12:06:00 PM Avagene Moore:Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Panel Discussion! ... 12:06:14 PM Avagene Moore:Today we are pleased to have the following FEMA Region IV representatives as our special guests to discuss the theme from the FEMA Region IV Tornado Summit --- "A Safe Place to Go With Time to Get There". ... 12:06:52 PM TODD_DAVISON:Todd Davison is on-line now also. 12:06:55 PM Avagene Moore:FEMA REgion IV hosted a 1-day Tornado Summit on April 24 in Atlanta. ... 12:07:09 PM Avagene Moore:Our guests today were actively involved in the Summit and will share with us the outcome of this focus on tornado disasters. ... 12:07:22 PM TODD_DAVISON:Todd Davison is on-line now also. 12:07:22 PM Avagene Moore:Before we ask our first question of John Copenhaver, FEMA Region IV Director, let me take just a moment to discuss the order of business for this session. ... 12:07:55 PM Avagene Moore:After introductions .... 12:08:08 PM Avagene Moore:each of our panelists will respond to prepared questions to overview the FEMA Region IV Tornado Summit. ... 12:08:19 PM Avagene Moore:When we complete the overview, the floor will be opened to Q&A. ... 12:08:42 PM Avagene Moore:If you have a question.... 12:08:56 PM Avagene Moore:please input a question mark (?) and send to the moderator; wait to be recognized before submitting your question. You may compose your question while waiting your turn to speak. ... 12:09:11 PM Avagene Moore:If we run out of time, you can ask your question directly of our panelists when we move to the Virtual Forum room at the end of our formal hour in the EIIP Panel Room. ... 12:09:27 PM Avagene Moore:Please do not send Direct Messages to our panelists or the moderator during the formal presentation; it is very distracting and we need our full attention on the panel discussion. ... 12:09:39 PM Avagene Moore:And now to our FEMA Region IV guests (in the order of their appearance) ... 12:09:52 PM Avagene Moore:John B. Copenhaver, Director, FEMA Region IV, ... 12:10:13 PM Avagene Moore:Bryan Norcross, Director of Meteorology and News Anchor, WFOR-TV Channel 4, South Florida, ... 12:10:25 PM Avagene Moore:Elaine W. Sexton, Director, 911 Emergency Management Agency, Hall County, Georgia ... 12:10:41 PM Avagene Moore:A. Todd Davison, Director, Mitigation Division, FEMA Region IV ... 12:11:13 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks to each of you for being here today ... 12:11:24 PM Avagene Moore:To give us a setting for our dialogue, we will start with John Copenhaver. ... 12:11:43 PM Avagene Moore:John, we commend you on your vision for the Summit. Please give us a little background as to why you felt it was necessary to schedule the Tornado Summit. 12:12:01 PM John B Copenhaver:In February, March and April of this year, more than 100 lives have been lost as a direct result of tornadoes and severe weather in the southeast. These disasters have also brought destruction to thousands of homes and businesses... 12:12:35 PM John B Copenhaver:I felt strongly that we needed to do everything possible to minimize future loss of lives and property due to tornadoes.... 12:12:54 PM John B Copenhaver:Recognizing that no one person has all the answers for solving the problem, we recognized a need to capitalize on the knowledge and expertise of emergency managers, weather forecasters, meteorologists, engineers, research scientist, and building scientist who each contribute to the preparedness of communities and individual families during these severe weather events. 12:13:01 PM Avagene Moore:What was the Challenge for this Summit? 12:13:48 PM John B Copenhaver:For all participants to collectively pool their knowledge and experience to identify immediate actions, as well as future actions, to achieve our common focus: saving lives and protecting property from the devastation caused by tornadoes. 12:13:53 PM Avagene Moore:Who attended the Summit? 12:14:18 PM John B Copenhaver:State Emergency Management Directors (or their representative) from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee; academic experts from Clemson University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Texas Tech University; local community emergency management agency representatives who had recently been impacted by tornadoes; Meteorologists from local media outlets; other federal agencies including U.S. Departme 12:14:39 PM John B Copenhaver:As you can see, we hosted an extensive list of experts. We limited attendance to approximately 75 participants. 12:14:46 PM Avagene Moore: How was the Summit organized? 12:15:06 PM John B Copenhaver:We opened with a plenary session, ensuring all Summit participants were exposed to key ideas, limitations, and technologies surrounding the detection, forecasting, warning, and safe sheltering of people at risk from tornadoes and severe weather.... 12:15:39 PM John B Copenhaver:We then divided into three breakout groups: Warning and Forecasting, Tornado Resistant Construction for Shelters, and Community Based Planning and Implementation. Each group was tasked to identify three immediate actions (0- 12 months), three short-term actions (1- 2 years), and three long-term actions (2- 5 years) which could be taken to save lives and protect property. Finally, we came back together as a single group and each breakout group reported t 12:16:01 PM John B Copenhaver:We then divided into three breakout groups: Warning and Forecasting, Tornado Resistant Construction for Shelters, and Community Based Planning and Implementation. Each group was tasked to identify three immediate actions (0- 12 months), three short-term actions (1- 2 years), and three long-term actions (2- 5 years) which could be taken to save lives and protect property. Finally, we came back together as a single group and each breakout group reported t 12:16:47 PM Avagene Moore:(John, I think your response is too long, try copying the last half and resending.) 12:17:35 PM Avagene Moore:(Might start at "Finally, we came back ....) 12:17:55 PM John B Copenhaver:reported their proposed actions and ideas. 12:18:08 PM Avagene Moore:We will turn now to the facilitators/moderators of the breakout sessions. ... 12:18:22 PM Avagene Moore:Bryan, are you back with us? 12:18:26 PM John B Copenhaver: Finally, we came back together as a single group and each breakout group reported their proposed actions and ideas. 12:18:31 PM Bryan Norcross:I'm here... got bumped off 12:18:49 PM Avagene Moore:Bryan, what was the perspective of your breakout group? 12:19:15 PM Bryan Norcross:In our group we had lots of emergency management people from the Federal, State, and Local level, National Weather Service folks from Washington and Birmingham, and media people from Birmingham, Atlanta, and Miami. We had an energetic discussion about the message that people receive to warn them of a tornado threat, and how it is delivered. 12:19:24 PM Avagene Moore:Was consensus reached within your group? 12:19:43 PM Bryan Norcross:We had some pretty intense discussion about the best way to get the message out... and the only consensus was that there is no ONE way to do it. 12:19:51 PM Avagene Moore:Are we effectively communicating the risk of tornadoes and severe weather? If not, how can we improve? 12:20:10 PM Bryan Norcross:Any solution will include the mass-media, NOAA Weather Radio, perhaps some new technology involving the phone system or a new kind of warning device that would be in every home, and a major public education campaign?? 12:20:31 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks, Bryan ... 12:20:43 PM Avagene Moore:Elaine Sexton led the discussion group on Community Based Planning. ... 12:21:08 PM Avagene Moore:Elaine, your community was recently devastated by a tornado. How did this experience influence your involvement in the Tornado Summit as a workshop leader? 12:21:50 PM Elaine Sexton:Avagene bear with me i am having problems. 12:22:01 PM Avagene Moore:Sure, Elaine. 12:22:58 PM John B Copenhaver:Many of us are unused to this kind of communication! 12:23:07 PM Elaine Sexton:I know first hand how it feels to have to face citizens and try to explain why they received no warning on a devestating deadly tornado... 12:23:49 PM Elaine Sexton:I also am known for being very vocal with my concerns about the short comings of the warning system in place for Northeast Ga. 12:23:49 PM Avagene Moore:Which workshop did you lead? 12:24:11 PM Elaine Sexton:I led the Community Based Planning and implememtation session. 12:24:17 PM Avagene Moore:Do you feel your workshop came up with good answers/ideas for the future? 12:24:44 PM Elaine Sexton:Yes, I feel we came up with good short term and long term recommendations.... 12:24:49 PM John B Copenhaver:Many of us are unused to this kind of communication! 12:25:18 PM Elaine Sexton:Most of these recommencdations have been included in the Governor's Task force recommendations which was released last week. 12:25:25 PM Avagene Moore:What is required to ensure better community based planning and implementation? 12:26:05 PM Elaine Sexton:Funding, planing, education... Cooperation between the citizens and government at all levels... 12:26:28 PM Elaine Sexton:Thw citizen must accept a good deal of the responsibility for their own safety... 12:26:54 PM Elaine Sexton:This will be done through education mainly .... 12:27:29 PM Elaine Sexton:We must keep the momentum going. And everyone involved must admit there is a problem and it must be fixed.... 12:27:45 PM Elaine Sexton:We can do this together. 12:27:48 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks, Elaine. ... 12:28:02 PM Avagene Moore:Todd Davison chaired the third breakout group. ... 12:28:18 PM Avagene Moore:Todd, what was the focus of your workshop topic? 12:28:41 PM TODD_DAVISON:Tornado Resistant Construction for Shelters. In other word, once people are warned about a tornado risk, what sheltering will best protect their life? 12:28:48 PM Avagene Moore:What types of problems/resolutions were discussed? 12:29:19 PM TODD_DAVISON:What constitutes a safe place during a tornado? What construction standards must be met to ensure the "safe place" remains in-tact during a tornado? Where do you go if you are not at home during the tornado, for example if you are at church, if you are at school, if you are at the mall? 12:29:31 PM Avagene Moore: What were the findings of your group? Does this topic require further investigation? 12:30:54 PM John B Copenhaver:Avagene, we're having technical difficulties here! 12:31:47 PM Avagene Moore:Sorry about that. Will Todd be able to answer or should I go ahead with other questions to you? 12:32:19 PM John B Copenhaver:We can try with me. 12:32:39 PM Avagene Moore:John, please share with us the results and recommendations of the Tornado Summit. 12:33:52 PM John B Copenhaver:All of the results are summarized within the three breakout groups. We have copies of our findings available for anyone interested. 12:34:04 PM Avagene Moore: How will recommendations be implemented? 12:35:00 PM John B Copenhaver:Follow-up meetings will take place, plus correspondence and possibly trials of new technology. 12:35:09 PM Avagene Moore:Would you give us some examples of activities Region IV is undertaking to mitigate the damage of tornadoes and severe weather? 12:36:04 PM John B Copenhaver:Our focus is on saving lives - preventing damage from tornadoes isn't too realistic... 12:36:49 PM John B Copenhaver:We're going to trial new detection technology in a location to be determined... 12:37:36 PM John B Copenhaver:connecting this technology with advance WARNING technology as well. 12:37:44 PM Avagene Moore:How will you track progress? Will it be disseminated to the States, locals, etc.? 12:37:59 PM John B Copenhaver:connecting this technology with advance WARNING technology as well. 12:38:40 PM Diane Merten:What are you planning to be able to communicate detection and warning sooner to the public ? 12:38:55 PM John B Copenhaver:Absolutely - the states are equal partners in these trials, and will actively participate. 12:39:03 PM Avagene Moore:(Please hold questions.) 12:39:25 PM Avagene Moore:hank you, John, Bryan, Elaine, and Todd. .. 12:39:40 PM Avagene Moore:We will now open the floor to questions from our audience. If you have a question, please input a question mark (?), send, then wait for recognition before sending your question to our panelists. You may compose your question while waiting your turn to speak. Question, anyone? 12:40:01 PM Avagene Moore:Diane, your question -- repeat, please? 12:40:06 PM Gil Gibbs:? 12:40:37 PM Diane Merten:What are you planning to be able to communicate detection and warning sooner to the public? 12:41:12 PM Bryan Norcross:Avagene... maybe I can address that. 12:41:24 PM Avagene Moore:Go ahead. 12:41:32 PM John B Copenhaver:There are new systems available in the public switched telephone network... 12:41:44 PM Bryan Norcross:We suggested several things covering a wide variety of topics:?? 12:42:02 PM Bryan Norcross:1. NOAA weather radio's coverage needs to be increased. Even in the south, there are many parts of each state that have no coverage. Also, assuring that every school and shopping mall has a weather radio was thought to be a good idea. 12:42:26 PM John B Copenhaver:as well as algorithms that will be introduced into existing NEXRAD radar installations that will help. 12:42:52 PM Avagene Moore:Gil Gibbs, your question, please. 12:43:45 PM Gil Gibbs:Thanks, I was just considering the fact that tornadoes are a side component of hurricanes, and wonder if that has been taken into consideration for this idea? 12:44:03 PM John B Copenhaver:Bryan? 12:44:34 PM Bryan Norcross:Hurricanes and tornadoes are very different... but share some common components... 12:44:35 PM Ray Pena:? 12:45:09 PM Bryan Norcross:We recognized a problem getting a unified and consistant and timely message out through the mass media... 12:45:21 PM David Crews:Comment: I was in the DFO when the tornado hit Hall County. I was using NOAA Wx radio which alerted me and then I when to the internet for the Warning. However, the NWS announcement was almost simultaneous with the event. However the weather radio coupled with the internet worked well. 12:46:00 PM Bryan Norcross:We suggested identifying a specific media market... and working with the radio and TV stations there to work together to communicate emergency info better.. 12:46:13 PM Bryan Norcross:the market still needs to be identified. 12:46:17 PM Avagene Moore:Ray, you are next. 12:47:31 PM Avagene Moore:(Please submit ? and wait to be recognized --- you can compose your question and hold until you are told to submit it.) 12:47:38 PM Ray Pena:Thanx. Mr. Norcross partly answered my question. Most people get their warnings from broadcast media. How can we assure consistency from them? They all seemto want to show off that what they have is better than the rest. 12:48:04 PM Bryan Norcross:It's a BIG problem... 12:48:30 PM Bryan Norcross:Broadcasters must be brought into the emergency system if it is ever to be right. 12:48:47 PM Avagene Moore:Other questions? 12:49:20 PM Bryan Norcross:I should say also... that NOAA weather radio needs to be part of the system too... 12:49:32 PM Ray Pena:Observation - most people will seek to confirm warnings. If the info they get from station to station differs, it can lead to confusion or simply ignoring what could be critical info. 12:49:42 PM David Crews:? 12:49:50 PM Avagene Moore:David. 12:50:06 PM David Crews:What about Skywarn run by the NWS. Also IWIN works well. 12:50:07 PM Bryan Norcross:Ray is correct... that is why the message on NOAA Weather Radio and the message on the media needs to be the same 12:50:43 PM Bryan Norcross:The problem is.... as was pointed out.... MOST people will always get their information from their favorite person on their favorite station. 12:51:07 PM Bryan Norcross:TV or radio 12:51:38 PM Elaine Sexton:comment. The two biggest problems are still how to correctly forecast and give warnings.... 12:51:42 PM Ray Pena:Observation - I understand Mr. Witt will be speaking to the American Meterorological Society tomorrow. His support for consistent messages can be very helpful. 12:51:54 PM Avagene Moore:We have time for a couple more questions. 12:51:54 PM Elaine Sexton:and how to get that information to the public in a timely manner. 12:52:33 PM Bryan Norcross:Elaine is correct... the problem is... a lot of work is being done on the forecasting end... 12:52:47 PM Elaine Sexton:We have to get the information to the public 24 hours a day, not just when they might be watching TV. 12:52:55 PM Bryan Norcross:and the message problem has had very little attention. 12:52:59 PM Lori Wieber:? 12:53:04 PM Avagene Moore:Yes, Lori. 12:53:25 PM Lori Wieber:How do we obtain the summaries Mr. Copenhaver? 12:54:02 PM JB Copenhaver:Please contact Mary Anne Lyle at (770) 220-5378. 12:54:36 PM Avagene Moore:John, tell us about some of work with Habitat and others. 12:54:39 PM Ray Pena:? 12:54:39 PM Isabel McCurdy:? 12:55:06 PM Avagene Moore:I thought those were very good mitigation efforts. 12:56:02 PM JB Copenhaver:We will be working with the State of Florida to test the "in-home shelter" technology on new Habitat homes in the state 12:56:22 PM Avagene Moore:Ray, your question. 12:56:32 PM Amy Sebring:? 12:56:59 PM Ray Pena:Mr. Copenhaver, will the reports be posted on the Web? 12:58:08 PM Avagene Moore:John has been bumped again, sorry Ray. Isabel, is your question to Bryan or Elaine? 12:58:32 PM Avagene Moore:Amy, to whom is your question directed? 12:58:39 PM Isabel McCurdy:Elaine. What is the most important message that you want to tell folks 24 hours a day? 12:59:05 PM Avagene Moore:John are you still with us? 12:59:09 PM JB Copenhaver:We will be working with the State of Florida to test the "in-home shelter" technology on new Habitat homes in the state 12:59:22 PM Elaine Sexton:I want an effective way to disseminate warnings to the public 24 hours a day... 12:59:37 PM Elaine Sexton:I want to be able to give them specific instructions and information... 12:59:49 PM JB Copenhaver:Istill here - pretty much! 01:00:02 PM Elaine Sexton:and I want to be reasonably sure they are receiving the information. 01:00:05 PM David Crews: Comment: The new NOAA WX radio answers a lot of the mitigation questions (including 24 hrs a day) and the NWS is also doing a Console Replacement Upgrade which should automate and speed up the Warning process. 01:00:13 PM Avagene Moore:(Good, John, you are a trooper.) 01:00:19 PM Avagene Moore:Amy, your question. 01:00:23 PM Amy Sebring:I understand one of the counties in Region IV is implementing a call-down system for elderly. Do you know what system they plan to use? 01:00:48 PM JB Copenhaver:Istill here - pretty much! 01:01:14 PM Bryan Norcross:The problem with the NWS warning system as it is now... the same alert is sounded for a Watch or a Warning... or a water spout... 01:01:40 PM Bryan Norcross:... if it starts going off in the middle of the night... and the threat is not imminent... people will turn it off. 01:02:03 PM Bryan Norcross:Even with the new SAME technology. 01:02:37 PM Avagene Moore:John just called and said they will post as much as they can on the FEMA Region IV web site, found through fema.gov. 01:02:48 PM David Crews:Comment the new radio has a led readout, a set of lights, coding for the area affected as well as audio. It is very unobtrusive to use. Not like the older ones. 01:02:49 PM Avagene Moore:Our time is up for the EIIP Panel today. ... 01:02:56 PM Elaine Sexton:Comment, we have found that warnings are being issued more than ever before since the March 20 tornado. 01:03:06 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks to John Copenhaver, Bryan Norcross, Elaine Sexton, and Todd Davision for an excellent overview of the Tornado Summit. 01:03:19 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, audience --- your participation is greatly appreciated too. ... 01:03:51 PM Avagene Moore:If you have another question or wish to express your appreciation to our panelists today, please join us as we move to the Virtual Forum for a few minutes of informal chatting.