Measure Up! Partnering with Emergency Managers for
Precipitation Observations (194)
Jeffrey Jumper, PA
Emergency Management Agency, Harrisburg,
PA
Abstract:
Did you know precipitation observations
could be worth millions of dollars after a disaster? How do you get volunteers
to sign up to be official observers? The answer may lie with the emergency
management community. Partnerships with emergency managers can open a portal to
first responders, businesses, and key members of the whole community, helping
close gaps in your observation network. This presentation will detail how to
engage the emergency management community in adding new volunteers to your
precipitation observer network, including success stories from Pennsylvania.
The discussion covers the importance of building your observer network
utilizing the CoCoRaHS system and how these measurements can make or break your
case for federal disaster funding for your community. This session can aid NWS,
broadcast, private sector, and other operational meteorologists looking for new
methods to recruit and retain precipitation observers.