With energized, highly trained, and service-oriented people, the National Weather Service can improve the warnings and forecasts that citizens are so dependent upon for their daily well being. The National Weather Service is committed to improving its service. That's why it created a new strategic plan, Vision 2005. These products will be relevant to users needs, accurate, and timely. The American society is sensitive to changes in weather, water, and climate conditions at different scales of interest and action, ranging from individual citizens to households, businesses, organizations, communities, states, and the Nation as a whole.
Weather affects everyone.
It can help or hurt a community. Already, the benefits of a modernization and restructuring have been dramatic. The accuracy and timeliness of warnings and forecasts have set the standard for weather agencies worldwide. The recent El Ni o episode showcased how a modernized National Weather Service saved the country billions of dollars in productivity and transportation losses, insurance liabilities and utility costs through exceedingly accurate climatic predictions and forecasts. Additional future returns on our modernization investment will soon be realized as forecast and warning accuracy improves.