Integrated Warning Team Collaboration Leads to Consistent Warning Color Scheme in Kansas City

In January, 2009, the nation’s first workshop of an operational Integrated Warning Team occurred in Kansas City, MO. This event brought together local emergency managers, the National Weather Service, and area broadcast meteorologists. A key aspect of the three day workshop was the inclusion of a cadre of social scientists who presented and facilitated many of the sessions. As a result of this information presented, a proposal was made by a local broadcast meteorologist for the four Kansas City television network affiliates to coordinate an agreed upon, consistent color palette for convective and hydrologic warnings. The discussion will center on how the above collaborated color scheme occurred as well as a suggested path toward a uniform national recommended warning color palette.