EPTEC, Inc.

06/27/2025

As we get closer to the 7/4 holiday, calls increase to 911 centers from folks who cannot discern between gunshots and fireworks. This keeps dispatch and LEOs busy and may delay them from getting to folks who need help. Here's a great video (kudos to that PIO!) that can be a great review for your community.

Fireworks or Gunshots??? It’s a nightmare scenario to wake up to. How CAN YOU TELL what you just heard and when to call the police? https://abc7ne.ws/2J8fDlC...

12/20/2024

Are you interested in a case study on using AI in EM practitioner training? See my article in Domestic Preparedness. BONUS: there is a link to a FREE lesson plan (along with other AI in EM practice info) to help you use this activity in your organization.
Reach out if you have comments or questions - always happy to help!

Introducing AI to the Emergency Management Workforce: A Case Study

09/15/2023

The COMET Program has published the new lesson, "Communicating Subseasonal to Seasonal Impacts: ENSO." Learners will practice communicating outlook info regarding the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) & its varied influence on sub-seasonal & seasonal climate conditions. Through 2 case events, 1 ea for La Niña & El Niño, learners will assess the status of La Niña & El Niño & hone their skills communicating probabilistic climate outlook & impact info to stakeholders. Resources linked from the lesson provide background info abt ENSO & long-term outlooks.

The intended audience is operational forecasters & broadcast meteorologists who need to communicate climate outlook info. It should also appeal to students & others interested in recommendations/best practices for communicating sub-seasonal & seasonal scale climate info.

08/11/2023

The COMET Program has published "Using Heat Forecast Tools to Provide Decision Support for Extreme Heat Threats”. This lesson provides several opportunities for the learner to take on the role of a forecaster conversing with a partner about the local extreme heat threat. The learner practices applying the most appropriate heat forecast tool(s) to better understand and convey the heat threat based on the information needs of the partner and the weather situation at hand. The lesson includes supporting resources that highlight how Heat Index, Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, and HeatRisk perform in a variety of weather conditions, along with tips for navigating the limitations of each tool.

The intended audience includes national & international operational weather forecasters interested in decision support services for extreme heat events. Learners will benefit from having a basic knowledge of weather forecasting for extreme heat.

06/24/2023

The COMET Program has published the new lesson, "Aviation Hazards: Volcanic Ash." It introduces aviation forecasters to the impact of volcanic ash on aviation functions within the US National Airspace System (NAS) & how NWS programs coordinate the production of relevant aviation volcanic ash forecast products.

Learners will examine the roles of aviation forecasters at several key aviation program offices, including Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers, Weather Forecast Offices, Center Weather Service Units, & the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (a Meteorological Watch Office). They will assess a real volcanic ash forecast situation from the 2019 Raikoke eruption, & apply their knowledge of observations & forecast tools to follow the volcanic ash forecast products thru the commo chain, seeing how coordination occurs between relevant external program offices & understanding the update process.

Learners will understand the impact of volcanic ash on the NAS, and the breadth & depth of collaborative work required to provide forecast product continuity & clear decision support services.

To get the most out of this lesson, you should first be familiar with the concepts in other lessons within the new Distance Learning Aviation Course (DLAC) series, including The Structure of the NWS Aviation Program, Meteorological Observations for Aviation Forecasting, & Meteorological Analysis & Forecast Tools for Aviation. For more in-depth content on volcanic ash, you can also familiarize yourself with the “Volcanic Ash: Science, Impacts and Forecasting Course”.

06/16/2023

The COMET Program has published, "Using Satellite Products to Differentiate Extraordinary & Typical Tropical Rainfall Events”. This 15-min. lesson highlights GOES-R & JPSS satellite products that can help forecasters assess moisture conditions & determine the potential for heavy rainfall & flash floods. In the lesson, the learner is a forecaster working during a potential heavy rainfall event in Costa Rica. The learner analyzes & interprets various satellite moisture products {e.g., Advected Layer Precipitable Water (ALPW) & Total Precipitable Water (TPW)}, to better understand the environmental factors conducive for heavy rainfall & flash flooding.

The intended audience is operational forecasters interested in the capabilities of satellite moisture products for heavy rainfall analysis. Learners will benefit from having a basic knowledge of weather forecasting.

06/15/2023

The COMET Program has published a new training resource on post-wildfire environments. Wildfires are an increasing danger, especially in the Western U.S., and burn scars elevate the danger with a risk of flash flooding and debris flows. Burned soil no longer absorbs water well - the vegetation and organic matter burned hot, changing the structure of the soil and coating it with water-repellent material. Plus, the roots and networks of fungi and bacteria that normally hold healthy soils together were burned away. As a result, even a small amount of rainfall can put vast amounts of ash, burned vegetation, and soil into motion. Operational forecasters, emergency managers, department of transportation personnel, and other NWS partners can view a model simulation of how these factors combined in 2021 along Glenwood Canyon in Colorado to produce devastating impacts to Interstate 70.

National and international operational forecasters can go even deeper into the factors conducive for debris flows by taking the 45-minute lesson, "Monitoring for Potential Flash Flood & Debris Flow Threats.” The lesson immerses learners in assessing the potential for flooding and debris flow events following the 2018 Spring Creek Fire in Colorado. The learner takes on the role of a forecaster exploring the potential impact of rainfall events on three Values at Risk in the area. The lesson provides geological, hydrological and meteorological data, including three-dimensional models of the topography, soil burn severity, and drainages, that are used to evaluate hazards. The learner is supported by feedback from the Burned Area Response Team, Service Hydrologist and operational forecaster colleague to illustrate the contributions that each professional makes in assessing the potential for flash flood and debris flow events in a post-wildfire burn area.

06/13/2023

The COMET Program has published, "Tsunami Warning Systems, 2nd Edition,” https://www.meted.ucar.edu/education_training/lesson/10243 , which provides an overview of processes involved in anticipating, detecting, & warning for a tsunami. Brief descriptions of the data collection, modeling, analysis, & alert procedures used at NOAA's National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) & Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) are presented, along w/warning system processes for determining the tsunami threat based on seismic & water level observations and tsunami forecast models. Message dissemination and communication are also addressed. The lesson is part of COMET’s full Tsunami Distance Learning Course, accessible at https://www.meted.ucar.edu/education_training/course/38.

The intended audience includes anyone involved in tsunami warning or response, including coastal Weather Forecast Office staff & EMs who require a better understanding of tsunami warning delivery. The lesson will also benefit anyone wanting to learn more about the components of tsunami warning systems.

01/05/2023

The COMET Program has published, "Communicating Potential Flash Flood & Debris Flow Threats.” This 45-min. lesson begins with an overview on the importance of building partnerships & understanding partner needs prior to the wildfire season. Then, the learner takes on the role of a forecaster, conversing with 2 different partners to understand their info needs regarding post-wildfire flash flood & debris flow incidents. With this understanding, the learner works through 2 post-wildfire case exercises to practice providing decision-support to each partner based on their needs.

The intended audience for "Communicating Potential Flash Flood & Debris Flow Threats” includes national & international operational forecasters interested in decision support services for post-wildfire flash flood and debris flow events. Learners will benefit from having a basic knowledge of weather forecasting as well as post-wildfire debris-flow hazard assessments & soil burn severities.

08/23/2022

The COMET Program has published, "Communicating Threats & Impacts During Tsunami Events.” This >1 hr lesson highlights products from the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) & Pacific TWC that provide useful info to forecasters. In this lesson, the learner takes on the role of a weather service coastal forecaster attending community phone lines after an M9.0 earthquake occurs offshore in AK. The learner interprets the NTWC & PTWC products to practice conveying potential threats & impacts to various decision-makers in AK, HI, & along the West Coast.

The intended audience is national & international operational forecasters interested in decision support services for tsunamis. Learners will benefit from having a basic knowledge of tsunami science & NTWC and PTWC product messages.

07/22/2022

The COMET Program has published, "Communicating Subseasonal to Seasonal Impacts: Climate-Weather Interactions". This lesson builds awareness of climate conditions in the forecast setting and the influence of background climate in setting up potentially impactful weather events. These elements can create situations requiring decision support and impacts messaging. This scenario-based lesson introduces NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center outlooks, Applied Climate Information System (ACIS) data plots, and other climatological products to provide learners practice using and interpreting the products and understanding how forecast confidence and associated messaging can evolve during the shift from climate to weather scales.

The intended audience for this lesson includes operational forecasters wanting to build familiarity with diagnosing climate conditions and their influence on short-term weather. With its broad scope, the lesson should also appeal to others in forecast or climate analysis settings, and to students and the public with an interest in understanding sub-seasonal and seasonal climate and interactions with weather.

07/16/2022

The COMET Program has published, "Communicating Subseasonal to Seasonal Impacts: Climate Change."

Forecasters & others in the weather sector are increasingly asked to answer questions abt climate change esp relating to heat, wildfires, etc. In this lesson, learners explore 3 scenarios to practice interpreting climate products & communicating info to stakeholders in EM, PH, wildland mgmt., & muni planning. In the scenarios, the forecaster addresses questions abt heat waves, wildfires, & sea level rise, & communicates info for both near- & long-term outlooks. Learners will practice providing useful decision support info to stakeholders dealing w/climate variations & impacts in their daily responsibilities & longer-term planning.

The intended audience includes meteorologists & weather pros wanting to build familiarity w/climate change in the context of decision support. With its broad scope & multiple stakeholder focus, the lesson also appeals to students & the general public w/an interest in understanding & communicating climate info.