1. Marine Oil Spill Exercise Leveraging NERACOOS “Visibility” August, 2009 Seacoast Science Center John Cannon National Weather Service Collaborative partner…Steve Lehmann (NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration)

2. Hurricane “Bill”: Rescue Operations at Acadia People swept out to sea at Acadia due to rogue wave

3. Hurricane “Bill” Warnings/Discussions MEZ023>028-NHZ014-221900- /O.NEW.KGYX.CF.Y.0004.090823T0400Z-090823T2100Z/ COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN-KNOX- COASTAL WALDO-COASTAL ROCKINGHAM- 422 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009...A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 5 PM SUNDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAY HAS ISSUED A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 5 PM SUNDAY. THE NERACOOS COASTAL FLOOD NOMOGRAM INDICATES THAT MINOR SPLASH- OVER MAY OCCUR SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. MINOR AND LOCALLY MODERATE SPLASH-OVER CONDITIONS...SOME COASTAL INUNDATION AS WELL AS BEACH EROSION...ARE MORE LIKELY EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...NEAR THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE AS WELL. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DICSUSSION...NERACOOS OBSERVATIONS SHOWING WAVE ACTION LEFTOVER FROM HURRICANE BILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDING TODAY. HOWEVER...THERE WILL STILL BE A FEW SWELLS IN THE 3 TO 6 FOOT RANGE OFFSHORE. THEREFORE...HAVE LEFT A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR SEAS IN PLACE THROUGH TODAY. WINDS SHOULD BE RELATIVELY LIGHT TODAY AND TONIGHT.HURRICANESMALL CRAFT ADVISORYSEAS

4. What are the Hazards within the NERACOOS domain?? Severe thunderstorms Severe thunderstorms –Lightning Marine Issues Marine Issues –Dense fog –Hurricanes –Coastal Flooding Splash-over Splash-over –Extra-tropical Marine Storms –Tsunamis –Arctic sea smoke/freezing spray –Extremely Cold water/Rip currents Fresh Water Flooding Fresh Water Flooding –Urban and fresh water flooding Winter Storms Winter Storms –Ice storms/snowstorms Oil spills (or other hazardous spills) Oil spills (or other hazardous spills) Airborne threat, chemical etc. (run atmospheric models) Airborne threat, chemical etc. (run atmospheric models) Fire Weather Fire Weather

5. Another Historical Tanker Accident… Importance of NERACOOS visibility data ▪83 foot Trawler sunk off Cape Anne in dense fog ▪Disputed collision with 541 foot Tanker “Starbound” struck and sinks 100 am August 5th, 2001

6. Marine Spill Exercise Scheduled for March 10 th, 2010 Scheduled for March 10 th, 2010 “SONS”: Spill of national significance “SONS”: Spill of national significance –Will draw more than 1000 participants to the region Spill will occur along the coastal waters near Portland Spill will occur along the coastal waters near Portland –Portland = 2 nd largest oil port on the east coast Marks 20 th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez spill Marks 20 th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez spill Can be used as a venue to discuss NERACOOS network Can be used as a venue to discuss NERACOOS network

7. Will be providing weather briefings Briefings will occur for days 3 and 4 “after” the accident - Actually this will work out as the long-lived storm impact the coast for several days Oil impacts Mass Bay, Cape Cod and Long Island Sound In what format??? Graphics? NERACOOS Plots? Not sure. Type of media attention?

8. Storm Requirements for the Drill Northeast wind to drive oil along the coastline Northeast wind to drive oil along the coastline Wind shift required to drive oil south through Southern New England and Long Island Wind shift required to drive oil south through Southern New England and Long Island Will be attending “Science of Oil Spills” training in NH this fall (NOAA SSC) Will be attending “Science of Oil Spills” training in NH this fall (NOAA SSC)

9. Marine Oil Spill Exercise: Patriots Day Storm Leverage usefulness of the NERACOOS data network Leverage usefulness of the NERACOOS data network –Atmospheric models are poor over the open ocean (buoy data very important) –Retrograding low: NERACOOS data critical Long-lived storm with high impact Long-lived storm with high impact Recent event…that many will remember Recent event…that many will remember

10. Patriot’s Day Storm (April 16, 2007)

11. Patriot’s Day Storm (Infrared Satellite Images)

12. Patriot’s Day (April 16, 2007)

13. Beach Communities Hit Hard

16. Inundation (Portland)

17. Freshwater Flooding

18. Damage to Marinas (often underreported)

19. Wind Damage (Category 2 hurricane)

20. Shelters

21. Courtesy: Portland Press Herald

23. Can Share NERACOOS Products During the Drill (below is an example from the Patriot’s Day Storm)

24. Thanks for your time! Questions/Comments??? john.w.cannon@noaa.gov Questions/Comments??? john.w.cannon@noaa.gov USCG District 1 Steve Lehmann NOAA SSC CDR 1st Coast Guard District (MEP) 408 Atlantic Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Phone: 617.223.8016