Guests watch as a weather balloon is launched during the Open House. (Photo: WFO Slidel, NWS)
The National Weather Service New Orleans/Baton Rouge Forecast office, in conjunction with the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center held its first public open house.
The event also featured outdoor booths and presentations from a number of National Weather Service partners; including representatives from the Stennis Space Center, Northern Gulf Institute, National Data Buoy Center, FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Red Cross and local HAM Radio Operators. All were on hand to provide information about emergency preparedness and safety tips.
Representatives from the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network were available to recruit volunteers for the network (www.cocorahs.org). A Mobile Command Center tour was also a featured event sponsored by the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office and St. Tammany 911.
Guests who chose to tour the forecast office were greeted by two separate tornado simulators set up in the lobby. NWS employees were on hand to answer any questions about the simulators or about tornadoes in general. Presentations in the operations area of both the forecast office and the River Forecast Center described the daily duties of National Weather Service employees. Some guests were even able to watch a forecaster issue a live Severe Thunderstorm Warning!
Final preparation of the outdoor booths before the Open House. (Photo: WFO Slidel, NWS)
In addition to the office tour, the most popular attraction was the Hahnville Volunteer Fire Department's Fire Safety Trailer - affectionately known as the "tornado trailer". Visitors were allowed inside of the trailer where they were given safety instructions concerning what to do in the event of a tornado. Just as the presenters finished giving the instructions, the alarms sounded indicating a tornado warning had been issued. The trailer began to shake and guests were expected to use the safety tips they had just learned.
Finally, guests were treated to a special weather balloon launch where employees explained the importance of the "balloon observations". Thanks to the office staff and partners who participated in the event , the open house was a major success. Total attendance is estimated at up to 600 visitors.
The Slidell co-located forecast office and River Forecast Center is planning another open house in October 2010, to be held the same weekend as the Slidell Air Show.
Guests listen attentively during a tour of the NWS operations area. (Photo: WFO Slidel, NWS)
