The Role of Weather Information in Disaster Response and Recovery

When terrorism strikes or a major disaster unfolds, local officials have precious minutes to make critical decisions that can save lives and property. These decisions include:

• Determining which communities and neighborhoods to evacuate and how.
• Selecting the best approach routes for police, fire, and emergency responders.
• Choosing the most appropriate and effective equipment to dispatch to a disaster site.

Real-time weather information such as wind speed/direction and surface temperatures can help shape all of these key decisions. When local officials know more about the movement of hazards in the air, such as smoke or dangerous chemicals, they can make more informed decisions that can save lives.

Weather Information Wherever You Are

The partnership announced today between the National Weather Service (NWS) and AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. will serve to speed the flow of critical, local weather information to emergency managers. NWS integrates live and local weather data from AWS' dense WeatherBug network so that it can better respond to homeland security incidents or disasters. The WeatherBug network manages and operates the world’s largest weather station network, with more than 8,000 Tracking Stations across the country. The network is particularly dense in and around major metropolitan areas.