Aimee Fish with assistance from: Donald Moore and Samuel Shea NOAA National Weather Service Alaska Region WMO Open Science Conference August 16-22, 2014 Communicating Weather and Impacts in Remote Alaska in a “New Age” of Social Media

OUTLINE Background: Coastal storm vulnerabilities Challenges in communicating impacts Storm and service assessments Communication infrastructure Opportunities and paths forward

COASTAL STORM VULNERABILITIES KivalinaUnalakleet Newtok Shaktoolik

COASTAL STORM VULNERABILITIES

State Disaster Declarations Coastal Storms Season: August – November with exceptions Declarations, 4 Presidential

COASTAL STORM VULNERABILITIES

State of CT: 7 hours lead time to evacuate coastline Western AK: >24 hours lead time (daylight dependent >24 hours lead time (daylight dependent)

COASTAL STORM VULNERABILITIES Utility Infrastructure: Limited and vulnerable off the road system

COASTAL STORM VULNERABILITIES

CHALLENGES IN COMMUNICATING IMPACTS

Language 4 indigenous languages spoken Word choice Coastal flood / coastal storm / ET cyclone = “(fall) sea storm” Storm surge = “high water” Culture Speaking of bad weather can be thought of as calling upon bad weather Community Structure Local…. absent of borough (county or province) organization Often no official “Emergency Manager”

CHALLENGES IN COMMUNICATING IMPACTS

SERVICE ASSESSMENT: NOVEMBER 2011

NOVEMBER 2011 Seas: 12.1 m (Central Bering Sea) Wind gust: 81 kt (Diomede) Storm Surge: 2.6 m (Nome) Min. Central Pressure: 943 hpa Day before: Blizzard Water retreat: Water retreat: Days - months (deep freeze) Sea Ice (help and hindrance) Sea Ice (help and hindrance) 37 communities reported damages 1,000 miles of coastline damaged (closer to 1500) 1,000 miles of coastline damaged (closer to 1500) >$ 30Million in damages >$ 30Million in damages Presidential Disaster Declaration Presidential Disaster Declaration Damage estimates delayed until spring/summer due to ice Damage estimates delayed until spring/summer due to ice

NOVEMBER 2011

We learned about dissemination: Commercial / Public Radio: most broadly used Commercial / Public TV weather Alaska Weather Information Line (NWS “dial-a-forecast”) Note: does not contain warning statements Phone briefings with community leaders - most beneficial to decision makers Internet ~1% - <50% of homes via smartphone “When are you going to start using Twitter? That would be useful” City of Unalakleet, AK (population ~650)

NOVEMBER 2011 We learned about dissemination: Commercial / Public Radio: most broadly used Commercial / Public TV weather Alaska Weather Information Line (NWS “dial-a-forecast”) Note: does not contain warning statements Phone briefings with community leaders - most beneficial to decision makers Internet ~1% - <50% of homes via smartphone “When are you going to start using Twitter? That would be useful” City of Unalakleet, AK (population ~650)

STORM ASSESSMENTS: NOVEMBER 2013 “… some 200 honeybuckets – complete with snap-on-toilet seats for added comfort – arrived in the village of Kotlik on Monday. Flooding and ice blocks nine days earlier shredded the water and sewer system…” Multiple consecutive storms Blizzard, surf and surge Blizzard, surf and surge Water retreat: Water retreat: Days - months (deep freeze) Sea Ice (help and hindrance) Sea Ice (help and hindrance) 11 communities reported damages Presidential Disaster Declaration Presidential Disaster Declaration > $15 Million in damages (prelim) > $15 Million in damages (prelim) Damage estimates delayed until spring/summer due to ice Damage estimates delayed until spring/summer due to ice

NOVEMBER 2013

We learned about dissemination: Commercial / Public Radio: most broadly used (still) Commercial / Public TV weather Alaska Weather Information Line (less prominent) Phone briefings with community leaders - most beneficial to decision makers (still) And…

WIRELESS IS PREVALENT; SO IS SOCIAL MEDIA Photos courtesy ADN

COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE

OPPORTUNITIES AND PATH FORWARD Mainstream media is still important Work with media partners Schedule call-in radio shows Mobile device service focus Mobile sites & tools are a must Need to be slick but simple Urban & rural demands Pictures & graphics! Maintain SA on communication infrastructure improvements and use

OPPORTUNITIES AND PATH FORWARD Build our “everyday” reach into rural Alaska Focus additional posts on rural weather and sea ice Become relevant in both rural and urban communities Engage with partners & their social media (i.e., be more social!) Increase number of posts per event Specifically mention vulnerable, at risk areas Outreach Must include NWS social media – ALWAYS Seek & seize opportunities to reach rural community members (even if indirectly)

OPPORTUNITIES AND PATH FORWARD Engage partners to better understand culture and communities, and also expand message dissemination

THANK YOU! facebook.com/ www. youtube.com/user/ NWSAnchorage weather.gov/Alaska