On 19 and 20 July 2006, WFO Tallahassee in collaboration with the SERFC and WFO Jacksonville conducted two separate constituent outreach workshops for NWS partners and customers in the Florida Panhandle and Suwannee River basins in North Florida. The focus of the workshops was updating partners and customers with the latest information about AHPS related hydrologic products and services and other hydrologic activities in the NWS as well as obtain feedback about products and services from prior flood events.

The workshop for the Florida Panhandle area was held in Tallahassee, Florida on 19 July 2006. NWS participants included Ben Weiger, (HSB Chief) from Southern Region, Joel Lanier, (Senior Service Hydrologist) from the WFO Tallahassee, Jack Bushong (HAS Forecaster) and Jeff Dobur (Senior Hydrologist) from the SERFC. External partners and customers included the USGS, US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District, Florida Emergency Operations Center, officials from Gulf County Emergency Management and the Red Cross. Presentations included an overview of SERFC products and services, information about the WFO AHPS web page, and the various data sources used to deliver weather and water forecast and warning services, USGS services and activities, USACE Mobile services and activities and a State of Florida hazard awareness presentation.

An afternoon outreach exhibit was setup by Joel, Jeff, Jack and Ben at Home Depot in Tallahassee that included an open NWS exhibit that displayed information on AHPS, a flood simulation model from the SERFC, outreach pamphlets consisting of NWS hazard awareness brochures, hurricane charts, AHPS luggage tags, Red Cross Hazard awareness brochures and a Red Cross Safe House trailer demonstration. The NWS exhibit was well attended by store customers.

The workshop for the Suwannee River basin area was held in Dowling Park on 20 July 2006. Representatives from the Town of Bell (Mayor), Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), USGS, Florida Emergency Operations Center, Red Cross, Advent Christian Village, the Friends of the Suwannee and emergency management officials from Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, and Suwannee counties attended. NWS participants included Ben Weiger, (HSB Chief) from Southern Region, Joel Lanier (SSH) and Mike Jamski (Forecaster) from WFO Tallahassee, Al Sandrik, (WCM) from WFO Jacksonville, and Jack Bushong (HAS Forecaster) and Jeff Dobur (Senior Hydrologist) from the SERFC. Presentations included an overview of SERFC products and services, information about the WFO AHPS web page, various data sources used to deliver weather and water forecast and warning services, USGS services and activities, US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile services and activities and State of Florida Hazard awareness programs.

An afternoon outreach exhibit was setup by Joel, Jeff, Jack, Mike and Ben at W B Howland Hardware in Live Oak, Florida that included an open NWS exhibit displaying information on AHPS, a flood simulation model from the SERFC, NWS hazard awareness brochures, hurricane charts, AHPS luggage tags, Red Cross Hazard awareness brochures and a Red Cross Safe House trailer demonstration. Video of prior Suwannee River floods as well as Turn Around Don't Drown public service announcements were also shown on a TV monitor and laptop. The NWS exhibit was well attended by store customers.

Pictured above (left to right): Jack Bushong, SERFC, HAS Forecaster, Jeff Dobur, SERFC, Senior Hydrologist, Ben Weiger, NWS SR, HSB Chief, Dustin Hand, Red Cross, and Brian Richardson, FLEOC, Asst State Meteorologist.

Pictured above (left to right): Mike Jamski, WFO Tallahassee, Forecaster, Brian Richardson, FLEOC, Asst. State Meteorologist, Al Sandrik, WCM, WFO Jacksonville, Tammy Kittendorf, Red Cross Volunteer, Michael Kittendorf, Youth Corp Volunteer, Jeff Dobur, SERFC, Senior Hydrologist, Patricia Davenport, Manager, W B Howland, and Jack Bushong, SERFC, HAS Forecaster.