Event Safety Insights Issue One | Fall 2016 | Page 32
ensure public safety. NWS also can provide outreach
and education services (e.g. booth display) at special
events. Several special event venues have also been
recognized by the NWS’ StormReady® program.
StormReady helps ensure emergency operations
planning addresses hazardous weather and that communication systems are effective and redundant.
What about National Special Security Events?
If a special event has been designated as a “National
Special Security Event” by the Department of Homeland Security, NWS support is dictated by law. NWS
will provide full and prompt coordination and weather, water and climate support for these events. NWS
will cooperate with any service providers hired by the
event coordinator.
What are some important weather safety
tips for planning special events?
If you are a large venue operator or conducting a high
attendance event, coordination should begin well in
advance with local emergency management officials
and first responders. Serious consideration needs to
be given to postponing or canceling an event should
forecasts, outlooks and watches state conditions are
favorable for severe storms. In addition, continuously monitor forecasts and warnings, train your staff on
hazardous weather response through exercises, and
have multiple methods for communicating information to employees and attendees. The more detailed
the information you provide to attendees, repeated
often through multiple communication means, the
more likely they are to act on your safety instruction.
Related Websites:
Movers & Shakers
NOAA NWS on the web: www.weather.gov
NOAA NWS’ StormReady Program: www.stormready.noaa.gov
NOAA Family of Services: www.weather.gov/datamgmt/fos/fosindex.html
NOAA Weather Wire Service: www.weather.gov/nwws/index.html
NOAA Weather Radio: www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr
Experimental XML/CAP 1.1 Feeds and Web Displays: www.nws.noaa.gov/alerts-beta/
FEMA’s emergency planning guide for businesses: www.ready.gov/business/index.html
Weather Ready Nation: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/
CMA Music Festival
Earns StormReady
Supporter Certificate
In June, the National Weather Service
office in Nashville awarded CMA Music
Festival the certificate of StormReady
supporter - the first ever awarded to a
music festival. StormReady designation
is awarded to organizations that promote the principles and guidelines of
the National Weather Service’s StormReady program, and demonstrate
superior communication and safety
skills before, during, and after severe
weather.
“CMA Music Festival has always been proactive,” said Krissy Hurley, warning coordinator
for the National Weather Service office in
Nashville.”
According to Hurley, the main requirements
to be a StormReady supporter range from
having a person monitoring weather around
the clock for the event, to having a hazardous
weather plan in place should severe weather
strike.
To learn more about the National Weather
Service’s StormReady program, visit http://
www.stormready.noaa.gov/
Source: http://www.newschannel5.com/