Weather-Ready Nation: Care Model Development for Ambassadors

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) nationwide Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador™ initiative affords each individual National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO) the ability to recruit and work closely with WRN Ambassadors in their local County Warning Area (CWA). This project developed the Denver/Boulder Care Model (DBCM), a protocol for WFO Denver/Boulder that encompasses Ambassador recruitment and marketing plans and decision support services. DBCM is a scalable model that supports Ambassadors with education, outreach, and other weather, water, and climate-related decision-making materials, encourages open dialogue and collaboration, builds trust, promotes transparency, and welcomes suggestions from Ambassadors. The goal of the DBCM is to help prepare WFO Denver/Boulder partners for high-impact severe weather, water, and climate-related events, help mitigate the loss of life and property through partner education, and enable efficient use of staff during Blue Sky (fair weather) days. DBCM allows WFO Denver/Boulder to develop strong working partnerships before hazardous weather threatens so that both the WFO and decision-makers are well-equipped to work together during impactful events.

Qualitative surveys were disseminated to current and potential Ambassadors of WFO Denver/Boulder. Content for DBCM was developed by evaluating survey responses, thorough discussion with the Meteorologist In Charge (MIC) and Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM), and collaboration with other WFOs. DBCM contains a compilation of administrative, recruitment, outreach, and partner support materials. This presentation will provide an overview of the DBCM development process, as well as how the model could be implemented at WFO Denver/Boulder.