Striving for a Weather-Resilient Tennessee with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Core Partnerships

The Weather Resilient Tennessee Project, initiated in 2019, aims to streamline services from all four National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) serving Tennessee specifically for state core partners. This collaborative effort integrates four key areas: Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) products and services, science training and infusion, social science and risk communication, and outreach to vulnerable populations. By uniting these focus areas into a cohesive multi-WFO project, the initiative ensures statewide services are not only consistent but also bolstered by robust physical and social sciences for maximum effectiveness.

As part of the project, Tennessee's four NWS offices developed common decision-making support products and risk communication strategies. These efforts include addressing potential impacts and forecast uncertainties, specifically for the potentially high impact and low probability events, to deliver a unified message statewide ahead of impactful weather events. Collaboration with a diverse array of partners—including state emergency management —further enhances service delivery tailored to meet the needs of key decision-makers and the public by making sure we’re all communicating the same message.

This presentation will highlight the project's benefits derived from multi-office and core partner collaborations specifically with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, aiming to pave the way for similar initiatives nationwide, ensuring consistent and life-saving services across the country for each and every state.