2007 Weather Hazards Awareness Week

TO: NYS District Superintendents
NYS Superintendents of Schools

SUBJECT: 2007 Severe Weather Awareness Week

The 19h annual Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 22-28, 2007, is almost here and this is a final reminder for your participation. The highlight of the week’s observance is the accompanying communications drills, being conducted by the National Weather Service (NWS) in partnership with the New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission, the New York State Emergency Management Association, and the New York State Broadcasters Association.

As in past years, there will be two emergency communication drills. These drills will be run statewide, simultaneously, on April 24 at approximately 11:15 a.m. and April 26 at approximately 1:15 p.m. The five NWS offices serving the State will originate the generic emergency message to test communication networks that are in place. A list of NWS offices is attached with this letter along with the County Warning Area map. If severe weather or flooding actually threatens on either scheduled date, the drill will be postponed until the same day in the following week.

Following the scheduled tests, participants will again respond electronically to the communications drill’s response form through a secure website. You can visit this website at:

http://dev.nysemo.state.ny.us/nws/index.htm

Your secure password is schoolswaw07 (case sensitive). Please do not share that password. To become familiar with the drill and to provide a record for your files, we recommend that you print a blank copy of the testing form prior to the drills.

If you have any questions regarding Severe Weather Awareness Week, please contact the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the NWS office serving your area.

We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Eugene P. Auciello John R. Gibb
Meteorologist In Charge Director
NWS State Liaison Office NY State Emergency Management Office
National Weather Service Offices Serving New York State

Contacting the National Weather Service...

Albany
Ray O’Keefe
518-435-9568
Raymond.Okeefe@noaa.gov
weather.gov/aly/indexnew.php Burlington
Steve Hogan
802-862-9883 x 223
Stephen.Hogan@noaa.gov
weather.gov/btv/indexnew.php
Binghamton
Dave Nicosia
607-770-9531 x 223
David.Nicosia@noaa.gov
weather.gov/er/bgm/ Upton
Gary Conte
631-924-0593 x 223
Gary.Conte@noaa.gov
weather.gov/okx/indexnew.php
Buffalo
Judy Levan
716-565-0015
Judith.Levan@noaa.gov
weather.gov/buf/indexnew.php

Note: All numbers are UNLISTED! Do not distribute to the general public!