John McHenry, Chief Scientist, Advanced Meteorological Systems, Baron Services - September 2016 UCAR Congressional Briefing Commercial weather companies partner with research community and government agencies to develop and deploy critical weather intelligence with the goal of reducing harm to people and property. The newly deployed National Water Model has significant promise for reducing flood-related disaster risks.

1. UCAR Congressional Lunch Briefing
September 13, 2016
John McHenry
Chief Scientist: Advanced Meteorological Systems
Baron Services,
Huntsville, AL
Using National Water Model Results
to Benefit Industry

2. Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
baronweather.com
• Baron
is
an
“end-­‐to-­‐end”
US-­‐based
commercial
weather
company
• Baron
partners
with
industry,
government,
and
the
research
community
to
develop/deploy
cri>cal
weather
intelligence
to
reduce
harm
to
people
and
property
as
a
result
of
severe
weather-­‐related
phenomena
Critical Weather Intelligence

3. Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
Because
flood-­‐related
disasters
top
the
list
as
most
frequent,
Baron
is
deeply
commi8ed
to
helping
decrease
the
resul:ng
impacts
baronweather.com
• Flood disasters are the most frequent kind of natural disaster as measured by
the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
• There has been a dramatic increase
in the number of flood disasters
over the last 15 years
• Population exposed to the potential
for flood disasters is increasing
• Flood disasters tend to have (not
always) a human-made component,
due to the need to manage water
resources [Water Too Much, Too
Little]
The
newly
deployed
Na:onal
Water
Model
has
significant
promise
toward
helping
achieve
this
goal.
Critical Weather Intelligence

4. Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
Thus
à
Industry
will
benefit
from
Na:onal
Water
Model
results:
• The
Na>onal
Water
Model
drama>cally
increases
the
number
of
loca>ons
and
lead
>mes
at
which
floods
are
forecast
Example
à
• The
Na>onal
Water
Model
has
the
promise
to
allow
businesses
to
significantly
reduce
property
loss
through
asset
reloca:on
before
the
event
occurs
(much
less
expensive).
baronweather.com
Critical Weather Intelligence

5. Critical Weather Intelligence
Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
Example:
Business
Assets
Affected
in
2016
–
Major
US
Floods
baronweather.com
• West
Virginia
Floods
(late
June)
• Texas
Floods
including
Fort
Hood
Disaster
(Spring)
• Ellico<
City
Maryland
(late
July)
• Louisiana
Floods
(August)
BEFORE
AFTER

6. Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
baronweather.com
• Texas
Floods:
At
least
20
deaths
• West
Virginia
Floods:
At
least
26
deaths
• Ellico<
City
Floods:
2
deaths
• Louisiana
Floods:
at
least
13
deaths
Furthermore
à
Human
Life
and
Personal
Property
will
also
benefit
from
Na:onal
Water
Model
results:
• Again,
because
The
Na>onal
Water
Model
drama>cally
increases
the
number
of
loca>ons
and
lead
>mes
at
which
floods
are
forecast
Example
à
• The
Na>onal
Water
Model
has
the
promise
to
allow
people
to
take
life
and
property
saving
ac>ons
at
>mes
and
loca>ons
they
previously
could
not
Critical Weather Intelligence

7. Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
Companies
like
Baron
are
Vital
to
Communica>ng
the
Threats
and
Warnings
resul>ng
from
the
Na>onal
Water
Model
that
enable
ac:onable
intelligence
baronweather.com
Critical Weather Intelligence

8. Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
The
Na>onal
Water
Model
ushers
in
a
“new
era”
for
the
availability
of
opera>onal
flood
and
flash
flood
forecas>ng
baronweather.com
Example:
Critical Weather Intelligence

9. Using National Water Model Results to Benefit Industry
Conclusions
baronweather.com
• By
drama>cally
increasing
the
geographic
coverage
and
site-­‐specific
loca>on
of
forecasted
rivers
and
streams-­‐-­‐as
well
as
the
lead
>mes
for
those
forecasts-­‐-­‐
the
Na>onal
Water
Model
ushers
in
a
"new
era"
in
the
availability
of
opera>onal
flood
and
flash-­‐flood
forecas>ng.
• Industry
and
the
general
public
will
benefit
through
reduc>on
in
lives
and
property
lost.
• Partnering
with
governments
and
the
research
community,
companies
like
Baron
will
be
essen>al
in
>mely
communica>on
of
Na>onal
Water
Model
results
in
order
to
maximize
its
promise
to
the
American
people
Critical Weather Intelligence