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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...COMMENT REQUEST 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
103 PM EDT APR 24 2008

TO:      SUBSCRIBERS:
         -FAMILY OF SERVICE
         -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
         -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK 
	  OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:	  EDWARD JOHNSON
	  STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY OFFICE
	  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
                    
SUBJECT: PROPOSED CLARIFICATION OF NWS SPECIAL EVENTS
         POLICY...COMMENTS REQUESTED BY JUNE 27 2008
		
NWS PROPOSES TO CLARIFY ITS POLICY REGARDING NWS SUPPORT FOR 
SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS AND FESTIVALS.  
THESE EVENTS CAN PUT LARGE NUMBERS OF SPECTATORS AND 
PARTICIPANTS IN HARM’S WAY IF ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS 
OCCUR. WHILE NWS CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY 
OFFICIALS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS...MORE COMPREHENSIVE 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 NWS 
PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICA’S WEATHER INDUSTRY HELPS IMPROVE 
THE OVERALL LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE 
PUBLIC. THE INTENT IS TO CLARIFY THE ROLE OF NWS IN 
PROVIDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS WELL AS ADDRESS THE ROLE 
OF PRIVATE SECTOR WEATHER PROVIDERS IN PROVIDING 
COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES.

AS NWS WORKS TO REFINE OUR INTERNAL POLICIES FOR SUPPORT TO 
SPECIAL EVENTS...WE BELIEVE THAT GREATER CLARITY IN 
PROVIDING WEATHER SUPPORT FOR THESE SPECIAL EVENTS WILL 
IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING AND LEAD TO BETTER SERVICES FOR ALL 
PARTIES INVOLVED. TO THAT END WE HAVE DRAFTED PROPOSED 
POLICY PRINCIPLES WHICH CLARIFY NWS SERVICES IN THIS AREA. 
WE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS. YOU MAY VIEW 
THE PROPOSED POLICY PRINCIPLES AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SP/SPECIALEVENTS.HTM  

THIS IS NOT A CHANGE IN ITS CURRENT LEVEL OF SUPPORT NWS 
OFFERS. THIS IS A CLARIFICATION OF THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT NWS 
IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDE.  

PLEASE SEND COMMENTS TO NWSSP.COMMENTS@NOAA.GOV BY  
JUNE 27 2008.

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@NOAA.GOV

NWS PUBLIC INFORMATION NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT  
/USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

  HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM

$$
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