National Hurricane Center Hurricane Liaison Team Federal Emergency Management Agency

1. National Hurricane Center Hurricane Liaison Team Federal Emergency Management Agency BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL

2. DO WE HAVE A HURRICANE PROBLEM? • Annual Average Atlantic Development • 10 Named Storms • 6 will become hurricanes • U.S. Landfalling Storms • 5 hurricanes every 3 years • 2 will be major hurricanes BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

3. BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

4. TSUNAMI COORDINATION MEETINGHONOLULU, HAWAII BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

5. PROBLEM: • HAVING THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE TIMELY, ACCURATE AND OFFICIAL GRAPHICS, TEXT AND INFORMATION TO THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE OFFICIALS ALONG WITH THE ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS. BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

6. PROBLEM: • PROVIDING THE THREATENED PUBLIC WITH A TIMELY, ACCURATE, CONSISTANT AND COORDINATED MESSAGE ON THE APPROACHING THREAT FROM RECOGNIZED OFFICIAL AUTHORITIES BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

7. PROBLEM: • MULITPLE SOURCES OF DATA • SEVERAL STATES AT RISK • MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AT RISK • MILLIONS OF PEOPLE INTERNET ACTIVE • WEB SITE CAPABILITY ISSUES • POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC • DAMAGES AND MAJOR LOSS OF LIFE BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

8. HURRICANE: HURRICANE FORMS- YOU HAVE SEVERAL HOURS TO SEVERAL DAYS TO REACT AND RESPOND BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

9. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENHANCE THE WARNING PROCESS? BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

10. ONE SOLUTION: • A HURRICANE LIAISON TEAM BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

11. WHAT IS THE HLT? • HOW DOES IT WORK? • HOW DOES IT ENHANCE THE HURRICANE WARNING PROCESS? BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

12. HurricaneLiaison Team • Initial idea arose in early 1990’s • Concept was successfully proven during the very active 1995 Hurricane Season (19 Named Storms) • Formalized in 1996 by FEMA Director upon request of Governor of Florida and Director of National Hurricane Center BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

13. Hurricane Liaison Team • Partnership between the NWS and FEMA • Team of FEMA Hurricane Program Managers, DAEs and NWS Meteorologists respond to the Tropical Prediction Center BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER-FEMA REGION IV

14. Provide an avenue for the rapid exchange of communication with the National Hurricane Center • Provide information as a key decision tool for the saving of lives and property • Augment rapid communications BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

15. EARLY DAYS: • 386 COMPUTER • PAINTBRUSH SOFTWARE • TWO PHONE LINES • BORROWED VIDEO-CONFERENCE EQUIPMENT • FEMA REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGERS BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

16. HLT EQUIPMENT TODAY: • CROMA KEY SYSTEM • TELE-ILLUSTRATOR • TV QUALITY BROADCAST SYSTEM (GLOBECASTER) • POLYCOM VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEM • T-1 LINE • 11 PHONE LINES W/PBX • IN-HOUSE SATELLITE/RADAR SYSTEM (NAWIPS) • 12 COMPUTER WORK STATIONS BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

17. BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

18. Tele-Illustrator BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

19. HLT PRODUCTS: • VIDEO/AUDIO CONFERENCES • HLT WEBSITE • REAL MEDIA • STORM SUMMARIES • SPECIFIC REQUESTS FROM USERS • 24 HOUR DIRECT ACCESS TO FORECASTERS BILL MASSEY- REGION IV HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

20. HLT Real Media Products Can Be found at: www.fema.gov and www.nhc.noaa.gov BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

21. Satellite Loops Radar Images Sample Broadcast Graphics BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV Storm Surge Loops HURREVAC Graphics

22. ISABEL SLOSH SIMULATION BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

23. HLT WEB SITE BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

24. EVENT SPECIFIC DATA FROM THE HPC BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

25. EVENT SPECIFIC DATA FROM THE RIVER FORECAST CENTER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

26. EVENT SPECIFIC DATA FROM THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

27. RESULTS: • EARLY AND CONTINUAL WARNING TO: • RESPONSE OFFICIALS • DECISION MAKERS • THREATENED PUBLIC • BENEFITS: • ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OF EXPERTS • FACILITATE COORDINATION BETWEEN STATES • ONE TIMELY,CONSISTANT, OFFICIAL MESSAGE BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

28. NINE YEARS OF HLT ACTIVATIONS- WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? • BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS • HAVE SECURED INTERNET SITE • HAVE BACK-UP SYSTEMS IN PLACE • USE OF MEDIA IS CRUCIAL- PROVIDE MEDIA WITH TIMELY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION • PUBLIC AWARENESS IS CRUCIAL BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

29. NINE YEARS OF HLT ACTIVATIONS- WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? • MUST USE A BROAD SPECTRUM Of TECHNOLOGY • MUST INTERFACE WITH ALL LEVELS OF CONNECTIVITY AT STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL • MUST PRESENT INFORMATION TO THE USER IN A FORMAT THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND, EASY TO USE AND WILL ASSIST IN DECISION MAKING BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

30. HLT BENEFITS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT • ABILITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY/QUESTION NHC • ALLOWS NHC TO HEAR FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON IMPACTS OF NHC DECISIONS • SENSE OF TEAM EFFORT AND UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER’S ISSUES BECAUSE OF INTERCOMMUNICATIONS • GIVES LOCAL OFFICIALS INSTANT “CLOUT” WITH MEDIA AND PUBLIC • ALLOWS FORECAST OFFICIALS TO WORD WARNINGS TO HAVE MORE IMPACT ON PUBLIC REACTION BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV

31. WHEN AN EVENT IS IMMIMENT-HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS ARE INTERESTED! BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV MARCH 3, 2004

32. For More Informationon the HLT • Bill Massey or • Brock Long • Hurricane Program Manager • FEMA Region IV –Atlanta, GA • 770-220-5430-Massey • 770-220-5668-Long • bill.massey@dhs.gov • brock.long@dhs.gov BILL MASSEY- HURRICANE PROGRAM MANAGER FEMA REGION IV