The National Weather Service (NWS)
and America’s emergency managers continue to strengthen their
partnership to help protect lives and property faced by the threat
of severe weather. One shining example of this alliance is The
Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN), a system
that transmits live weather information to computers across the
U.S., the Caribbean and over most of the Pacific Ocean.
EMWIN Is a Win-Win
More than ever, the EMWIN system gives emergency managers the
capability to respond faster to severe weather and other natural
threats. That means greater lead times to warn, and possibly evacuate,
communities of dangerous tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis,
blizzards, and other severe weather events. Faster response time
improves the likelihood of sparing lives and property, which tops
the list of priorities at the NWS, an agency within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
How EMWIN Works
The NWS gathers live weather and emergency information from sources
across the globe, and the EMWIN system broadcasts that data using
several methods: satellite, radio and the Internet. A satellite
downlink is the key that enables computer users to access a stream
of real-time weather information from the Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellites—the GOES-8 and 10.
The EMWIN data stream is retrieved from satellite by emergency
management groups and municipal agencies, and retransmitted through
local radio frequencies. The retransmission can be accessed by
anyone within a 40-50 mile range of the transmitter’s signal
and displayed on their computer screen. Using free retransmission
software, agencies can tailor the information to fit their specific
area by filtering the products—warnings, watches and other
weather news— that do not apply. To some small island countries,
it is the most reliable method for receiving forecasts and warnings.
Through the Internet, computer users also can receive the broadcast
and access the data stream by visiting the EMWIN Web site at:
http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov.
Users are given a choice of receiving weather information with
enhanced graphics, including radar and satellite images, or in
a plain text format. Additionally, users can download free trial
EMWIN software from commercial EMWIN software vendors that operates
with the Internet or through other wireless technology.
Each live broadcast contains:
- warnings and watches for all
forms of severe weather
- earthquake and tsunami data
- fire danger statements
- current hourly reports for each
state
- zone forecasts for individual
counties and zones in each state
- satellite, radar and other imagery
- short term forecasts, called
NOWcasts
- aviation weather information
- hydrologic information and reports
- climatic data
- worldwide data including forecasts,
warnings, imagery, and graphics
Anyone who receives the broadcast
can configure their computer to sound an alarm when a certain
product arrives. Alarm features include: automatic activation
of lights, sirens, printers, pagers, electronic mail, and other
forms of notification. These techniques are ideal for people on
the go, the disabled, emergency management operation centers,
or anyone that needs to stay informed about weather and emergency
situations.
The Future of EMWIN
Since its debut in September 1995, the popularity of EMWIN has
flourished, as the number of visits to its Internet site (http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov)
reveals. The site averages more than 40 million visits each month
and, during major weather events, can field more than two million
hits a day. EMWIN is now evolving into a fully operational and
supported public service provided by the NWS, and its partner,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as other public
and private organizations.
What Some People Are Saying About EMWIN
B.J. Fictum, deputy director for the Saline County Emergency Management
Agency in Nebraska, says: “We have been using [EMWIN] for
more than a year and we are very pleased with it. It has saved
us thousands of dollars in vehicle damage for [severe storm] spotters.”
Thomas Mefferd, the coordinator for the Office of Emergency Management
in DuPage County, Illinois, says: “The beauty of the [EMWIN]
system is that it is affordable to all units of government as
well as the general public. Through the receipt of timely data,
via EMWIN, I am sure that lives will be saved and property damage
can be reduced.”
J. Herman, of Hurricane Watch Net, says: “This system is
a godsend. Never has technology been used to save lives and property
in such an affordable manner. We now routinely receive Hurricane
bulletins within seconds of issuance by the National Hurricane
Centers in Miami, Fla. and Honolulu, Hawaii.”
Penehuro Lefale, meteorologist/climatology officer for the South
Pacific Environment Programme, Apia, Samoa, says: “EMWIN
is a dream come true for us and I am excited to tell others about
this service. It is invaluable to small island nations in the
Pacific that have no other means of receiving data when needed
the most. It will undoubtedly help save many lives and property.”
Key EMWIN Web Site Addresses
For information about EMWIN, including a brief overview and an
index of other related documents, visit: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/index.htm
For the latest information about EMWIN transmission and reception
capabilities, check: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/wintip.htm
In many areas the EMWIN data is rebroadcast by local radio. For
further information about rebroadcasts, visit: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/retrans.htm
For updated information about the EMWIN vendors, including technical
information about their hardware, and software, visit: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/winven.htm
