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American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Partnership Topic (APT) Building Americas Resilience to Hurricane Disasters Dr. Timothy Spangler AMS Summer Community Meeting 11-13 August 2008 Boulder, CO Slide 2 Presentation APT Selection APT Purpose Multi-sector and Interdisciplinary Hurricane Disasters APT Topic Committee Membership APT Schedule Slide 3 APT Selection Issue that is of long-term strategic nature with importance to the enterprise as a whole APT Selection Criteria: Timeliness (results relevant for 2-3 year timeline) Breadth (sector and discipline) Impact (on the weather and climate enterprise and society) Interest (likelihood of success) Linkage (potential linkage to other planned activities) Slide 4 APT Purpose Give all interested parties an opportunity to express their views on the selected topic Summarize those views in a concise report Identify consensus views when such consensus exists Clarify differences of opinion when consensus does not exist Offer recommendations to AMS itself and the enterprise as a whole based on the understanding of views gained during the study Slide 5 Topic Committee Membership Slide 6 Topic Committee Membership (cont) Slide 7 APT Schedule Slide 8 Multi-sector and Interdisciplinary Katrina has shown that a good forecast and warning are not enough Meteorology community cant accomplish enough by itself Some problems cant be solved or even mitigated by single communities of interest AMS reaching out to talented individuals from other disciplines Slide 9 Hurricane Katrina Eye Wall Slide 10 Hurricane Isabel Slide 11 Report Cover Slide 12 Original Charge #1 How can the private sector engage more fully in hurricane disaster prevention, preparedness, and recovery actions nationwide? a)Enhance incentives for the private sector b)Meet individual and community unmet needs in the recovery phase of a hurricane disaster c)Engage businesses to prepare for Hurricanes (release employees earlier, for example) d)Better utilize business to improve communication from getting the message out to putting up temporary cell phone towers e)Better partnership between business and NGOs Slide 13 Case in Point Private hospitals were fully evacuated, some by helicopter (Humana) Public hospital had staff and patients in place during Katrina aftermath Slide 14 Meteorology Private Sector Has specific unique and critical roles that were added to the report during the comment period. Specialized data forecasts and warnings tailored for users Dissemination to mobile devices Regular, trusted contact with the public via tv, radio, newspaper, internet Slide 15 Original Charge #2 How can we do more to protect the poor and most vulnerable hurricane disasters? a)Have an evacuation plan AND a motivation plan for at risk populations to get 100% evacuated b)Communication must address both practical issues (where to go) and emotional issues (what will happen to my pets?) c)Enhance plans for temporary housing d)Expand & enhance NOAAs Storm Ready Program Include requirement for registry of at risk population. Slide 16 Hurricane Disasters APT 3.What can be done to better educate the enterprise on responses to forecasts and warnings for hurricanes? [Educating the Enterprise] a)Achieve improvements in areas related to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards b)Achieve improvements in education and training on hurricanes and preparedness Slide 17 Broadcasters Kids Adults Emergency Managers Insurance Industry Business Community Educate Who? Slide 18 Resilence Should include: Sociological Impacts Ecological Footprints Economic Issues Engineering Future Conditions (i.e. climate change) Slide 19 USGS Bay, St. Louis Slide 20 Bay Saint Louis before Katrina