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Using the National Weather Service's impact-based decision support services to prepare for extreme winter storms.
Heather R Hosterman1, Jeffrey K Lazo2, Jennifer M Sprague-Hilderbrand3
1Division of Health and Environment, Abt Associates Inc., Boulder, Colorado.
Journal of Emergency Management (Weston, Mass.)
|January 7, 2020
Summary
Impact-based decision support services (IDSS) from the National Weather Service help emergency managers (EMs) respond effectively to extreme weather. Formal IDSS leads to better preparedness and reduced impacts from severe events.
Area of Science:
- Meteorology
- Emergency Management
- Decision Science
Background:
- The National Weather Service (NWS) is enhancing its focus on decision support services for emergency management.
- The Weather-Ready Nation Strategic Plan formalized the approach to impact-based decision support services (IDSS) in 2011.
- Understanding user benefits from existing IDSS is crucial for NWS service improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of impact-based decision support services (IDSS) for emergency managers (EMs).
- To define IDSS and outline its products and services across the emergency management cycle.
- To demonstrate the value of IDSS through case study analysis.
Main Methods:
- Case study analysis comparing two New York City winter storms with differing IDSS implementation.
- Qualitative comparison of the December 2010 storm (no formal IDSS) and the January 2016 storm (formal IDSS).
Main Results:
- Formal IDSS provides accurate, actionable, and consistent weather information.
- IDSS enables emergency managers and partners to better respond to winter storms.
- Formal IDSS contributes to reducing impacts on lives and livelihoods.
Conclusions:
- Impact-based decision support services are vital for effective emergency management.
- Formalized IDSS enhances the ability of emergency managers to mitigate severe weather impacts.
- Continued development and implementation of IDSS by the NWS are recommended.