Seneca County Weather Operations Plan

Seneca CountySeneca CountyWeather Operations PlanWeather Operations Plan

Dan StahlDan StahlAdministratorAdministrator

Seneca County Department of Public SafetySeneca County Department of Public Safety

Hazardous Weather CourseHazardous Weather Course

May 17-19, 2005May 17-19, 2005

NOAA’s National Weather ServiceNOAA’s National Weather Service

NOAA’s National Weather Service

Gearing Up for ActionGearing Up for Action

DetectDetect

WarnWarn

RespondRespond

Gearing Up for Action Gearing Up for Action

DetectDetect• Notification that a Severe Weather eventNotification that a Severe Weather event

has occurred or will occurhas occurred or will occur– Issued by NWS in ClevelandIssued by NWS in Cleveland

– Event reported to authorities by a citizenEvent reported to authorities by a citizen

– Event confirmed by a trained Skywarn SpotterEvent confirmed by a trained Skywarn Spotter

• Confirm that local alerts are issuedConfirm that local alerts are issued– Get the information flowingGet the information flowing

– Ham, Public Safety, Dispatch FacilitiesHam, Public Safety, Dispatch Facilities

– Community sirens if necessaryCommunity sirens if necessary

– Contact known gatherings of large crowds inside, outside eventsContact known gatherings of large crowds inside, outside events

Simultaneous ActivitiesSimultaneous Activities

The CrewThe Crew• SkywarnSkywarn

• Public Safety SpotterPublic Safety Spotter

• EOC StaffEOC Staff

• All 3 can work simultaneously or individuallyAll 3 can work simultaneously or individually

• Skywarn may activate before the othersSkywarn may activate before the others

• EOC Staff may already be in placeEOC Staff may already be in place

• How do we make it work?How do we make it work?

Simultaneous ActivitiesSimultaneous Activities

The CrewThe Crew

We will examine each group as individual entities and We will examine each group as individual entities and show how they work simultaneously to respond to show how they work simultaneously to respond to Severe WeatherSevere Weather

Gearing up for ActionGearing up for Action

Notified of Event – General InformationNotified of Event – General Information• Knowledge of a probable threatKnowledge of a probable threat– NWS issued Watch or WarningNWS issued Watch or Warning

• Reaction to an issued Watch or WarningReaction to an issued Watch or Warning– Varies by group and type of Watch or WarningVaries by group and type of Watch or Warning

– Activation may hinge on a Warning in a nearby countyActivation may hinge on a Warning in a nearby county

• Key players are notifiedKey players are notified

• Each group has a formal activation planEach group has a formal activation plan


EOC the EntityEOC the Entity• The EOC and “satellite” areasThe EOC and “satellite” areas

will usually be the first automated systemwill usually be the first automated systemto relay a Watch or Warningto relay a Watch or Warning

– Emails relayed from NOAA Weather RadiosEmails relayed from NOAA Weather Radios• Alpha / Numeric Pagers & cell phonesAlpha / Numeric Pagers & cell phones

• Internet emailInternet email

– Emails relayed from subscription servicesEmails relayed from subscription services• Storm NowStorm Now

• Ohio EMAOhio EMA

– Radio announcementsRadio announcements• NOAA Weather Radio and Emergency Alert System (EAS)NOAA Weather Radio and Emergency Alert System (EAS)

• Rebroadcast on EMA frequencyRebroadcast on EMA frequency


EOC the StaffEOC the Staff• During the work dayDuring the work day– At the officeAt the office

– Within rangeWithin range

– Usually monitoring the weatherUsually monitoring the weather

– Taking calls from Skywarn and Public Safety workersTaking calls from Skywarn and Public Safety workers

– Taking calls from the National Weather ServiceTaking calls from the National Weather Service

– Can easily initiate any Severe Weather actionCan easily initiate any Severe Weather action

– All EOC staff have multiple qualificationsAll EOC staff have multiple qualifications• Trained emergency personnelTrained emergency personnel

• Amateur Radio operatorsAmateur Radio operators

EOC AnalysisEOC Analysis

EOC the StaffEOC the Staff• After the Severe Weather eventAfter the Severe Weather event– Evaluate the condition of the countyEvaluate the condition of the county

• Further weather reportsFurther weather reports

• Survey of respondersSurvey of responders

• Damage reportsDamage reports

• How bad are we?How bad are we?

• Continue relief efforts if necessaryContinue relief efforts if necessary

• Close EOC and go homeClose EOC and go home


Some Considerations for EOCSome Considerations for EOC• Type of eventType of event– Slow movingSlow moving

• SnowstormSnowstorm

• IceIce

• WindsWinds

• FloodingFlooding

– Fast movingFast moving• Severe ThunderstormSevere Thunderstorm

• TornadoTornado

• Flash floodingFlash flooding

– Unexpected conditionsUnexpected conditions


Some Considerations for EMA DirectorSome Considerations for EMA Director• Activate EOC as RequestedActivate EOC as Requested– EMA DirectorEMA Director

– An Incident CommanderAn Incident Commander

– A Public Safety Dispatch Entity (communications level)A Public Safety Dispatch Entity (communications level)

– MayorMayor

– County CommissionerCounty Commissioner

– Any individual or group with authority and needAny individual or group with authority and needwhich is within the ability of the EMA Directorwhich is within the ability of the EMA Directorto respond and activate the EOCto respond and activate the EOC

• Your activation criteria for EOC participationYour activation criteria for EOC participation


Some Considerations for EMA DirectorSome Considerations for EMA Director• Switching Hats During an EventSwitching Hats During an Event– Amateur Radio OperatorAmateur Radio Operator

– SkywarnSkywarn

– EOCEOC

– SkywarnSkywarn

– EOCEOC

• Usually you should pick yourUsually you should pick yourposition and stay with itposition and stay with it– Saves confusionSaves confusion

– Keeps stress downKeeps stress down


Public Safety ResponderPublic Safety Responder• The Public Safety Responder is usuallyThe Public Safety Responder is usually

Fire, EMS, and Law EnforcementFire, EMS, and Law Enforcement

– They can be notified in the usual automated waysThey can be notified in the usual automated ways

– They can be contacted by telephone or two-way radioThey can be contacted by telephone or two-way radio


Public Safety ResponderPublic Safety Responder• Activation CriteriaActivation Criteria– Tornado Warning for Seneca CountyTornado Warning for Seneca County

– Tornado Warning for an Adjacent County thatTornado Warning for an Adjacent County thatcould affect Seneca Countycould affect Seneca County

– While under an existing Tornado Watch theWhile under an existing Tornado Watch theNWS issues a Severe Thunderstorm WarningNWS issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warningfor Seneca Countyfor Seneca County

– Imminent Danger from Severe WeatherImminent Danger from Severe Weather• ““Something is going on…”Something is going on…”

• ““Gut feeling”Gut feeling”

• Don’t put blinders onDon’t put blinders on


Public Safety ResponderPublic Safety Responder• During the work dayDuring the work day– At home or workAt home or work


– May be monitoring the weatherMay be monitoring the weather


Public Safety ResponderPublic Safety Responder• Activate Public Safety ResponderActivate Public Safety Responder– ALL CALL – West / East on S.A.F.E. radio systemALL CALL – West / East on S.A.F.E. radio system– FYI: we are also simultaneously activatingFYI: we are also simultaneously activating

Amateur Radio if not already activeAmateur Radio if not already active– Tell responders that Weather Information forTell responders that Weather Information for

Seneca County will be coordinated onSeneca County will be coordinated onSEN EOC public safety radio channelSEN EOC public safety radio channel• Goal is to update every 15 minutesGoal is to update every 15 minutes• Keep information going out to workersKeep information going out to workers• Let’s them know we are active, workingLet’s them know we are active, working

– Spotters notify EOC with their positions in the fieldSpotters notify EOC with their positions in the field• Pre-determined locationsPre-determined locations• Protection factor for personnel and resourcesProtection factor for personnel and resources


Public Safety ResponderPublic Safety Responder• Spotters Report Weather ConditionsSpotters Report Weather Conditions– Call in to EOC on assigned channelCall in to EOC on assigned channel– We set up an informal Public Safety Responder weather netWe set up an informal Public Safety Responder weather net– Net control is either an EOC staff or Skywarn Net ControllerNet control is either an EOC staff or Skywarn Net Controller

• Trained spotters know what Weather data we needTrained spotters know what Weather data we need– We use Skywarn criteriaWe use Skywarn criteria– Some spotters are not formally trainedSome spotters are not formally trained– How do we react to spotter reports?How do we react to spotter reports?

• Health & Welfare and Damage ReportsHealth & Welfare and Damage Reports– What gets actionWhat gets action– Who handles each type of reportWho handles each type of report

P. S. Responder AnalysisP. S. Responder Analysis

Public Safety ResponderPublic Safety Responder• After the Severe Weather eventAfter the Severe Weather event– Evaluate the condition of the countyEvaluate the condition of the county


• Survey of respondersSurvey of responders




• Stand-down the spottersStand-down the spotters

P. S. Responder AnalysisP. S. Responder Analysis

Some Considerations –Some Considerations –Public Safety ResponderPublic Safety Responder• Type of eventType of event– Slow movingSlow moving

• Public Safety Responders will probably notPublic Safety Responders will probably nothave a formal weather nethave a formal weather net

• They may be instructed to monitor the SEN EOC channelThey may be instructed to monitor the SEN EOC channel

• Severe snowfall, ice storms and disruptive winter weatherSevere snowfall, ice storms and disruptive winter weathermay require some type of formal net to may require some type of formal net to manage recovery and resourcesmanage recovery and resources

– Fast movingFast moving• Placement of resources in the field helps with weather reportsPlacement of resources in the field helps with weather reports

• Disbursing resources can lower possibility of damage from stormDisbursing resources can lower possibility of damage from storm

– Unexpected conditionsUnexpected conditions• As needed activationAs needed activation


Skywarn ResponderSkywarn Responder• The Amateur Radio Skywarn ResponderThe Amateur Radio Skywarn Responder– They can be notified in the usual automated waysThey can be notified in the usual automated ways

– They can be contacted by telephone or two-way radioThey can be contacted by telephone or two-way radio


Skywarn ResponderSkywarn Responder• During the work dayDuring the work day– At their home or workAt their home or work


– May be monitoring the weatherMay be monitoring the weather

– Are usually the most active of the Severe Weather observersAre usually the most active of the Severe Weather observers


Skywarn ResponderSkywarn Responder• Activate Skywarn ResponderActivate Skywarn Responder– County-wide Skywarn Net on the County-wide Skywarn Net on the

local repeater / SIMPLEX systemlocal repeater / SIMPLEX system

– Any Amateur Radio operator knowledgeable of net procedure Any Amateur Radio operator knowledgeable of net procedure may activate the net as Net Controlmay activate the net as Net Control• on a temporary basis (until other help arrives)on a temporary basis (until other help arrives)

• Permanent basis (until Severe Weather abates)Permanent basis (until Severe Weather abates)

– FYI: we simultaneously activateFYI: we simultaneously activatePublic Safety RespondersPublic Safety Responders


Skywarn ResponderSkywarn Responder• Activate Skywarn ResponderActivate Skywarn Responder– Skywarn Net “Condition” Levels determine severitySkywarn Net “Condition” Levels determine severity

• ““Green,” “Yellow,” and “Red”Green,” “Yellow,” and “Red”

• Goal is to update net members every 15 minutesGoal is to update net members every 15 minutes

• Keep information going out to workersKeep information going out to workers

– Spotters notify Net Control with their positions in the fieldSpotters notify Net Control with their positions in the field• Hams can be mobile or stationaryHams can be mobile or stationary

• Hams might be requested to report to EOC for dutyHams might be requested to report to EOC for duty


Skywarn ResponderSkywarn Responder• Spotters Report Weather ConditionsSpotters Report Weather Conditions– Weather reports are relayed to our District Skywarn NetWeather reports are relayed to our District Skywarn Net

which relays them immediately to NWS in Clevelandwhich relays them immediately to NWS in Cleveland

– Check with adjacent counties toCheck with adjacent counties toresearch weather headed our wayresearch weather headed our way

– Advise counties that will get “our” weatherAdvise counties that will get “our” weatherwhen it moves through and out of our countywhen it moves through and out of our county

– Seneca County Skywarn might be enlistedSeneca County Skywarn might be enlistedto relay weather reports from other countiesto relay weather reports from other counties

– Amateur Radio also relays Public Safety Responder Amateur Radio also relays Public Safety Responder weather reportsweather reports


Skywarn ResponderSkywarn Responder• Trained spotters know what Weather data we needTrained spotters know what Weather data we need– We use the District-accepted Skywarn criteriaWe use the District-accepted Skywarn criteria

– Some spotters may not be formally trainedSome spotters may not be formally trained

– How do we react to spotter reports?How do we react to spotter reports?

– No “fair weather” reportsNo “fair weather” reports

• Health & Welfare and Damage ReportsHealth & Welfare and Damage Reports– What gets actionWhat gets action

– Who handles each type of reportWho handles each type of report

Skywarn AnalysisSkywarn Analysis

Skywarn ResponderSkywarn Responder• After the Severe Weather eventAfter the Severe Weather event– Evaluate the condition of the countyEvaluate the condition of the county


• Survey of Skywarn respondersSurvey of Skywarn responders




• Stand-down the Skywarn spottersStand-down the Skywarn spotters

• Deactivate the Skywarn NetDeactivate the Skywarn Net

Skywarn AnalysisSkywarn Analysis

Some Considerations –Some Considerations – Skywarn Responder Skywarn Responder• Type of eventType of event– Slow movingSlow moving

• Nets might not be necessary if weather does not meet criteriaNets might not be necessary if weather does not meet criteria• We might still be on the radio discussing weatherWe might still be on the radio discussing weather

and giving occasional weather bulletinsand giving occasional weather bulletins

– Fast moving “expected” weatherFast moving “expected” weather• Nets may need to be activated immediately withoutNets may need to be activated immediately without

personnel being located at the EOCpersonnel being located at the EOC• Some nets may immediately be at the “Red” condition levelSome nets may immediately be at the “Red” condition level

– Unexpected conditionsUnexpected conditions• Pop-up storms may require immediate activationPop-up storms may require immediate activation


Be Prepared!Be Prepared!

PracticePracticePracticePracticePracticePractice

Documents

Seneca County Weather Operations Plan