Improving Warning Communication to State Parks and Campgrounds at WFO Shreveport

On the evening of March 10, 2018, in northeastern Texas, an isolated severe thunderstorm formed over Delta County and tracked east-southeast to Marion County. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Shreveport, Louisiana issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning at 10:34 pm and it subsequently strengthened into a powerful storm producing 80 to 90 mph damaging winds, while also producing hail up to two inches in diameter. As the storm turned more southeasterly, it tracked directly over and along the entire length of Lake O’ the Pines and made a direct impact on the Brushy Creek Campground in Marion County. Although there were trees down along the lake shores, the hardest hit region was the Brushy Creek Campground, where hundreds of trees toppled onto tents, RVs, cars, trucks, and picnic tables. This occurred while the packed campground patrons were winding down their day, some even asleep by the time the storm arrived. NWS Shreveport issued warnings on this supercell for nearly an hour and a half before the campground was hit. Despite a lead time of 29 minutes before the storm hit, the NWS in Shreveport discovered from campground officials that only a few of the 238 registered indicated they received the warning. Unfortunately, one person died when a tree crashed down onto their tent and five others were transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries. This destruction and loss of life led to the questions, “Could we have done more?” and “How can we get our warnings out to more people, especially those in a vulnerable position like this?” To address this, NWS Shreveport, in coordination with the Louisiana Office of State Parks, reached out to state park directors to inquire about warning dissemination and preparedness. This presentation will expand upon the results of a survey gathered by a University of Louisiana-Monroe student in coordination with NWS Shreveport. It will also share how the results are being used to improve warning dissemination and preparedness in state parks and campgrounds in our county warning area to help protect lives and property.