WFO Mobile WCM Jeff Garmon briefs emergency managers during flood exercise (Photo: WFO Mobile)
(Feb. 27, 2011) - The National Weather Service forecast office in Mobile, Ala. conducted a flood simulation exercise with 41 NWS partners Feb. 16.
The exercise was held at the new NOAA Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center in Mobile.
It was based on a potential historic flood event affecting the forecast office's service area. Facilitators walked participants through various
products, resources, briefings, and other services that would be available during significant flooding. The exercise covered practice Webinar briefings
from the Southeast River Forecast Center and the Mobile office starting two days prior to the exercise to simulate a realistic flow of briefing information
ahead of the event.
In attendance, were emergency management representatives from 20 counties in southeast Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western portion of the
Florida Panhandle. Also on hand, were representatives from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological
Survey, Alabama Power Company and the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.
The exercise was designed to help attendees acquire better understanding of the National Weather Service flood warning processes, as well as the
level of coordination that occurs between the National Weather Service and other federal partners, such as the U.S. Geologic Survey and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers.
Exercise facilitators included WFO Mobile Hydrologic Program Leader Keith Williams, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jeff Garmon and Meteorologist-in-Charge Jeffrey Cupo.
