WHATCOM COUNTY BECOMES A “STORMREADY” COMMUNITY

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded an Administrator’s Award to Dennis D. Hull of NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office in Pendleton, Ore., for outstanding work in expanding NOAA Weather Radio in Washington and Oregon.

According to Vickie Nadolski, National Weather Service (NWS) Western Region director in Salt Lake City, “Dennis received this prestigious honor in the Information Systems category of the annual agency-wide program. He was recognized for his efforts in public service and the implementation of the expansion of the network by adding five new NOAA Weather Radio information systems in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon last year. The installation and successful implementation of so many new transmitters within a short time frame are unprecedented.”

Between late summer and early fall 2002, Hull completed a multi-year project of developing plans, gaining several cooperator partners, obtaining funding and working toward installation of the weather radio transmitter systems in the area. These transmitters are broadcasting in critical transportation corridors in eastern Washington and Oregon.

“Dennis Hull forged several public and private partnerships to bring these weather radio programs to the Pacific Northwest. He successfully obtained the necessary equipment, facilities and maintenance through a variety of means including agreements with more than ten cooperators and dozens of NOAA National Weather Service customers including the FAA, private business and county government,” said NOAA National Weather Service Pendleton Meteorologist in Charge Mike Vescio.

Hull said, “The cooperative relationships we created to put these NOAA weather radios in place have really improved NOAA’s ability to provide critical weather, water, and climate service information to our residents. It’s also a tribute to the dedicated emergency managers, county commissioners, radio and TV stations, and other NOAA National Weather Service employees that made installation of these radio transmitters a reality.”

The installation of the five transmitters has two main purposes. First, NOAA National Weather Service warnings and Emergency Activation System (EAS) capabilities are now directly available to county seats, local media, and emergency management officials. The new NOAA weather radios are located near The Dalles and Fossil, Ore.; and Cle Elum, Goldendale, and Dayton, Wash.

“Working tirelessly to secure donations and funding from the State of Washington and the USDA Rural Utilities Service and other partners, Dennis has led our effort to complete our second objective which is to bring this critical NOAA service to more than 60,000 additional people. We have increased the overall NOAA Weather Radio service coverage area from 86 to 93 percent of the total population served by the NOAA National Weather Service in Pendleton,” said Vescio.

Nadolski added, “This federal and state team’s goal is similar to the national goal to have weather radios become as common as smoke detectors in homes, businesses, schools, health care facilities and places where people gather. Hearing these weather warnings on NOAA Weather Radio and then taking appropriate actions can help people protect themselves and their property.”

The NOAA Administrator’s Award is the agency’s top personnel award, and is a combination honorary/monetary award given annually in recognition of employees who have made significant contributions to NOAA.

The NOAA National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories and operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

Part of the Department of Commerce, NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov