UNC Asheville to Host Day-Long Workshop on Improving Regional Storm Response

When Tropical Storms Frances and Ivan pounded Western North Carolina last year, it became obvious for the need to continue improving the region’s preparation and responses to such storm events. To help meet that goal, UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC) will hold a day-long workshop on “Improving Responses to Regional Storm Events” from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, May 20, at UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. The workshop is free and open to the public.

The goals of the workshop are to review last year’s storm events and discover how these storms and other severe weather define the need for better environmental prediction and improved communication of critical information to the public and first responders.

“The environmental impacts from last year’s tropical storms are still being felt today,” said Doug Miller, UNC Asheville associate professor of atmospheric sciences and organizer of the event. “This workshop has been organized to learn from each other’s experiences from these storms in order to better prepare ourselves for the upcoming storm seasons. Given the environmental mandate of UNC Asheville and NEMAC, our institution is uniquely qualified to serve as host for this important workshop.” 

The first session will focus on weather prediction. It will be lead by Chip Konrad, UNC Chapel Hill assistant professor of geography, and Larry Lee, National Weather Service Forecast Office science and operations officer.

The second session will focus on flooding and will be led by Jeanne Robbins, U.S. Geological Survey surface water specialist; David Reed, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrologist; and Greg Shuping, Haywood County Emergency Management Services director.

The following session on solid-earth prediction and land-use management will be lead by Rick Wooten, N.C. Geological Survey senior geologist; Grant Goodge, National Climatic Data Center retired climatologist; Tom Burnet, Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems hydrologist and research scientist.

The final morning session will explore emergency response. It will be led by Warren Cabe, Macon County Emergency Management Services director; Greg Grayson, Asheville Fire-Rescue chief; Bob Gabordi, Asheville Citizen-Times executive editor; and Mike Cuevas, WLOS-TV chief meteorologist.

During lunch, Asheville Mayor Charles Worley will present an overview of last September’s storms and their impact on the City. He will also discuss the City’s response.

The first afternoon panel discussion will focus on “Improving Our Observations and Understanding.” Speakers include David Maidment, University of Texas at Austin professor of civil engineering; Phillip Gibson, Riverlink’s French Broad Riverkeeper; John Dorman, N.C. Floodplain Mapping Program’s program director; Mark Riedel, Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory principal investigator; John McHenry, Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems chief scientist; and Wilma Sherrill, N.C. House of Representatives.

The final discussion will examine “Improving Our Ability to Pass Information to the Public.” Panelists are Bob Imhoff, Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems general manager; Lauren Bradley, City of Asheville public information officer; Glenn Rutledge, National Climatic Data Center meteorologist and physical scientist; and Nathan Ramsey, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners chairman.

The workshop and lunch are free but registration is required. Deadline to register is
May 16. Click on www.unca.edu/nemac/ to sign up.

For more information, call Doug Miller, UNC Asheville associate professor of atmospheric sciences, at 828/232-5159.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Doug Miller, UNC Asheville Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, 828/232-5159
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526