, but Operational Same Goals as StormReadySame Goals as StormReady ALL levelsALL levels Family/Self to Large Organization Self GuidedSelf Guided Print Out RecognitionPrint Out Recognition Register with NWSRegister with NWS

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Weather Ready Public Webpage washington/ WeatherReady

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Choice Based on Size & Capabilities Self Guided Checklists

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Recognition Certificate

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Testing - NWS Sterling Area Highway Signs

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Feb 17, 2014 – Winchester VA

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Feb 17, 2014 – Winchester VA

Building a Weather-Ready Nation 1 Fatal multi-vehicle accident As snowy conditions moved quickly through Franklin County, police say vehicles struggled to stay in their lanes When police responded to the accident just before 10 a.m. Sunday, they say they found four separate crashes involving nine vehicles Nov 24, 2013 – Franklin Co PA I-81

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Nov 24, 2013 – Franklin Co PA I-81

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Mar 26, 2014 Berkeley Co WV I-81

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Mar 26, 2014 Berkeley Co WV I-81

Building a Weather-Ready Nation S Similarities? Winchester, VA – Feb 2014 Martinsburg, WV – Mar 2014 Franklin Co., PA – Nov 2013 Sudden, brief heavy snowSudden, brief heavy snow Sub freezing roadsSub freezing roads Highway speedsHighway speeds Targeted snow squall, crossing cold highwayTargeted snow squall, crossing cold highway - otherwise good travel conditions - otherwise good travel conditions

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Testing - NWS Sterling Area VDOT Highway Signs Goal is to reach motorists while they are driving Message would likely not otherwise be received

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Testing - NWS Sterling Area Highway Signs NWS Sterling will notify VDOT: Staunton/Waynesboro Districts and/or NoVA District Message contains: Template to base message on Where All clear also sent to VDOT

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Which Work Best? Pre-Storm Coordination/Decision Support Tools NWS Blacksburg – You Tube Briefings; Winter Weather Page NWS Wakefield – Briefing “One-Pagers”; Briefing Web Page (Big Emphasis) NWS Sterling – PowerPoint Briefings, Winter Weather Page

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Conference Calls Internal/External Feedback: Regional vs. State - Is there a need for both? Notification - Does everyone receive the notice if mailed late in the evening? Conference Call Times: Are the recent 8 AM calls the best time? Participants - Starting to receive requests for Conference Calls from small local entities. Format: Should different offices provide an overview? Internal/External Feedback: Regional vs. State - Is there a need for both? Notification - Does everyone receive the notice if mailed late in the evening? Conference Call Times: Are the recent 8 AM calls the best time? Participants - Starting to receive requests for Conference Calls from small local entities. Format: Should different offices provide an overview?

Building a Weather-Ready Nation Open Forum We Want To Hear From You The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly(Hope Not!!)