Continuity of operations and weather impacts to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency functions: The importance of a Weather-Ready Ambassador stewardship

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is committed to ensure that every Minnesotan has healthy air, sustainable lands, clean water, and a better climate. To enable this mission and vision to be a success it requires strong continuity in daily operations both at agency offices and in the field. As one of the primary State of Minnesota Cabinet agencies, the MPCA's central office is in St. Paul; however, it also has six regional offices to enable state-wide coverage of its work.

Minnesota is well-known for its brutal winters and their impacts, but it also has another part of the year, the warm season, that also presents a notable range of impactful weather. To best prepare for this wide range of weather, the MPCA ensures staff are notified when impactful weather is expected to allow for informed decisions to ensure safe working conditions and continuity of operations. MPCA meteorologists in the air quality and emergency readiness groups work together as a team to provide this information. As a recognized NWS Weather-Ready Ambassador, the meteorologists utilize this program partnership to help inform staff. Along with the day-to-day impending weather event information and guidance, the meteorologists also work with the agency staff by way of annual severe convective weather awareness training, winter and convective weather digital dashboards, and a place at the table during critical operational decisions by agency leadership.

The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in poor air quality events due to Canadian wildfires and that has been added to the Weather-Ready Ambassador messaging for not only internal use to the agency but also externally to the public. A strong partnership has been developed with other State of Minnesota agencies, the six National Weather Services offices that serve the state, the media, and other local/tribal government entities to enhance the messaging of air quality alerts.

Emergency preparedness at the MPCA is continuing to expand and improve with increased staffing and expertise building a stronger working relationship with emergency management agencies including the State of Minnesota's Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) and many county and local jurisdictions. Natural disasters can play a significant role in these working relationships thus a critical need to have a strong knowledge and understanding of weather and information dissemination.

This presentation will demonstrate how the MPCA is a vital player in that role as it fully understands the importance of weather information to allow for continuity of operations and government to best serve the citizens of Minnesota.