SAFER (Societal Applications For Enhanced Readiness)

The National Weather Service (NWS) Western Region has begun a new societal impacts program entitled SAFER (Societal Applications For Enhanced Readiness). The program focuses on providing better ‘community based' decision making products and services by incorporating social science techniques and research into NWS operations. This effort will strive for a deeper understanding and application by the NWS and it's partners through three fundamental principles:

• Research and Evaluation - Determine what/when are impacts to communities (ex. snowfall/rainfall rate, timing, economic, etc.)
• Service Delivery -
  • Communication
    • Ability to provide impact information that will best influence decision making
    • Ability to effectively communicate uncertainty
  • Information packaging - Ability to provide a unified message in conjunction with partners
  • Multiple methods - Make most efficient use of new technology and customer focused media
  • Learn why, how, when people want information via other methods than typical dissemination
• Performance Measurement - Find ways to measure service level(s) rather than meteorology

Each of the fundamental principles will involve a continuous/dynamic multi-level engagement and evaluation by collecting, analyzing, and using partner, NWS staff, and social science community feedback.