• After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.

    I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.

    For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.

    From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.

    Sincerely, Jeff D.

Speaking of Public Reponses to Warnings...

rdale

EF5
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
7,562
Location
Lansing, MI
We were just talking about how Joe Public reacts to Tornado Warnings / False Alarms / etc.

‘The Science of Communications’
Connecting Researchers & Practitioners
A Workshop for Risk & Crisis Communicators

Monday, June 2, 2008
Ronald Reagan International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
www.nagconline.org

What actually happens in someone’s mind when they have to evacuate a burning building, are told to shelter in place while authorities check out a suspicious package, or hear rumors of a dangerous chemical or biological release? What triggers the ‘fight or flight’ response? To whom do they listen in an emergency situation? How do they assess risk and react in a true crisis?

To begin to answer these questions, the National Association of Government Communicators (www.nagconline.org), with technical support from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate, will host a full-day workshop on Monday, June 2, 2008, in Washington, D.C. on the “Science of Communications.†The workshop will connect existing risk and crisis communication research to practitioners in the field, identify future research needs, and launch a national dialogue on these challenges. Panel discussions and interactive sessions will focus on the science behind people’s reactions and how communicators can evaluate the effectiveness of what they say, how they say it in crisis situations, and how they can reach people who may be at risk.
Notable speakers and participants include:
  • Dennis Mileti, PhD, Professor Emeritus and Research Scientist at University of Colorado at Boulder and former Director, Natural Hazards Center, Institute of Behavioral Science
  • Admiral Stephen Pietropaoli, Executive Director of the Navy League of the United States (he was the senior Navy public affairs officer on 9/11 and it was his area of the Pentagon that was hit)
  • Tim L. Tinker, DrPH, MPH, leader of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Center for Risk and Crisis Communication
  • Tony Dorsey, Media Relations Manager, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, former Director of Public Affairs for the Washington D.C. Fire Emergency Medical Services Department and former NBC reporter. (invited – he’s getting it cleared through his office)
  • Mike Dunaway, Program Manager, Community Preparedness & Resilience, Human Factors Division, Science & Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • Other government agency communicators, emergency managers, first responders and members of the media.
Emergency managers, public affairs officers from all levels of government, first responders, members of the media, scientists, and other professionals in the field are invited to attend.

NAGC has graciously extended its member rate of $199 ($50 discount) to members of the International Association of Emergency Managers. Register for this first-of-its-kind workshop at: http://www.nagconline.org.
 
now, if I could just get around the fee

That's funny, I'm actually working on small project within the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. It would be funny if it were held in the Pavilion Room (where I'm doing some design work).

If I can find away around the $200 fee, and I'm not in the plains chasing, then I may just have to go. Do you guys think have a storm chaser perspective at this meeting would be helpful? Maybe I can work something out with the Emergency Management Office here in Montgomery County, Maryland, who I'm sure has someone attending.
 
Back
Top