Living on the Gulf Coast, we are no strangers to severe weather. From flash flooding to hurricanes, and everything in between, we get it all. These hazards pose a serious threat to life and property. Luckily thanks to the dedication of our National Weather Service staff, local agencies, first responders, volunteers, and community organizers, we have been successful in keeping injury to a minimum. But with everyone involved, there is always a need for more.
Nature is fierce and it seems insurmountable to try and limit the risks, but together we can all take steps that aid mitigation and recovery. Through awareness, training, and outreach, we can promote weather safety, improve warning information, and aid in building better forecasts. Knowing the threats, risks, and how to avoid life threatening situations, goes a long way toward reducing injury and death during disasters. Knowing severe weather is ahead gives you time to prepare. When it arrives, making sure you have ways of getting alerts and relaying those alerts to those who may not can save your life as well as others.
But safety, goes well beyond just severe weather. There is a large amount of work that goes into developing forecasts, watches, and warnings. It takes more than some basic radar information and a text alert. That is why your help is needed in improving this process and awareness.
Citizens Weather Observation Program (CWOP) (https://madis.ncep.noaa.gov/madis_cwop.shtml)
Perhaps you’re a weather enthusiast who loves numbers and studying climate, or you just like to see how hot or windy it is outside. Maybe you decide you want to put up a weather station. Did you know that the National Weather Service has a Citizens Weather Observation Program?
If you are already looking to invest in a weather station you can find a wide array of stations that can contribute to this program. If you have a radio license you can purchase an APRS station and connect it to a radio to send your weather information directly out over the airwaves. Or maybe you aren’t licensed. Not to worry there is a large selection of stations capable of sending that information over the internet to be distributed to forecasters. When it comes to weather, one thing that is always a struggle is collecting data across large swaths of land. It is such a grand undertaking that NOAA needs your help with data collection. With your investment in a home weather station, and some time dedicated to maintenance, you can help fill some of these critical gaps in weather maps.
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) (https://www.cocorahs.org/)
Maybe you don’t want to make such a large monetary investment. You can become a CoCoRaHS observer, with little more than a certified rain gauge. Did you know there is an entire network of weather observers whose sole objective is to collect precipitation data? Once a day, these observers conduct a check of the total precipitation for the last 24 hours and report that data to NOAA. For much less than a full weather station, you can pick up one of these specialized rain gauges between $35 and $50. These calibrated measurements are extremely beneficial to Climatologists, Foresty Departments, NOAA, NWS, farmers, gardeners, and anyone with an interest in precipitation patterns and drought conditions. Not to mention the information is helpful in gauging and improving radar and model accuracy with reference to rainfall amounts.
mPing (https://mping.nssl.noaa.gov/)
If this seems tedious, or your schedule may not allow you to check at the same time everyday, there is another easy option to assist. Did you know that the National Severe Storms Laboratory is in the midst of a large-scale research project? The only thing required of their volunteers is to report precipitation in a free app for your phone. At no cost you can provide simple precipitation data to aid this research project that will go on to developing better forecasting, alerts for winter conditions, and even reporting major winter storms.
Skywarn (https://www.weather.gov/mob/skywarn)
Maybe you want to take on a more active role. Skywarn may be a good fit for you. If you frequently find yourself with a view outside, you could become a storm spotter. These individuals, from all walks of life, are tasked with being on the lookout for severe weather and reporting what they see back to NWS. You don’t have to leave your home or office, and you are discouraged from putting yourself in a dangerous situation to gather this information. Through a few training classes and just keeping an eye to the sky, you may be the one to relay critical information that warns your neighbors down the road. In the last year the National Weather Service has trained more than 40,000 spotters nationwide. It takes a large network of individuals to cover areas radar can’t.
Weather Ready Ambassador (https://www.weather.gov/wrn/)
Perhaps you want to do more. You can become a Weather Ready Nation Ambassador. By promoting safety, awareness, and response, you help improve the resilience of your community. When a major disaster strikes they are prepared, reducing the resources that go into rescue and recovery, freeing said resources for those who may be in the worst impacted areas. Through strong community outreach, disaster recoveries that would have taken months and years can be reduced to as little as a few weeks to a couple of months. This is one of the most critical things any of us can do to promote safety and outreach. When a major event occurs, it takes more than the community, rather large scale efforts and organizations to bounce back. We must all work together in this effort to save lives and promote a quick recovery. And it begins with a Weather Ready Nation.
Survivor Stories (nws.answers@noaa.gov)
Were you or a loved one caught in a life-threatening situation related to weather? Did you know that the NWS wants to hear your story? Survivor stories help build and develop safety programs to try and prevent the same thing from happening again. Thousands of stories are submitted all over the country that are integrated into safety programs so that these experiences can be shared and learned from.
“My name is Emily. The past week my husband and I had a very scary and life changing situation in Dauphin Island, AL for our babymoom. I’m currently 5 months pregnant. I was caught in the neck of a rip current and couldn’t get out because for starters I didn’t know what was happening or why it was happening. After doing research we figured out my husband was half on the sand bar and that I was totally in the current. He held my arm and kept me up. I was swimming against it trying to get back and was also freaking out. He was able to pull me when it let up.” Emily – Dauphin Island, AL (https://www.weather.gov/safety/ripcurrent-survivor)
Would You Like To Get Involved?
If you find yourself interested in any of these roles, simply follow the links provided to find out more. Your involvement could be a determining factor in how your community responds in the face of dangerous weather. For more information contact your local NWS office (morgan.berry@noaa.gov) (jessica.chase@noaa.gov) or go to https://www.weather.gov/wrn/get-involved.