Editors' Note: Just Because

The editors in the Communications Office try to include both need-to-know and nice-to-know information for NWS employees in each issue of NOAA's NWS Focus. Sometimes we argue among ourselves about what category, if any, a story falls under. We're suspending that argument in order to include the following item sent to our office. This is neither need–to-know nor nice-to-know but falls into a new category we are calling "just because:"

A non-fatal small aircraft accident in Montana initially looked like a normal case of aircraft failure, as it occurred during clear weather. Further details were later released, showing the accident was somewhat unusual. The pilot, a local airport manager, and his passenger were flying fairly low, with the purpose quoted as "shootin' coyotes." However, they shot more than they bargained for. The passenger accidentally discharged his shotgun and blew off a wing. In the ensuing crash, the pilot broke his leg.

Senate Confirms Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

James R. Mahoney was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 22, 2002, as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

Mahoney is a past president of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and an AMS Fellow. He has served on several National Academy of Sciences committees focusing on topics of weather and climate, environmental protection, and science education.

Prior to his current position with NOAA, Mahoney was an environmental management consultant. From 1991 to 1999, he was Senior Vice President of the IT Group, Inc., a domestic and international environmental business based in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. Mahoney directed the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program in the Executive Office of the President from 1988 to 1991. He was General Manager of the Environmental Industries Group of the Bechtel Group in San Francisco, and he was co-founder and Senior Vice President of Environmental Research and Technology, Inc., in Concord, MA. Mahoney received an undergraduate degree from LeMoyne College and a Ph.D. in Meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Photos of the Senate confirmation hearing for Mahoney are available on the Department of Commerce's web site.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) began an early enrollment period on March 25, 2002, for eligible federal employees and retirees to obtain Long Term Care (LTC) insurance coverage. A regular open season will begin on July 1, 2002. In a March 25, 2002 news release, OPM advises people who have not yet fully researched the details of the available plans to wait until the regular open season to enroll in an LTC plan.

Background on plan options, a premium calculator to estimate payments for coverage, and frequently asked questions and answers are available on OPM's web site. An earlier NOAA's NWS Focus story on long term care is available by following this link.

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Several presentations made at the February 25-28, 2002, Corporate Board meeting are now online. "Employees can learn from these presentations about issues that are on the minds of members of the NWS management team," said Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer Ted David, who chaired this quarterly meeting. The presentations are as follows:

• Benefits Analysis for IFPS [Interactive Forecast Preparation System]: A Presentation for the Corporate Board. This presentation notes benefits of the IFPS including 8-10 hours of total typing time saved each day at each forecast office.
• The President's Management Agenda (PMA): Advancing Reform, Change and Innovation in Government Through Performance Management. The President's agenda for improving government management has five inter-related goals and one common thread-performance.
• Protecting Our Assets: Homeland Security. Learn how National Weather Service weather, water, and climate forecasts support national security efforts.
• Information, Organization, and the Context. Implementing Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services operationally raises questions about the value of NWS products. The presentation asks us to consider, "Should we be information-centered or product-centered?"

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Preparations are underway for the NWS's second annual Lightning Safety Awareness Week (April 28 - May 4, 2002). NWS is partnering with lightning experts in the private sector, educators, the Red Cross, Global Atmospherics, the Institute for Business Home Safety, and the National Lightning Safety Institute to spread the word that "Lightning Kills: Play it Safe!" A team of individuals from these organizations is working with national teachers groups such as the National Science Teachers Association and the National Earth Science Teachers Association to ensure that lightning safety awareness reaches classrooms across the country. Also the team is working closely with NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologists (WCMs) and museums to get the word out about lightning safety.

Lightning is the second largest storm killer in the United States, averaging 73 deaths per year over the past 30 years. These deaths and injuries can be prevented by taking simple precautions and Lightning Safety Awareness Week aims to increase awareness about the dangers of lightning. The centerpiece of this year's campaign is a comprehensive lightning safety web site, http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. The site contains facts about lightning, and detailed information tailored for educators, the media, and the public. "This web site is an invaluable tool to educators such as myself who are looking for interesting facts about lighting as well as vital safety information," said Jim Vavrek, an eighth grade science teacher from Hammond, IN. "Most science textbooks do not include any information on lightning or lightning safety. This web site can be used throughout the year as an interactive textbook."

In addition to the web site, WCMs across the country are involved in community outreach activities, visiting schools and local organizations to educate people about lightning hazards. John Jensenius, WCM at the Weather Forecast Office in Gray, ME, has worked on many fronts to increase lightning safety awareness. He says that the web site is a vital asset in the fight against preventable deaths and injuries from lightning. "Putting lighting safety knowledge at people's fingertips will go a long way towards saving lives," said Jensenius.

Each day of Lightning Safety Awareness Week will feature a different safety message with fact sheets available for downloading and distributing. Web site visitors will be able to download video presentations, view a public service announcement featuring Professional Golf Association Golfer Rocco Mediate, and gather quick facts about lightning safety. "This site, with its links, contains the most current information on lightning safety anywhere," says Vavrek. Plan now to participate in Lightning Safety Awareness Week, April 28 - May 4, 2002. Check out the web site for tools to help spread the word about lightning hazards.

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Working Together to Save Lives:
WFO Amarillo Wins Community Partnership Award

The Amarillo, TX, Independent School District recently recognized the Amarillo Weather Forecast Office (WFO) with a 2002 Community Partnership Award for its work with the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning (AACAL). AACAL was founded in 1995 as an educational center that concentrates on studies in math and science. The center draws high school students from all Amarillo area schools. "WFO Amarillo is a founding community partner with this program, and our staff has been proud to be involved in job-shadowing and mentoring opportunities with AACAL students since its inception," said Jose Garcia, WFO Amarillo Meteorologist-In-Charge. Job shadow students have worked with meteorologists, electronic technicians, and computer specialists to get hands-on experience. AACAL students and faculty nominated WFO Amarillo for the award along with several other community businesses.

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Working Together to Save Lives:
NWS and the National Ocean Service (NOS) Cooperate on Great Lakes Graphics

In cooperation with NOAA's National Ocean Service, the Cleveland Weather Forecast Office (WFO) and a contractor have developed software to display experimental graphical summaries of water levels for locations throughout the Great Lakes. The software ingests water level data from NOS gauges across the Lakes and converts the data to line graphs detailing a historical summary of water levels over the previous 12 hours. The software also generates a map view of the most recent observed water levels. Customers can access the new graphics by connecting to an online bulletin board run from the Cleveland office. The maps are also on the Internet at http://marine.wcle.noaa.gov/levels.html.

Accurate water level information is crucial to the economic viability and safety of Great Lakes shipping. "The graphics are kept simple so that the file sizes are small," said Gary Garnet, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the Cleveland NWS office. The ships have no Internet access and can only download data at 4800 baud. Water level information is vital to safe navigation. The ships often operate with only a few feet of clearance between the bottom of the ship and the bottom of the channel, according to Garnet.

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Employee Milestones: Three NCEP Directors Among New Appointments

• Click here to see NEW APPOINTMENTS/TRANSFERS to NWS through March 31, 2002.
• Click here to see RETIREMENTS/DEPARTURES from NWS through March 31, 2002.

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