** if you are here and want to see 2024's event/workshop, please click here!**
Recap of last year's (2023) IWT / Partners Workshop
We had a very successful workshop, in large part to the near-record number of participants (160+) this year! We are grateful for the strong (and growing) partnerships that exist across north and central Georgia. The commitment to the collective mission of protecting lives (and property) clearly shows across this area/region of the country. This year's workshop (click here for agenda) had a diverse theme; from the Winter Outlook and potential impacts headlined by a strong to "super" El Nino, to how we are addressing vulnerable & underserved communities (specifically Deaf/Hard of Hearing) across north & central Georgia. We also moderated a panel discussion on the Atlanta "Snow Jam" from January 2014, focusing on the changes and operational improvements from transportation, local/state emergency management, media, and school systems -- 10 years later. For more on these topics and sessions, please continue reading below.
Workshop Presentations (Sessions)
I. 2023-24 Winter Outlook <click here>
II. Winter Weather Tools & Resources (from NWS) <click here>
III. Deaf/Hard of Hearing - Vulnerable Populations/Communities Discussion w/ GCDHH <click here>
IV. Improving our Decision Support (partner emails) + Experimental Probabilistic Info w/ Temperatures (NEW - localized maps)
What is an Integrated Warning Team (IWT)?
An IWT is an ad-hoc “team” of people/entities who are involved in the preparedness and response to high-impact weather event. An IWT Workshop is a meeting of IWT team members to discuss best practices, challenges, and ways to improve preparedness and response, and specifically to disseminate a unified message during severe/high-impact weather events.
Who is part of an IWT?
Each IWT group is unique to their specific area and needs, but an IWT primarily consists of the National Weather Service (NWS), Emergency Management (EM) (local, state, and federal) and broadcast media. The IWT also includes (though is not necessarily limited to) school/university officials, first responders, transportation officials (ground and air), healthcare officials/organizations, power companies, forestry and agricultural groups, the U.S. Geological Survey, amateur radio operators, officials with large event/outdoor venues, and private companies (especially those involved with weather, safety/security, and emergency management). Again, anyone involved in the preparedness and response to high impact weather.
One of the primary objectives of these workshops is to bring together these diverse groups of decision makers that depend on, and help relay, critical weather information. We also want to continue learning (and sharing) roles, responsibilities, and challenges that face our emergency managers, our TV, radio, and print media, and even our private sector partners.
Links to past North & Central Georgia IWT workshops
2020 & 2021 -- virtual
2015
2012
2011 (inaugural workshop)
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