Recap of this year's (2024) IWT / Partners Workshop
At this year's workshop, we incorporated an interactive Winter weather exercise (scenario) with participants organized into 6 groups from state to local/city level involving emergency management, transportation, power/utilities, schools, and health care. The exercise focused on a realistic winter storm for north & central Georgia, and what one might typically see (NWS forecasts, social media "junk", etc.) from 5+ days out to within 12 hours of impacts, leveraging critical snow or ice accumulation graphics, timing, and the use of probabilistic forecast information and how this can help with planning and decision making. Graphics were created and shared via a 'test' winter weather page to simulate what partners would typically see. Feedback from this exercise was overwhelmingly positive. We also had guest speakers that talked about how severe weather, in particular tornadoes, can affect social vulnerability across the forecast area and state. Additional notes on the presentations can be found below.
2024 (December 10th) Workshop Presentations:
I. Top 5 (north & central) Georgia Weather Events of 2024 <click here>
II. 2024-25 Winter Outlook <click here>
III. **NEW** Cold-weather Products + Winter Weather Tools & Resources <click here>
IV. Review of "Probabilistic" Snow & Ice Forecasts (from NWS Atlanta Winter Page) <click here>
V. A Brief Introduction to Flood Inundation Mapping <click here>
VI. Social Vulnerability, Storm Mode, and (Tornado) Warning Outcomes - Amanda Wagner & Dr. Stephen Strader <click here>
VII. **Update** Deaf/Hard of Hearing - Vulnerable Populations/Communities Outreach Updates (NWS Atlanta) <click here>
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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