Southeast US Emergency Manager Use of Severe Weather Information During VORTEX SE

The goal of VORTEX SE is to understand how environmental factors characteristic of the southeastern United States affect the formation, intensity, structure, and path of tornadoes in that region. The project is field testing new technologies in order to improve scientific understanding of atmospheric conditions before, during, and after extreme convective events, but there is little previous research to illuminate the special challenges that might be faced in implementing advances in scientific understanding and the associated new technologies into operations. This project, one of three in a larger social science project, is examining how emergency managers in and near the 2016 VORTEX SE domain currently seek, receive, understand, and utilize weather information before, during, and after severe weather events.

Researchers visited Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) throughout the VORTEX SE domain before and during the 2016 VORTEX SE field campaign. Counties ranged in population from about 30,000 to 300,000; emergency managers had 1 to 33 years experience. Background interviews were designed to become familiar with each emergency managerâ s background, considerations, weather sources, and operations plans. During VORTEX SE, EOCs were visited to observe operations, with special attention on how the NWS and EMs have adapted to gaps in the official product stream. Post-event interviews queried use of mental models, knowledge brought to bear, procedures followed and deviated from, and how the case was similar and different to prior events experienced. Particular attention was given to understanding and use of uncertainty in the current deterministic warning paradigm, and where information was obtained between and beyond official National Weather Service products. This research should reveal both opportunities and challenges to implementing the scientific and technological advances made possible by VORTEX SE.