[EAS] Senate Bill Could Cut NWS Offices from 122 to 6

[Gary Timm]

Looks like the heat is off for now.
The article says:

The Senate Commerce Committee is tabling a controversial proposal that would consolidate National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting into 6 regional offices.    But it is moving forward with legislation that aims to improve NWS severe weather communication.
The measure was opposed by some key members of Congress and  constituents in the weather and emergency management community.
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and  Brian Schatz (D-H.I.) are introducing a bipartisan substitute amendment for the bill today that no longer includes the NWS reorganization provision.
The focus of the bill is a measure mandating NWS assess its system for issuing severe weather watches and warnings so that the public responds to these alerts more effectively.
Research has shown the public finds the NWS alphabet soup of weather alerts complicated and confusing.  Many American, for example, don't understand the difference between a severe weather "watch" and "warning".
The measure asks the NWS to consult with Federal, non-Federal, broadcast media and emergency management in obtaining feedback for how to improve its  communication of weather hazards so that the public will be better prepared.  Within 5 years of enactment of the bill, the NWS is required to implement a new system for issuing watches and warnings.

Summary of Washington Post article by Gary Timm.
 

From: Eric Adler <eadler at wskg.org>

This from Washington Post:
"Senate steps away from NWS restructuring proposal, puts emphasis on severe weather communication"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/06/22/senate-backs-off-nws-restructuring-proposal-puts-emphasis-on-severe-weather-communication/

I have yet to read the details or the article, just passing it along. 

- Eric

On Mon, Jun 22, 2015 at 12:49 PM, Dale Lamm <dlamm at whbc.com> wrote:
>A few years ago I toured the local NWS office. One worker's job was to oversee a collection of VHF weather radio transmitters in the district. The worker seemed pretty occupied with this job.

>Has the proposed NWS office reduction bill mentioned who would become responsible for continued monitoring and control of the hundreds of NOAA weather radio transmitters across the US?

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--
Eric Adler
Broadcast Engineer
WSKG Public Broadcasting
607.729.0100x378

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