Instant Messaging Improving NWS Communications with the Media

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Instant MessagingImproving NWS Communications
with the Media

• Faith Borden
• NWS Birmingham

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WHY?

• Some would ask why would you want to improve
  communications with the media?

Is this anyway to share information?
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Communications

• Weather Service issues the warnings
• But its the media that truly takes it to the
  masses
• Improve communications
• ? timeliness of warnings
• ? save more lives and property.

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HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?
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What is Instant Messaging?

• Called instant mail
• Generally free and relatively easy to use
• Different than email because it is fast,
  real-time communication
• It is software based where users chat live
• One on one communication
• Conferences

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Instant Messaging is Born!

• Started in 2000.
• One of the lead forecasters had been exploring
  the use of an instant messaging software from
  home to chat with friends and family.
• The idea was born to chat with the TV
  personalities LIVE during a weather event.

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The Original Project Pitch

• GOAL Foster more communications between the
  media and the National Weather Service.
• sharing information
• severe weather reports
• snowfall or heavy rain amounts
• outages
• forecast discussions, etc.
• This project is an experiment.
• If we get busy we may not be able to chat

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Instant Messaging
Buddy List
Chat Window
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Actual chat script from May 7, 2003
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IM IN ACTION! Video courtesy of NBC channel 13
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Advantages

• Instantaneous connection with people on your
  buddy list
• Real time damage reports (works both ways)
• Heads up for re-broadcasting warnings
• Meteorological discussion
• radar/synoptic/mesoscale
• Ability to ask a TV station to refocus a camera
• Convenient
• Always have a computer on hand, especially in the
  studio

Courtesy of David Neal FOX 6
ALL AT YOUR FINGER TIPS WHILE YOU ARE LIVE ON THE
AIR!
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Advantages cont.

• Improved relationships
• It has brought back a relationship (media and
  NWS) that was just about non-existent in the past
  10 years. Telephone communication during a
  tornado or winter storm event is pretty much
  useless (at the studio), and now we have a way to
  communicate anytime. What a great way to pass
  along information. It works both ways, and the
  PUBLIC is the big winner.
• James Spann ABC 33/40

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Service Assessment Quote

• We get instant messaging immediately. Weve got
  damage here. Weve got confirmation there. We
  see that immediately and get it to the public
  within seconds. Thats the greatest idea Ive
  seen since Ive been doing weather.
• WAIT-TV (CBS 42) Ben Smith (now chief
  meteorologist WSAV-TV Savannah, GA)

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Service Assessment Quote

• You have the latest on what has happened in
  terms of damage. You also get insights on what
  theyre (WFO meteorologists) thinking if a storm
  looks-suspicious-but is not at warning status
  yet. And I think lives were saved!
• WVTN-TV (NBC 13) Jerry Tracey

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Service Assessment Quote

• In the past we relied on listening to spotters
  on HAM radio and calling them occasionally. This
  instant messaging has been the biggest thing to
  happen in our relationship with the NWS.
  Somebody will say were watching X storm and
  that gives me an unbelievable jump to get
  everyone prepared for another warning for this
  county or that one.
• WBRC-TV (FOX 6) David Neal

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Do You Think Instant Messaging Has Been
Beneficial?
On May 7, 2003 - between the hours of 315 pm and
614 pm, a total of 48 warnings were issued.
(1.33 every 5 minutes)
Greatest number of warnings issued in a
week May 1-7, 2003 - 227 warnings were issued
49 more warnings (22) than the most active
month
Greatest number of warnings issued in a 2 week
period April 24 - May 7, 2003 - 339 warnings
were issued 161 more warnings (48) than the
greatest month (NOTE this is more than May
2003)
Greatest number of warnings issued in a
month May 2003 - 323 warnings were issued
145 more warnings (45) the greatest month
All data is based on the current BMX CWA of 39
counties.
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Problems

• The benefits far outweigh the problems!
• For the most part we have been able to overcome
  the majority of the problems
• Software stability
• Legality
• Direct Competition between Media Outlets
• Staffing Issues
• Security

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Improvements

• Get more discussion going with TV stations we
  dont hear from very often
• Include the meteorologists and radio
  personalities that work for the radio stations
  during constant (wall to wall) severe weather
  coverage
• Run the software on its own server so it can be
  secure

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What BMX is Doing

• Use Yahoo! Instant Messaging software
• Set up on its own network with an outside
  internet connection
• Secure so only IM can be used
• Each workstation has an IM box (and a switch box
  with speakers)
• One monitor with two CPUs, so when the IM chime
  is heard a few keyboard strokes easily accesses
  the IM CPU
• During small weather events the communicator or
  radar operator will also do the IM duties
• During large weather events it is people
  dependent, but for the most part we have a person
  dedicated for IM
• Operations comes first and always will!

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Working Together!

• With Instant Messaging...the professional
  community works TOGETHER...talking in
  real-time...from radar scan-to-radar scan.

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Contact Me

• Faith Borden
• National Weather Service
• 465 Weathervane Road
• Calera, AL 35040
• [phone] X 311 (Voice Mail)
• faith.borden_at_noaa.gov