Issued by The National Weather ServiceChicago, IL 11:06 pm CDT, Sun., Sep. 14, 2008
... THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CDT MONDAY... FOR NORTHERN BENTON... PORTER... LAKE... JASPER... NEWTON... LA SALLE... WILL... KENDALL... KANKAKEE... GRUNDY... LIVINGSTON... IROQUOIS... NORTHWESTERN FORD... LEE... DUPAGE... DEKALB... KANE... COOK... SOUTHEASTERN OGLE... SOUTHERN LAKE AND SOUTHEASTERN MCHENRY COUNTIES...
... THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CDT MONDAY... FOR NORTHERN BENTON... PORTER... LAKE... JASPER... NEWTON... LA SALLE... WILL... KENDALL... KANKAKEE... GRUNDY... LIVINGSTON... IROQUOIS... NORTHWESTERN FORD... LEE... DUPAGE... DEKALB... KANE... COOK... SOUTHEASTERN OGLE... SOUTHERN LAKE AND SOUTHEASTERN MCHENRY COUNTIES...
Above is the just published Flood Warning from the National Weather Service. After producing its typical Flash Flood Watches for the past three days, the NWS has pointed out the obvious with this new alert. Too late, damage done. Most people were caught off guard by this flood because of serveral problems with the NWS.
1. The NWS doesn't grade its flash flood watch reports. On the internet we are constantly bombarded with flash flood watches, alert, and other warnings by the NWS. I see red so often on the weather.com web site that I stopped clicking on the links. The other day there was a red warning for high UV content. Believe me, I'm all about sharing information, but is this really an alert? Is this a case of the government agency crying wolf to prove its worth? Wouldn't it be great if flash flood watches came with a grade, like a hurricane? I think that would have helped more people prepare for the worst rain storm to hit Chicago in 30 years.
2.
More often then not, these alerts include almost all of the counties around Chicago. Check out the list above - twenty one counties are listed. Most people have grown sick of waiting to see if their county is listed. The more counties and area that is covered by a watch, the less people feel the warning or watch is meant for them. The green area on this image is the Flood Warning area. Note that it includes all of Chicago. What are 4 million people supposed to do with this information?
3. Warnings vs. Watches: I would bet that less than 50% of adults can tell you the difference is between a Tornado Watch and a Warning. Change this to something people understand immediately and you'll probably save hundreds of lives next year. How about a Tornado Sighting and Tornado Possibility? Ask a five year old what these mean and I bet they get it!
1. The NWS doesn't grade its flash flood watch reports. On the internet we are constantly bombarded with flash flood watches, alert, and other warnings by the NWS. I see red so often on the weather.com web site that I stopped clicking on the links. The other day there was a red warning for high UV content. Believe me, I'm all about sharing information, but is this really an alert? Is this a case of the government agency crying wolf to prove its worth? Wouldn't it be great if flash flood watches came with a grade, like a hurricane? I think that would have helped more people prepare for the worst rain storm to hit Chicago in 30 years.
2.
More often then not, these alerts include almost all of the counties around Chicago. Check out the list above - twenty one counties are listed. Most people have grown sick of waiting to see if their county is listed. The more counties and area that is covered by a watch, the less people feel the warning or watch is meant for them. The green area on this image is the Flood Warning area. Note that it includes all of Chicago. What are 4 million people supposed to do with this information? 3. Warnings vs. Watches: I would bet that less than 50% of adults can tell you the difference is between a Tornado Watch and a Warning. Change this to something people understand immediately and you'll probably save hundreds of lives next year. How about a Tornado Sighting and Tornado Possibility? Ask a five year old what these mean and I bet they get it!
1 Comments from MAG Readers:
Good one!
Post a Comment