“Meeting Operational Needs through Comprehensive Tropical Cyclone Research and Development ” March 1 - 4, th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference

Mr. Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Sponsored and hosted by: The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research 64 th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference “Meeting Operational Needs through Comprehensive Tropical Cyclone Research and Development ” Conference Opening

64 th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference The Honorable Edna Jackson Mayor Pro Tem, Savannah, Georgia Welcome / Opening Remarks

64 th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference The Honorable Otis S. Johnson Mayor, Savannah, Georgia Welcome / Opening Remarks

Improve operational capability to provide services to help prevent loss of life and injuries –Minimize the nation’s vulnerability to natures most destructive forces –Enable a strong homeland defense through a safe overseas presence Build upon synergies / collaboration in the tropical cyclone community Continued improvements in observations, modeling, forecaster tools, and incorporation of social science results into operations are vital to improve services to a myriad of stakeholders Why Are We Here? Example improvement in observations: SFMR –Has increased confidence in the intensity analysis of hurricanes, especially major hurricanes –Helped better quantify 64 kt & 34 kt wind radii, complementing QuikSCAT and now ASCAT –Still unresolved uncertainties about the SFMR algorithim output at moderate winds with rain present Will hear more about this in Session 4

For modeling research & development, we’ll hear much more about this in Sessions 7-8 Session 3, Understanding Hurricane Response for Improved Stakeholder / User Reaction, will highlight some important work taking place in social sciences Why Are We Here? A few examples of improved capabilities and services: –Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook Overwhelming positive feedback prior to operational implementation at NHC in 2009 Operational implementation at CPHC in 2010 –Linkage of tropical cyclone track forecast to wave prediction models for commercial and military shipping hazard avoidance –Probabilistic storm surge product Provides the likelihood of storm surge values from 2 through 25 feet; became operational at NHC in 2009

Review the Nation’s tropical cyclone forecasting and warning program –Address actions from previous IHC –Update the National Hurricane Operations Plan for 2010 Review an assessment of tropical cyclone research and development activities and their contributions toward forecasting and warning center’s operational priorities Review Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) projects, and recognize candidates that may be successfully transitioned into operations Examine aspects of the hurricane forecasting and warning process and ongoing social sciences-related research to aid in improved stakeholder / user response Build upon tropical cyclone partnerships, leveraging agency capabilities to meet the operational needs of the tropical cyclone forecasting and warning centers Conference Objectives

Plenary Opening Speakers ( 1:00 – 1:40 PM) This Afternoon Conference Agenda Mr. William Craig Fugate Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA/DHS) Ms. Monica Medina Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA/DOC)

Moderator: Dr. Elbert W. (Joe) Friday, Professor Emeritus of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma Panelists: Dr. Ramesh Kakar, NASA Weather Focus Area Lead and Program Manager for Atmospheric Dynamics, NASA Headquarters Dr. Fred Lewis, Air Force Director of Weather, HQ Air Force RADM David Titley, Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy Dr. John “Jack” Hayes, Assistant Administrator for Weather Services, NOAA This Afternoon Conference Agenda Panel Discussion: The Power of Partnerships to Meet Operational Priorities (1:40 – 3:00 PM)

Session 1:The 2009 Tropical Cyclone Season in Review 3:45 – 5:30 PM Session Leaders:Dr. Steve Lyons (TWC) and CAPT Grant Cooper (NMFC/JTWC) Reception / Icebreaker: 6:30 - 8:00 PM ( Pool Area) Later This Afternoon and Evening Conference Agenda

8:00 – 8:15 AM: Invited Presentation - Mr. Bill Proenza (NOAA/NWS) :15 – 9:30 AM: Workshop/Panel Session 2: Assessment of the Tropical Cyclone R&D Activities in Contributing to the Operational Priorities of the Tropical Cyclone Forecasting and Warning Centers Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Ritchie, Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona Panelists:Dr. Frank Marks, AOML/HRD (NOAA) Mr. James Franklin, NWS/NHC (NOAA) Mr. Robert Falvey, JTWC (DOD) Dr. Ron Ferek, ONR (DOD) Tuesday Morning Conference Agenda

10:00 – 11:45 AM: Workshop/Panel Session 3: Understanding Hurricane Response for improved Stakeholder / User Reaction Moderator: Mr. Max Mayfield, Senior Executive Vice President of Governmental Relations, America’s Emergency Network and WPLG- TV Hurricane Specialist Panelists:Mr. David Caldwell, NWS/OCWWS (NOAA) Dr. Brenda Phillips, Oklahoma State University Dr. Jeff Lazo, NCAR Ms. Jennifer Santos-Hernandez, Univ. of Delaware Mr. Walt Dickerson, Diversified Em. Mgmt. Associates Tuesday Morning Conference Agenda

6:00 - 8:00 PM Poster Session Tuesday Evening

Banquet Address: - Dr. Timothy KilleenAssistant Director for the Geosciences, NSF Wednesday Evening – Conference Banquet Conference Agenda Cash Bar Open6:30 PM Banquet Starts7:00 PM Banquet Address~7:45 PM Presentation of the Hagemeyer Award~ 8:15 PM

Thursday Afternoon – Final Plenary Session Conference Agenda 10:15 – 11:15 AM WG/HWSOR: Action Item Review Dr. Edward Rappaport (NHC) Chairperson, WG/HWSOR Workshop Wrap-up Workshop: Assessment of the Tropical Cyclone R&D Activities in Contributing to the Operational Priorities of the Tropical Cyclone Forecasting Centers Workshop: Understanding Hurricane Response for Improved Stakeholder/User Reaction Dr. Frank Marks, NOAA/AOML/HRD Mr. Max Mayfield Sr. Exec. Vice Pres. of Gvmtl Relations, America’s Em. Network & WPLG-TV Hurr. Spec. Final Wrap-up Mr. Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator

Conference Logistics Conference Technical Director Mr. Mark Welshinger Media Coordinator Mr. Mike Babcock Lt Col Sabrina Taijeron Assistant Coordinators for Conference Arrangements Ms. Erin McNamara Ms. Christina Bork Audiovisual Specialists Mr. Ken Barnett Mr. Tony Ramirez Registrars Ms. Erin McNamara Ms. Christina Bork Conference Chair: Mr. Samuel P. Williamson

Conference Logistics Presentation TimersMs. Christina Bork Session Coordinators Mr. Mark Welshinger Dr. Paul Try Mr. Mike Babcock Lt Col Sabrina Taijeron Mr. Floyd Hauth Poster SessionLt Col Sabrina Taijeron

Plenary Opening Mr. William Craig Fugate Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) 64 th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference “Meeting Operational Needs through Comprehensive Tropical Cyclone Research and Development ”

Plenary Opening 64 th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference “Meeting Operational Needs through Comprehensive Tropical Cyclone Research and Development ” Ms. Monica Medina Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (DOC/NOAA)

The Power of Partnerships to Meet Operational Priorities Panel Discussion Moderator: Dr. Elbert W. (Joe) Friday, Professor Emeritus of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma Panelists: Dr. Ramesh Kakar, NASA Weather Focus Area Lead and Program Manager for Atmospheric Dynamics Dr. Fred Lewis, Air Force Director of Weather RADM David Titley, Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy Dr. Jack Hayes, Director, National Weather Service, NOAA

NOAA Dr. John “Jack” Hayes NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services/Director, NWS DHSMr. Dan Catlett National Hurricane Prgram Manager DHS/FEMA Army Mr. Bill Birkemeier Field Data Collection Program USACE Field Research Facility Navy RADM David Titley Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy CNO N84, US Naval Observatory Federal Agency Lead Reps Air Force Dr. Fred Lewis Director of Weather AF/A3O-W, HQ USAF NSFDr. Brad Smull Division of Atmospheric Sciences DOIBrian McCallum Assistant Director, Georgia Water Science Center, DOI/USGS NASADr. Ramesh Kakar NASA Wx Focus Area Lead and Program Manager for Atmospheric Dynamics

Questions welcomed...time permitting Significant agency issues worked through lead agency reps –User community & agency reps are welcome to raise issues for discussion during Q&A periods and at Thursday workshops Significant issues reviewed daily at OFCM staff meeting –Results of discussions and any action items Summarized during the Final Plenary Session Ground Rules

Afternoon Break

The 2009 Tropical Cyclone Season in Review (3:45 – 5:30 PM) Session Leaders Dr. Steve Lyons, TWC CAPT Grant Cooper, NMFC/JTWC Session 1 Coordinator: Mr. Mark Welshinger, OFCM

Harborview Room – top floor 6:30 - 8:00 PM Reception / Icebreaker