Editors' Note: Weather Observer Works for Grass

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Make Your Outreach Activities Count Even More

Gloria Walker, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program Manager, reminds employees to report accomplishments that support EEO and Affirmative Employment Programs. "Many employees are unaware that the EEO office provides reports to the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. These reports identify the NWS efforts to improve our recruitment efforts, and to increase the representation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in the NWS. These efforts utilize many activities that demonstrate how we support our communities," Walker said.

For example, WFO Aberdeen, SD, employees Stan Keefe, Senior Meteorologist; Amy Parkin, General Meteorologist; and Lisa Johnsen, Administrative Support Assistant, and a representative of the Aberdeen Communications Services for the Deaf provided 22 hearing impaired families in their community NOAA Weather Radios equipped with special devices for the deaf. The radios contained either a pillow vibrator, bed shaker, and/or strobe light that will alert families when a severe weather watch or warning is issued. The coordinated effort was part of Project Impact, a FEMA project that gives seed money to the state to create partnerships with businesses and government to make cities disaster resistant. The businesses in the Aberdeen area reimburse Project Impact for the cost of the radios and special devices that are distributed. Aberdeen was the first city in South Dakota to take part in the project. In addition, the employees learned how to program the radios to enable them to help the families if they have questions or problems. Johnsen also took American Sign Language classes to help her communicate with the deaf. More information and pictures related to this project can be found at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/abr/CSD/wxradio.htm.

"This is a major accomplishment worthy of reporting," said Walker. "Our employees reach out in so many ways. We owe it to the NWS and our communities to tell the whole story of what we are doing, and how we are doing it," she said. For more information on reporting EEO activities, contact Walker at Gloria.Walker@noaa.gov.

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The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Utilities Service will finance the installation of new transmitters to extend the coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio in rural America. The President of the United States and the United States Congress have made $5 million in grant funds available to facilitate the expansion of NOAA Weather Radio system coverage into rural areas that are not covered or are poorly covered at this time. This grant program will provide grant funds, on an expedited basis, for use in rural areas and communities of 50,000 or less inhabitants. Grant funds are available immediately and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the appropriation is used in its entirety.

If you have questions concerning this program, call Craig Wulf, USDA, at 202-720-8427 or Orren E. Cameron, USDA, at 202-690-4493. Details of the grant program, as posted in the Federal Register, are available at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/publications/weather%20radio%20nofa.htm.

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Federal and state land management organizations recognized the wildfires of 2000 as historic in both extent and duration. Over the last few months, NWS Director Jack Kelly and Western Region Director Vickie Nadolski have conducted several activities to honor individuals and offices for providing extraordinary service and support.

During a visit to Western Region earlier this month, Kelly met with more than 60 Incident Meteorologists (IMETs). These specially-trained NWS meteorologists are deployed as part of Incident Management Teams to fight wildland fires across this Nation. The IMETs were in Salt Lake City, UT, for their annual certification and training workshop. Kelly thanked the IMETs for their hard work during the past year and highlighted their contributions to fire fighter safety and the protection of the public who live in the urban-wildland interface. IMETs logged more than 1,800 duty days during the 2000 fire season, provided onsite support to combat wildfires and conducted fire weather briefings in agency coordination centers. The previous record of 920 duty days was nearly doubled this year because the 2000 fire season was one of the most active on record. with. More than 7 million acres of forests and grasslands were consumed by fire in 2000 with the greatest losses in western states, particularly Idaho and Montana, and estimated losses nationwide of more than $1 billion.

Kelly and Nadolski presented special plaques for outstanding service during the record-breaking 2000 Fire Season to the following IMETS:

In earlier ceremonies, Nadolski presented several offices with Unit Citation Awards for outstanding work during the fire season of 2000. The NWS grants the citation-one of the agency's prestigious honorary awards - to employee teams who have made contributions of exceptional value in support of overall agency goals and mission that serve the nation. Offices that received Unit Citation Awards are the Billings WFO; Missoula WFO; Great Falls, WFO; Flagstaff WFO; Spokane WFO; and the Pocatello WFO.

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Computer Give-Away Helps Community

After the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received excessed computers from the Census Bureau, the SPC donated 20 of their older computers to emergency managers in Oklahoma. Through this effort, equipment that would have been scrapped continues helping protect the lives and property of the American public. "This is an excellent way to extend the productive life of old PC's," said SPC Director Joe Schaefer, "and the benefits to society make this program worth all our efforts." In total, emergency management agencies in 12 Oklahoma counties received computers. For more information about how the SPC conducted this program, contact Peggy Stogsdill, SPC Administrative Officer, at 405-579-0707.

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When Hollywood Calls, Think Video Transfer

The next time a production company asks for video footage have them contact Video Transfer Incorporated. NOAA has contracted with this company to provide at-cost video reproduction in several industry formats. Weather, water, climate footage as well as technology and office scenes are stored on tapes along with other NOAA footage. These tapes do not contain produced story segments but background footage called "B-Roll" that can be edited into stories. Learn more about this service by contacting Video Transfer directly at:

Video Transfer Incorporated
Videotape Duplication Service
5800 Arundel Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: 301-881-0270
Fax: 301-770-9131

Email: vidtrans@erols.com

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