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The
Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) performs extensive coordination during the
course of preparing and transmitting a hurricane advisory.
The
coordination falls into three categories:
1st
- Hurricane Hotline Coordination
2nd
- International Coordination
3rd
- Emergency Manager Coordination
-
"INTERNAL"
COORDINATION ON THE HURRICANE HOTLINE
The hotline is a closed-circuit telephone system connecting the TPC with
other National Weather Service (NWS) national centers, NWS forecast offices,
NWS river forecast centers, and several Department of Defense installations.
This coordination call is made for every Atlantic advisory at two hours
after the start of the advisory cycle.
This coordination serves several purposes. First and foremost, it gives
the other offices advanced notice of the contents of the upcoming advisory.
This gives them time to create their own forecast and warning products,
many of which are usually issued at about the same time as the advisory.
Second, it is when the watches and warnings are coordinated between TPC
and the local forecast offices. Third, other NWS national centers may have
useful input on the forecast track, intensity, wind radii, rainfall, and
tornadoes to provide during the call.
-
INTERNATIONAL
COORDINATION
The TPC issues watches and warnings for the United States. However, the
national weather services of the Caribbean countries, Central America, Mexico,
Bermuda, and Canada issue watches and warnings for their own countries.
TPC coordinates with these weather services on the cyclone forecasts and
appropriate warnings.
- COORDINATION
WITH EMERGENCY MANAGERS
One way this occurs is through a briefing for federal, state, and local emergency
managers held by the Hurricane Liaison Team (HLT) of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). These briefings normally occur shortly after the
advisory is issued. The TPC meteorologists involved in the briefing give an
overview of the situation which helps the emergency managers make decisions
regarding evacuations, transportation issues and resource allocation.
A second method of this coordination includes both formal and informal conference
calls with state and local emergency managers.
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