# Presentation: 866162

## All-Hazards Support IMET/IRMETS

**Stephen Wilkinson**
**WCM/IMET**
**NWS Jackson**

## NWS Mission: 

**The core of the National Weather Service’s mission statement states***** ******“... for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy...”***

**The IMET (Incident Meteorologist) accomplishes this mission by providing around-the-clock weather support to fire agencies that are located at the fire sites.**

## Incident Meteorologist (IMET)

**Meteorologists specifically trained to forecast weather at an “incident”**
**Strong Mesoscale forecasting skills**
**Incidents are traditionally Wildfires **
**Incidents can also be HAZMAT, Oil spills, Grounded oil tankers, Space Shuttle disaster, Hurricane recovery, Political Conventions etc.**

## IMET cont.

**~70 IMETs nationwide, with ~30 trainees.**
**Trained for fire, but able to do All-hazards response.**
**Recent training in All-Hazards, Oil Spills, Aviation safety**
**On scene usually within 24 hours (~10 hours average.)  Incident can get immediate support from the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) until IMET arrives.**
**Trainee required to be on 2 Fire Camp Incidents and be certified by current IMET**

## IMETs and the ICS

**Part of the Incident Command System**
**Where does the IMET fit in?**
**Incident Commander **
**         ****Planning Section Chief **
**              ****Situation Unit  **
**                 ****Fire Behavior Analyst **
**                      ****IMET (Technical Specialist)**

## IMETs

**Incident Commanders use information to make decisions on how they will respond to the incident depending on weather conditions.**
**Best reason to have an IMET on scene – safety.  **
**What’s happening now?**
**What’s going to happen in the near future that will help/hinder efforts?**

## AMRS

**All-hazards Meteorological Response System**
**70 units nationwide**
**Laptop with state-of-the-art weather software and commercial 2 way satellite communications**

## AMRS Locations 2006

- AMRS Locations 2006

- PDT (2)

- OTX (2)

- MSO (2)

- WRH
- SLC

- BOI (3)

- MTR

- HNX (2)

- SEW (2)

- TWC

- REV (2)

- STO (2)

- SGX

- MFR (2)

- PSR

- PIH

- PQR (2)

- EKA

- FGZ

- GGW

- TFX

- VEF

- LOX

- BYZ

- LKN

- AJK

- AFC

- AFG

- MHX

- BUF

- CHS

- RLX

- ILN

- BTV

- PRH

- SJT

- LKZ

- ABQ

- MAF

- EPZ

- JAN

- FFC

- TBW

- PUB (2)

- RIW (2)

- CYS

- BOU

- GJT (2)

- JKL

- MPX

- PAH

- HGX

- MLB

- MFL

- RNK

- HPC

## IMET deployment examples

## Greensburg Tornado

**Greensburg Tornado**

**Most Recent**

## Wildfires

**Day Fire in CA**

## Recovery and Rescue  Terrorist attacks

**Oklahoma City**

**911**

## Hurricane Recovery/Flooding

**Katrina**

## Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

## El Cajon Train Derailment

## Barge Chemical Spills

## Living and working Conditions

**Sleep in tent or back of SUV in western fire camps – hotel in the east**
**Work 12 to 16 hour days for 2 weeks**
**Morning and evening briefings**
**Eat at incident facility - occasionally restaurants**
**May get to fly over incident**
**Work closely with the customer which can be very rewarding.**

## IRMets at JAN

-     **The IMET is deployed nationally...but the “IRMet” will provide support locally. The IRMet will also provide similar support as the IMET but for a shorter duration and for smaller incidents.**
**Examples include:**
**Train derailments**
**Trailer Truck chemical spills**
**Drowning/Search and Rescue missions**
**Hazmat**
**Aircraft Accident**

## Training - vision

**Initially there will be 5-6 Meteorologists trained as IRMets**
**All will have ICS/NIMS training**
**Will be familiar with Cameo/Hysplit**
**Will be trained on site specific forecasting/briefing**
**Place forecasters in activated EOCs for exercises to learn ICS in action**

## IRMet equipment

**Laptop with Wireless Internet capability**
**Printer**
**Software including FXNet, Cameo, and Hysplit**
**Observing equipment ****(MK III **
**   ****Sensor Assembly) ****with laptop connection**
**GR level 2 software for site          specific radar data**
**But there are limitations to this...**

## Cingular Network

## Needs for enhanced service

**Reliable Communications**
**   ****-Cell phone **
**   ****-Internet connections**
**   ****-Radio**
**Shelter for extended events**
**Briefing areas**
**Mapping software**
**How can we get all of this?....**

## Newton County

**Mobile Emergency Communication Operations**
**(MECO)**

## MECO Uses

**For extended events**
**Will have the ability to have communications anywhere in our County Warning Area**
**Will be available on location 24/7**
**Adding sleeping, shower facilities**
**Can also use for significant tornado events**

## What we have done so far in 2007 at JAN

**ICS 100...200...and 700 for 10 forecasters**
**Deployed IRMet during March Hattiesburg train derailment for 1 day**
**Observed a mall chemical release exercise**
**Two forecasters were in Forrest county EOC during MS Hurricane Zora exercise**
**Purchased equipment and developed guidelines for deployment**
**Agreement with Newton county Emergency Manager for use of MECO**
**Attended training on nuclear power plant**

## Near term plans at JAN

**Place an IRMet in two county EOCs and 1 in the MS state EOC during Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant exercise in Sept**
**Send an IRMet to a train derailment exercise**
**Send an IRMet to a plane crash exercise**
**Continue training and improving our equipment and readiness**

## Thanks

**Questions?**