TRIP REPORT NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida This Report Compiled and Edited by Marty Baron, NWWS Program Leader, National Weather Service. A dept of gratitude and congratulations is offered to the State of Florida, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management, Tallahassee, FL., on a task exceptionally well done in hosting this meeting The NOAA Weather Wire Service training and coordination meeting was held at the State of Florida, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management, Kelly Training Room, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd, Tallahassee, FL. The event drew an audience of 20 attendees and speakers. To receive more information about this meeting, and future related events, go to http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwws. This report contains brief summaries of the key presentations, workshops, and tutorials. Handouts provided during the meeting contain additional information and technical details. Additional copies of handouts are available from Marty Baron (martin.baron@noaa.gov). AGENDA National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers Tuesday December 4, 2001, 8:30 A.M. At The State of Florida, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management Kelly Training Room 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 1. (8:30) Call To Order Welcome, roll call, participant identification and affiliations, approval of the agenda -- M. Baron, J. Fleming 2. (8:40) NWWS Mission and Objectives M. Baron., D. Walls, G. Tribie 3. (9:00) Training Introduction and Overview, Meeting Topics -- G. Tribie, K. Wade, D. Young, H. White 4. (9:20) Session 1 NWWS System Operations and Configuration, How NWWS Works, Collection and Dissemination of Data, Equipment Setup and Maintenance, User Interface, DynCorp Support Services G. Tribie (10:00) (15 minute Break) (10:15) Session 1 (Continued) 5. (11:45) Lunch 6. (1:15) Session I (Continued) 7. (2:05) (15 minute break) 8. (2:20) Session II Hands-on Computer Training For Skytap For Weather Wire Software, How to Setup and Use the Software, Obtaining the Products and Services You Need K. Wade, P. Strickland 9. (4:00) Adjournment Until Tomorrow AGENDA National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers Wednesday December 5, 2001, 8:30 A.M. At The State of Florida, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management Kelly Training Room 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 10. (8:30 AM) Session II (Continued) Hands-on Computer Training For Skytap For WeatherWire Software, How to Setup and Use the Software, Obtaining the Products and Services You Need, K. Wade, P. Strickland 11. (10:00) (15 minute Break) 12. (10:15) Session II (Continued) 13. (11:45) Lunch 14. (1:15) Session III NWWS Products, What is Available, Intended Purpose and Use, Product Terms and Definitions, Scheduled/unscheduled Issuance H. White, R. Goree. 15. (2:30) (15 minute break) 16. (3:15) Session IV National Weather Service/ State Emergency Management Agency Coordination, Appropriate Contacts, Local/National Focal Points, Obtaining Assistance From National Weather Service, Appropriate Channels of Communication H. White 17. (4:00) Adjournment Until Tomorrow Wednesday Evening Group Dinner to be Announced AGENDA National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers Thursday December 6, 2001, 9:00 A.M. At The State of Florida, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management Kelly Training Room 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 18. (9:00) Wrap-up, Review, Questions, Brainstorming All Attendees 19. (10:25) (15 minute Break) 21. (11:45) Adjournment NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida Tuesday December 4 Presentation 1,Speakers NWWS Mission and Objectives,Martin Baron, Douglas Walls, Gerard Tribie Summary This presentation served to kick off the meeting by setting forth basic NWWS program objectives. It was noted that the purpose of the NWWS was to provide users with timely delivery of data products originating from over 140 NWS offices nationwide. The NWWS has the special task of providing the most rapid delivery possible for weather and hydrological warnings and watches. NWWS has a 12 second warning delivery time versus 2 minutes for other National Weather Service (NWS) dissemination systems (a ten-fold difference). It's the only NWS data product dissemination system that operates independently of the NWS Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG), so products do not pass through the NWSTG before going to users. This is an important reason NWWS delivers products so rapidly. It was also pointed out that other NWS dissemination systems, such as EMWIN, broadcast warning products only after receiving them from NWWS, another key reason for their much longer delivery times. It was stressed that a critical element of the NWS mission is protecting human life and property by delivering weather related warning products (such as Tornado, Flash Flood, and Hurricane Warnings) to the public faster than any other NWS operated data dissemination system. Handouts 1. NWWS Description, including new website address 2. Table comparing five NWS data dissemination systems (NWWS, Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN), Interactive Weather Information Network (IWIN), Family of Service (FOS), AWIPS/NOAAPORT). NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida Tuesday December 4 Presentation 2,Speakers NWWS System Operations and Configuration, How NWWS Works, Collection and Dissemination of Data, Equipment Setup and Maintenance, User Interface, DynCorp Support Services,Gerard Tribie Summary Gerard Tribie gave a detailed overview of the NWWS system, providing technical information about how it collects and disseminates data. Key points from his presentation included: 1. Collection of data 20 satellite uplink sites (13 WFO/RFC's, 6 National Centers, and 1 WFO) collect products from over 140 NWS sites and deliver them to the DynCorp Message processing Center (MPC) in Chantilly, VA., through the GE-4 satellite and Master Ground Station 1 in Alexandria, VA. Most products are sent twice through two different satellite uplink sites to ensure receipt. A terrestrial dial-in circuit linking each of the 20 uplink sites to the MPC operates as a backup to the satellite collection system, and is utilized only if the satellite system is not available. Posters and booklets outlining the data collection process were provided. 2. Dissemination and receipt of data Products are broadcast to users from the DynCorp MPC through (a) the GE-4 satellite (via Master Ground Station 2 in Fort Meade, MD.), and (b) the Open Access Interface (INTERNET Feed). There are two options for receiving the satellite data feed: C-band satellite and Ku-band satellite (each requiring appropriate satellite antenna and indoor receiver). To receive NWWS data through the INTERNET, registration is required at the appropriate website (http://oi.weatherwire.net). INTERNET access is available without charge to users already having the satellite option (it was stressed that NWS supported state agencies can use the Open Access Interface without paying the registration fee). Software to store, manipulate and display data products is strongly recommended for use with both the satellite and INTERNET data feeds. NWS supports the Skytap For Weather Wire software developed by Marta Systems, Inc. NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida Handouts 1. WeatherWire Training 2. Users Manual For The Weather Wire 2000 System 3. NWWS Poster showing how products are collected and disseminated 4. NWWS information booklet Tuesday December 4, Wednesday December 5 Presentation 3,Speakers Hands-on Computer Training For Skytap For WeatherWire Software, How to Setup and Use the Software, Obtaining the Products and Services You Need,Kevin Wade Paul Strickland Summary This was a detailed hands-on review and computer training session. We utilized the open Access Interface (NWWS INTERNET Feed) connected to over a dozen PC's provided with the Skytap For WeatherWire software. This gave attendees the opportunity to become familiar with the software, by setting it up, and viewing products as they were received by the real-time NWWS data feed. Software features and procedures were gone over in considerable detail. It was pointed out that the NWWS Calypso receiver can be programmed to retrieve and print up to 100 products or products from up to 100 stations, but to fully utilize the NWWS data feed, software such as Skytap For Weather Wire is needed to capture, manipulate, select, and display NWWS products. Skytap for Weather Wire software, has been developed by Marta Systems, Inc., of Santa Paula, CA, and is supported by the NWS for use with the NWWS. The software automatically saves NWWS products to the computer hard drive. It supports applications for user-specified products such as product display, printing, alarms, re-direction through the computer's serial NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida port, disk mirroring (sending products to a network server or other target device), and archiving. Ten user-programmable "Hot Buttons" are also available to display products by type and age. Procedures required to set-up and utilize these functions were reviewed in detail. For NWWS C-band or Ku-band satellite systems, Skytap For WeatherWire software receives data through the computer serial port. The NWWS Open Access Interface (INTERNET feed), receives data via a socket connection. The software runs under Windows-98, Windows-NT, or Windows-2000 operating systems. It was pointed out that to fully utilize all features of this software, users should have Windows-NT or Windows-2000, 450Mhz processor or greater, and 256 Mb RAM. Handouts Skytap Software Users Manual Wednesday December 5 Presentation 4,Speakers NWWS Products, What is Available, Intended Purpose and Use, Product Terms and Definitions, Scheduled/unscheduled Issuance H. White, R. Goree. ,Herbert White Robert Goree Summary This presentation featured a review and discussion of the more than 6000 NWS issued products available on the NWWS. Product terms and definitions, coverage periods, issuance frequencies, and areas of coverage were reviewed. Handouts contained detailed references pertaining to products, and included examples of product headings and content. It was pointed out that updated NWWS product listings will be available on the NWWS website by January 15, 2002. NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida It was mentioned that the website containing definitions for National Weather Service Public & Fire Weather Products is: http://205.156.54.206/nwws/productdef.txt Handouts Office of Services Product List WWA (Watch Warning Advisory) Product Table NWS Preliminary Public Product Suite Product and Services Guide (NWSFO Billings, Montana) Wednesday December 5 Presentation 5,Speakers National Weather Service/ State Emergency Management Agency Coordination, Appropriate Contacts, Local/National Focal Points, Obtaining Assistance From National Weather Service, Appropriate Channels of Communication,Herbert White Summary Herb White stepped the audience through the process of coordinating with the NWS and NWWS program management staff. It was pointed out that when state agencies have questions regarding meteorological issues or products issued by the NWS, they should contact either the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM), or Science and Operations officer (SOO) at appropriate Weather Forecast Offices or National Centers. A roster containing names and telephone numbers for WCM and SOO at all NWS offices nationwide was distributed. For NWWS related issues in general, key contacts are: Martin Baron, NWS, NWWS Program Leader, 301-713-0644 x137, E-mail: martin.baron@noaa.gov NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida Douglas Walls, NWS Satellite Systems Program Manager, 301-713-1743 x147, E-mail:douglas.walls@noaa.gov Gerard Tribie, DynCorp NWWS Program Manager, 703-818-4940, E-mail: gerard.tribie@dyncorp.com DynCorp 24-hour Troubleshooting Hotline, 800-635-4679 For issues relating to dissemination services in general, a key NWS contact is: Herbert White, NWS Dissemination Services Program Manager, 301-713-0090 x146, E-mail: herbert.white@noaa.gov Handouts WCM/SOO Roster (by NWS region, containing names and telephone numbers) Thursday December 6 Presentation 6,Speakers Wrap-up, Review, Questions, Brainstorming,,Gerard Tribie, Paul Strickland, Martin Baron Summary This presentation featured a review of the NWWS system and a presentation of the monitoring capabilities available to DynCorp and the NWS Systems Monitoring and Control Center (SMCC) in Silver Spring, MD. Paul Strickland and Gerard Tribie went over in detail the various monitoring points on the NWWS system. Attendees were shown in real time the current status of the system from the time the products are handed over from the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS) processor at the 20 NWWS uplink sites to the time they are received and processed by the DynCorp Message Processing System and eventually transmitted to the end user community. It was pointed out that both the SMCC NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida and the DynCorp Network Management Operations Center (NMOC) monitor the system on a 24 x 7 basis. Paul demonstrated how DynCorp can validate that a product has been received and transmitted over the system. Various message logs generated by the system were shown. The logs included the bad messages, duplicate messages, a2afile, and valid messages. A brief question and answer session was held where participants asked questions pertaining to the System in general, the Marta System Software, and NWS issued products. In closing, the phone number for the NMOC (800-635-4679) was provided. It was pointed out that the NMOC is available around the clock and serves as the NWWS system troubleshooting hotline. NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Training And Coordination Meeting For State Emergency Managers December 4-6, 2001 Tallahassee Florida List of Attendees John Caskey Delaware State Police 302-659-2345 jcaskey@state.de.us Mark Petrilla Ohio Emergency Man. Ag. 614-799-3928 mpetrilla@dps.state.oh.us Mike Sweeney Illinois State Police 217-557-1938 sweenem@isphost.state.il.us Donna Luffman Va State Em. Ops Ctr. 804-897-6500 dluffman@vdem.state.va.us Scott Wilkerson SC Law Enforcement 803-896-7107 tswilkerson@mail.sled.state.sc.us Michelle Moore SC law Enforcement 803-896-7107 mmoore@mail.sled.state.sc.us Larry Ruebel ND State Radio Comms 701-328-8108 lruebel@state.nd.us John Fleming FL. Div of Em. Man. 850-413-9888 john.fleming@dca.state.fl.us Bob Crawford Fl. Div of Em. Man 850- bob.crawford@dca.state.fl.us James Montague Fl. Div of Em. Man 850- James.montague@dca.state.fl.us Brandin Bolinski Fl. Div of Em. Man 850- brandin.bolinski@dca.state.fl.us Stanley Snead Fl. Div of Em. Man 850- stan.sneada@dca.state.fl.us Todd Krause NWSFO Minneapolis (WCM) 952-361-6670 todd.krause@noaa.gov Martin Baron NWS, Silver Spring 301-713-0644 x137 martin.baron@noaa.gov Douglas Walls NWS, Silver Spring 301-713-1766 x147 douglas.walls@noaa.gov Herbert White NWS, Silver Spring 301-713-0090 x146 herbert.white@noaa.gov Robert Goree NWS Tallahassee 850-942-8958 bob.goree@noaa.gov Gerard Tribie DynCorp, Chantilly, VA 703-818-4940 gerard.tribie@dyncorp.com Paul Strickland DynCorp, Chantilly, VA 703-818-5222 paul.strickland@dyncorp.com Kevin Wade Marta Systems Santa Paula CA 805-933-1270 kwade@martasystems.com