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NOUS41 KWBC 201140 PNSWSH PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC 740 AM EDT MON OCT 20 2008 TO: SUBSCRIBERS: -FAMILY OF SERVICES -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK -NOAAPORT OTHER USERS...PARTNERS AND NWS EMPLOYEES FROM: EDWARD JOHNSON DIRECTOR...STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY OFFICE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS DAVID CALDWELL DIRECTOR...OFFICE OF CLIMATE WATER AND WEATHER SERVICES SUBJECT: GUIDANCE MEMO ISSUED ON NWS SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS ON SEPTEMBER 25 2008...NWS ISSUED AN INTERNAL MEMORANDUM PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND POLICY PRINCIPLES REGARDING NWS SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS SPORTING EVENTS OF ALL TYPES...OUTDOOR FESTIVALS...AND OTHER KINDS OF GATHERINGS THAT ATTRACT CROWDS LARGE AND SMALL. WHEN SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS THE VICINITY OF THESE EVENTS...BOTH PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS ARE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO HAZARDS SUCH AS LIGHTNING...EXTREME TEMPERATURES...OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY. THESE SITUATIONS POSE A SPECIAL CHALLENGE TO EVENT COORDINATORS...PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS...AND WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDERS. NWS HAS AN UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN OUR PRODUCTS RELATING TO HAZARDOUS WEATHER. WHILE NWS CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS...MORE SPECIALIZED SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM AMERICA’S WEATHER INDUSTRY /PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDERS OF WEATHER SERVICES/ ...SUCH AS CUSTOMIZED CONSULTING SERVICES ORGANIZED AND PACKAGED TO HELP MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO PLAN AND RUN THE EVENT. THE PUBLIC WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THESE POLICY PRINCIPLES AND...BASED ON THIS REVIEW...NWS IS CONFIDENT THAT IT IS OPERATING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ITS USERS. NWS DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A CHANGE IN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SUPPORT BUT RATHER A CLARIFICATION OF THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT NWS IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDE. THE SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDANCE MEMORANDUM IS ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SP/SPECIALEVENTSGUIDANCE.PDF IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT: WENDY LEVINE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY OFFICE PHONE: 301-713-3380 E-MAIL: WENDY.LEVINE@xxxxxxxx THIS AND OTHER NOTIFICATION MESSAGES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM $$ NNNN
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