NWS: Educating Users for Decisions Associated with Hurricanes

Education is crucial to understanding high-risk low-frequency events such as hurricanes. Messaging key information for decision-makers so they can make difficult, timely choices for the protection of life and property is at the crux of that understanding. Providing the weather forecast is no longer enough to aid in these decisions. The users of hurricane forecasts and information must be a key focus of the feedback loop to learn what, when, and how information is needed to lead to improvement in their choices to protect life and property. Training and trust are key elements to a successful outcome. Trust comes through repeated contact and the provision of reliable information in many forms and addressing many needs covering the variety of threats from tropical weather hazards, all while dealing with large uncertainties. Education should encompass assessments the user's needs along with what the tropical forecaster can reasonably deliver. It should also provide insight on the best way to present information to lead to successful Impact-Based Decision Support (IDSS). This talk will focus on the many facets to an education plan that seeks to achieve a greater forecaster understanding of the threats from hurricane hazards. During this presentation, we will explore: ways to gather feedback either in person or remotely, cultural needs in differing locations, how to work with different ages, overcoming years or decades of perceptions to achieve greater understanding, probabilistic information for uncertainty during a time when being certain is desired, and how to message various threats from hazards associated with one storm, all while the world is full of instantaneous information sources which may or may not be consistent with your message.