Officials look at ways to alert public in emergencies

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in its final assessment report on the May 22 tornado which struck Joplin (MO), killing 162 people and injuring more than 1,000, said the majority of Joplin residents ignored the first round of severe-weather warnings put out before the powerful twister struck the city. The NOAA report on the Joplin tornado made several recommendations to raise public awareness of severe-weather threats.

Among them:

  • Improve warning communication to convey a sense of urgency for extreme events. This will compel people to take immediate life-saving action.
  • Collaborate with partners who communicate weather warnings to develop GPS-based warning communications, including the use of text messaging, smart phone apps, mobile communications technologies in addition to upgrades to the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio.
  • Collaborate more throughout the weather enterprise to ensure that weather warning messages sent via television, radio, NOAA Weather Radio and local warnings such as sirens are consistent to reduce confusion and stress the seriousness of the threat.

Officials look at ways to alert public in emergencies