Ticker for March 10, 1999

                
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March 10, 1999     March 10, 1999     March 10, 1999     March 10, 1999


This Week Marks Oklahoma Mesonets Fifth Anniversary
Public Safety Personnel Participate in Landmark Program

For Immediate Release  Third of Five Releases - Three Pages
Contact:Derek Arndt,
405-325-3076
darndt@ou.edu

Wednesday, March 10, 1999

Today is the fifth anniversary of the commissioning of the Oklahoma
Mesonetwork.  Oklahomas is a unique, world-class network of
115 environmental monitoring stations.  The network measures weather
and soil conditions every 15 minutes, 24 hours per day, each day of
the year, in each county of the state.

In addition to its many operational uses, the existence of the
Oklahoma Mesonet has fostered the development of several pioneering
outreach programs to different segments of the population.  One such
program is OKlahoma's First-response Information Resource System using
Telecommunications, or "OK-FIRST".

OK-FIRST was launched in early 1997, as an initiative by the Oklahoma
Climatological Survey to improve access to current weather information
and to develop a decision-support system for the state's public safety
(fire, police and emergency management) agencies.  It is a $1.5 million
dollar program initially funded by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, through
the Telecommunications Information and Infrastructure Assistance
Program.  Additional funding was approved by last years state
legislature.

It stands today as the only program of its kind in the world.

Participants are provided with access to current weather information,
including radar data, after being trained in both computer skills and
data interpretation.  In fact, OK-FIRST participants receive the radar
data within seconds of the observation.  The interpretation training
helps participants use radar and weather Mesonet data for a variety of
public safety decisions, ranging from severe weather to fire weather
to environmental hazard conditions.  It includes mini-courses on
severe weather, flooding, fire weather and winter weather.

There are currently about 75 participants in OK-FIRST, from Oklahoma,
Texas and Arkansas.  80% of them come from communities of 20,000 or
less, bridging the technology gap between urban and rural communities.
A new class of 15 will begin data interpretation training next week
at the University of Oklahoma.

The programs graduates are responsible for many success stories about
the use of OK-FIRST data and training in real-world situations.  Some
of them are very exciting tales of prevention of injuries due to early
warning.  Others may be as mundane as several hundred dollars saved
because a maintenance decision based on interpretation of weather data.
In either scenario, the impact of OK-FIRST on life, property and economy
is unmistakable.

The OK-FIRST web page is located at: http://okfirst.mesonet.org/



A selection of experiences from a few OK-FIRST participants
around the state:

WEWOKA:
On the evening of June 8th, 1998, a tornado approached the town of
Wewoka.  Emergency manager Lonnie Rowe, an OK-FIRST participant, was
aware of the situation and sounded the sirens several times before the
tornado struck.  Despite significant damage, there were no serious
injuries.  Rowe told the Oklahoman "It saved a lot of lives. I've been
telling people, 'Thank God and OK-FIRST."


NEAR MCALESTER:
In the autumn of 1997, Pittsburg County Emergency Manager Brent Young,
warned the Pittsburg County sheriff to close a bridge within his
jurisdiction.  Young based his decision on radar and Mesonet data he
observed using the OK-FIRST user interface, which suggested torrential
rain in a localized area.  Two hours later, the bridge failed and was
washed downstream.  Because of the timely warning and the sheriff's
action, there was no risk of injury due to the events at the location.


GROVE:
OK-FIRST participant Gary Metcalf, an OK-FIRST participant, was part
of a response team assisting the investigation of a homicide in January
1999.  Metcalf downloaded weather data from OK-FIRST that disproved a
suspects alibi.  An arrest and confession resulted.

"There are no words in the English language to express how great
OK-FIRST is to Emergency Management, so I will just say Thank You fo
r allowing the City of Grove to be a part of your OK-FIRST project."
from a letter written by Metcalf to the Director of the Oklahoma
Climatological Survey.

GUYMON:
Mesonet data are regularly used to assess problems that might occur
when fighting fires.  To eliminate extra danger when fighting fires,
Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Moore uses Mesonet data to pinpoint
windshifts.  Moore also monitors wind chill and heat index values when
making or supporting decisions about bringing in reinforcements.


TISHOMINGO:
"You and your staff are doing great things and I just wish that more
people knew and understood the wonderful work you are doing.  I brag
on you every chance I get.  This program has definitely brought rural
areas in the 21st century and given us tools that we never dreamed
possible."  from a letter by Betty Roan, Director, Johnston County
Emergency Management.


MOORE:
During the tornado outbreak of October 4th, 1998, the City of Moores
spotter coordinator repositioned a storm spotter, based on her
interpretation of radar data from the OK-FIRST console, decided to
reposition a spotter to a new, more favorable location relative to a
severe supercell storm.  That spotter gave the first alert of a very
large rotating wall cloud.  The wall cloud eventually spawned a tornado
which damaged or destroyed a dozen homes and apartment buildings in
Moore.  Thanks to the early spotting (and subsequent warning), there
were NO fatalities, or even injuries, from the storm.

"This scenario is EXACTLY what OK-FIRST was designed to do!  It
certainly worked here!"  from a letter by Gayland Kitch, City of
Moore Emergency Management