NWS Hazard Simplification Project: Social Science Results and Path Forward

The NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) Hazards Simplification (“Haz Simp”) project was initiated to assess the strengths and weaknesses of its current Warning, Watch, and Advisory (WWA) system and explore ways to improve and transform it. In collaboration with social scientists, forecasters, and core partners, NWS generated substantial support for refining our current product suite in the near term and exploring large-scale change in the long term.

As such, the first phase of Haz Simp has sought to reduce the number of NWS products (consolidate) and simplify (reformat) its product text. The second phase involved a Generalizable Survey to determine public understanding of the current WWA system and response to alternative language within several prototypes. Results of this survey showed poor understanding of the term ‘Advisory’ and confusion between ‘Watch’ and ‘Warning’. In addition, certain aspects of the prototypes performed better than the WWA system in promoting appropriate behavior. Informed by survey results, NWS has now gathered extensive feedback on alternative language through live and remote focus groups. This engagement process has led us to a final recommended prototype to explore further in an upcoming fall Workhshop.

This presentation will provide a brief update on consolidation and reformatting of NWS products, an overview of social science results, and the path of Haz Simp going forward.