# Presentation: 489065

## Instant MessagingImproving NWS Communications with the Media

- Faith Borden
- NWS Birmingham

## WHY?

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

- Is this anyway to share information?

## Communications

- Weather Service issues the warnings...
- But it’s the media that truly takes it to the masses
- Improve communications
- 		→ timeliness of warnings
- 			 → save more lives and property.

## HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?

## 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

## 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.

## 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

## Instant Messaging

**Buddy List**

**Chat Window**

## Actual chat script from May 7, 2003

**Actual chat script from May 7, 2003**

## IM IN ACTION!  

- IM IN ACTION!
- Video courtesy  of NBC channel 13

## 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!**

## 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

## Service Assessment Quote

- “**We get instant messaging immediately**.  We’ve got damage here.  We’ve got confirmation there.  We see that immediately and get it to the public within seconds.  **That’s the greatest idea I’ve seen since I’ve been doing weather**.”
- WAIT-TV (CBS 42) Ben Smith (now chief meteorologist  WSAV-TV Savannah, GA)

## Service Assessment Quote

- “**You have the latest on what has happened in terms of damage**.  You also get insights on what they’re (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

## 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 ‘we’re 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

## Do You Think Instant Messaging Has Been Beneficial?

**On May 7, 2003 - between the hours of 3:15 pm and 6:14 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.

## 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

## Improvements

- Get more discussion going with TV stations we don’t 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

## 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!**

## Working Together!

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

## Contact Me

- Faith Borden
- National Weather Service
- 465 Weathervane Road
- Calera, AL 35040
- (205) 664-3010 X 311 (Voice Mail)
- faith.borden@noaa.gov