The Central Oklahoma Integrated Warning Team: Successes and New Perspectives

Despite the tragic loss of life and incredible destruction they left behind, the Oklahoma tornadoes of May, 2013 could have had far more significant impacts were it not for the work of the integrated warning team (IWT). Through the combined efforts of the National Weather Service, the broadcast media and the emergency management community, people heard the warnings and thousands of lives were saved.

This presentation will summarize some of the NWS Norman IWT successes from the May 2013 tornadoes, and examine how the team has changed since then. We will also discuss some of the unique challenges associated with maintaining critical relationships among IWT members in the NWS Norman county warning area, and look at the future of IWT activities in our area.