NWS Support for Non-Weather Related Emergencies Revamp of Federal Response Plans due to recent events (terrorist incidents, accident release of hazardous materials) NWS a major provider of weather information to emergency responders Small scale release (0-10 km, <1 hr) WFOs not expected to run CAMEO, but may provide: Wind vectors RH Stability

Large scale release (>10 km, >1 hr), WFOs provide: Hourly observation Site specific forecasts of wind, temp, RH, stability HYSPLIT model output to the requesting agency

Non-Weather Related Emergency Messages In keeping with NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) as an all hazards system Issued by NWS at the request of appropriate government officials For Graniteville incident, this was a Civil Emergency Message (CEM). Other examples include AMBER Alert (CAE) Usually includes EAS activation EAS is nation-wide alerting system disseminated first by designated radio stations which other radio/TV stations monitor and subsequently transmit to their audience EAS uses digital technology to distribute emergency messages, even to unattended broadcast stations and cable systems

For Graniteville chlorine spill, WFO Columbia: Issued wind forecasts day of the accident Broadcast CEMs on NWR frequently Provided general forecast for incident site for about a week thereafter Was in frequent contact with local/state agencies, the media, NWS regional/national headquarters