This document summarizes a town hall discussion hosted by the National Weather Association about decisions and actions taken during the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak in Alabama. The town hall included a panel of weather and emergency experts as well as members of the public affected by the storms. Participants discussed how they received and interpreted warnings, their experiences sheltering from the tornadoes, and ideas for improving the warning system in the future.

1. Decisions and Actions: The April 27th Tornadoes Looking Back At How We Reacted An Interactive Town HallHosted by the National Weather Association

2. WelcomeDr. John ScalaWGAL-TV Lancaster/Lebanon/Harrisburg PAPrivate Weather ConsultantFirst On Air Storm Analyst The Weather Channel2008 NWA President

3. Weather Trivia: What’s This Radar Feature?Comma Head Hook EchoGravity WaveTropical WaveHail SpikeVelocity Couplet

4. Weather Trivia: What’s This Cloud?Tail CloudShelf CloudWall Cloud Funnel Cloud

5. Weather Trivia: What Am I?This weather alert means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and you should monitor conditions and keep an eye to the skyTornado WatchTornado WarningSlight Risk

6. Tonight’s Agenda

7. Decisions and Actions: The April 27th Tornadoes Looking Back At How We Reacted An Interactive Town HallHosted by the National Weather Association

8. Tonight’s Facilitators Dr. Laura Myers, Mississippi State UniversityKim Klockow,The University of Oklahoma

9. Tonight’s PanelJim Stefkovich, NWS BirminghamEric Jones, Emergency Manager Jerry Tracey, WVTM Birmingham Janet Teer, DCH Regional Medical CenterDr. Suzanne Freeman, Trussville City SchoolsBig Box Store Manager Jonathan Nelson, Birmingham Barons

10. Tonight’s Focus GroupMember 1Member 2Member 3Member 4Member 5Member 6Member 7Member 8Member 9Member 10

11. A Few Guidelines If you were affected by severe weather on April 27th, we want you to fix on the most significant storm for you and your community. As you answer questions, think about that storm.

12. Receiving Warnings

13. Typically How Do You Receive Your Warnings While You Are Awake? (Choose all that apply)NOAA WeatheradioOutdoor Sirens Television BroadcastsCommercial Radio Broadcasts Email/Twitter/Internet/SmartphoneCalling System (WeatherCall/Notify) Personal Observations of Sky Messages from Family/Friends

14. Typically How Do You Receive Your Warnings After Going to Sleep? I Don’t Have a Method That Wakes MeNOAA WeatheradioSiren SmartphoneCalling System (WeatherCall/Notify)

15. Did You Own A NOAA Weatheradio on April 27th?No: But I Have Since No: Can’t Afford One No: Don’t Have Reception in My Area No: They Are Too Complicated to Use No: They Go Off Too Often Yes, But I Did Not Use it That Day Yes, And I Relied on it That Day Yes, But the Transmitter Was Out of Service Yes, But the Electricity Was Out/No Battery

16. If You Don’t Use Your Weatheradio, Is There a Reason? Goes Off Too Often Don’t Understand How to Program My Counties Into ItIt Warns Me for Storms That Are Not Near My LocationReception Is Not GoodForget To Turn It On

17. Peak Tornado Season in Alabama is March/April, with a Secondary Season in the Fall…Do You Pay More Attention to Events During the “Tornado Seasons”?Yes, I am More Aware During the Primary and Secondary “Tornado Seasons”No, I Treat All Potential Tornado Events With he Same Priority

18. Do You Feel Any of These Statements Apply to You? Our Community is Protected from Tornadoes by Terrain/Water Tornadoes Always Go Around Us

19. On Average, How Many Tornadoes Would You Say Hit Your County Each Year? 01-23-45-6More than 6

20. On Average, How Many Tornado Warnings Are Issued For Your Residence Location Each Year?01-34-66-10More than 10

21. On Average, How Many Tornado Warnings Are Issued For Your Residence Location Each Year?01-34-66-10More than 10

22. Looking Back Wednesday, April 27, 2011

23. Severe Weather is a Frequent Occurrence in Alabama…What Was Your Experience Before 4/27?Had Never Personally Experienced Damaging Weather BeforeHad Experienced Minor Damage from Severe Weather Had Experienced a Tornado, But Only Minor Damage Had Experienced Major Damage from a Tornado Had Suffered Injury in a Tornado

24. When Did You Become Aware of the Forecast for Bad Weather for Wednesday 4/27?Prior to the Weekend Before (5+ Days)The Weekend Before (3-4 Days) Monday/Tuesday (1-2 Days Before)Earlier on Wednesday, April 27thWas Not Aware Until Storms Struck I Don’t Recall

25. Were You Aware That Predictions Were That This Was Going to be an Unusually Severe Event?YesNo

26. You Started Taking Preliminary Precautions (Changed Plans, Cleaned Out Shelter, Stocked Supplies, etc.): In Days Leading Up To Event That Morning When Tornado Watch Was Issued When Storms Approached My AreaWhen Warning Was Issued Didn’t Take Preliminary Precautions

27. How Did the Morning Storms Affect Your Perception of the Severe Weather Forecasted for the Afternoon?They Did Not Affect My Perception of the DangerMade Me More Aware of the Potential DangerThought the Early Storms Were the Main EventThought the Early Storms Would Keep the Afternoon Storms From Being as Severe Damage/Power Outages from Early Storms Made Me Unaware of the Afternoon Threat

28. Where Were You When Your Main Severe Weather Was Closest to You?At Home At Work At School In Car or Other Vehicle In a Business Other Than Work Outside

29. Who Was With You When the Storms Struck Your Area? No one Family, Including Children Family, No Children FriendsStrangers Co-Workers

30. Did You Rely on Local Television to Follow the Severe Weather?Yes: One StationYes: Multiple Stations (Switched Channel)No: Power Was Out No: Cable/Satellite Was Out No: Relied on Another Source No: Was Not Following Weather on TV

31. If You Came Under A Tornado Warning, How Did You First Hear of It?Siren Television/Commercial Radio (AM/FM) NOAA WeatheradioInternet Website/Social Media Friend or Family Did Not Hear the Warning

32. Did Sirens Sound in Your Area?YesDon’t Know, Didn’t Hear Them No Don’t Recall

33. Do You Rely on Sirens to Signal A Severe Weather Threat?YesNo: Don’t Have Them in My AreaNo: Can’t Hear them Indoors No: Don’t Understand Siren Policies in My AreaDon’t Recall

34. What Was Your Immediate Reaction to the Tornado Warning? Checked the Sky Turned to Another Source to ConfirmCalled Someone to Alert Them Immediately Took Protective Action Nothing, Warnings Happen All the TimeWaited for More Information

35. What Sources Did You Use to Confirm the Threat?Check All That Apply:Television Broadcasts Commercial Radio BroadcastsInternet Social Media NOAA WeatheradioMessage From Friend or Family Personal Observation Other

36. Were All of Your Weather Sources Communicating the Same Message? Yes: All Were Saying the Same ThingNo, Some Sources Gave Conflicting Information

37. What Information Is Most Important To You In Interpreting Your Risk?Severity Of the StormProximity/Path of the Storm Potential Danger Posed by the StormSuggested Protective Actions Hearing Specific Geographic Locations

38. How Important Is Visual Confirmation of the Storm in Prompting You to Take Protective Action? Not Important Somewhat Important Important Very Important

39. What Television Indicator Is Most Helpful To You in Evaluating Your Risk?Seeing the Past Motion of the Storm on Radar Seeing the Projected Track on Radar Seeing Live Video of Tornado Hearing Significant Damage ReportsSeeing News Footage of Damage The Urgency in the Broadcaster’s VoiceWall to Wall Coverage of the Event

40. How Confident Were You in Your Understanding of the Warning Information You Were Hearing? Extremely Confident Moderately Confident Somewhat Confident Not very Confident Not Confident at All Unsure

41. On 4/27, How Confident Were You Of Your Ability to Take Appropriate Action?Not Confident at All Not Very Confident Somewhat Confident Very Confident

42. On April 27th, Did You Already Have a Tornado Safety Plan?No: And I Still Don’tNo: But I Do Now No: But I Am Going to Develop One Yes: But I Did Not Follow It Yes: And I Did Follow It

43. Had You Discussed Your Tornado Plan With Your Children Before 4/27?Don’t Have Children at HomeNo: We Had Not Discussed It Yes: We Had Discussed It Yes: And We Reviewed It Periodically

44. If You Had a Plan, But Didn’t Follow It, Why Didn’t You? I Was in an Unfamiliar Place and Was Unaware of What to DoThe Storms Never Were Close Enough to Warrant It I Was Not Aware of the Threat Not Applicable

45. If You Were Asked What the Primary Choices For Protective Action Should Be, What Would You Say (Check All)Interior Hallway Basement Highway OverpassBathroom Storm Shelter Ditch or Ravine Small room, lowest floor, middle of house Safe Room Designated Shelter Area

46. Did You Ever Take Protective Action?YesNo: “Warnings Happen All the Time”No: “Tornadoes Don’t Hit My Area” No: Had No Viable Shelter OptionsNo: “If It’s My Time to Go, It’s My Time”No: Pets, Age, Health, Physical Disability, or Lack of TransportationNo: Didn’t Think it Would Happen to MeNo: Didn’t Know What to DoNo: I Don’t Know Why

47. If Yes, When Did You Do So? When I Received the Tornado Warning When the TV Weatherperson Called Out My Community When Someone Called Me and Told Me to Take Shelter When Radar Showed the Storm Within a Certain Distance From My Community When I Saw Environmental Clues (Clouds, Wind, Hail, Seeing Tornado, Debris)When a Police Car Came Around With Siren/BullhornWhen Siren Sounded When Heard There Was a Confirmed Tornado On the Ground

48. What Protective Action Did You Take?NoneBasement Bathroom, Closet, Hallway or Small Room Went to Sturdier Structure Went to Storm Shelter or Designated Shelter AreaFled in Car

49. On 4/27, Did You Have Access to a Below Ground or Reinforced Storm Shelter?NoYes: Inside Home Yes: Outside Home Yes: Next Door Yes: Down Street Yes: In Community

50. Did Environmental Clues Cause You to Take Protective Action?No, Environmental Clues Didn’t Play Role in DecisionYes: Falling Debris Yes: Unusual Clouds/Lightning/ThunderYes: Large HailYes: Strong WindYes: Hearing a Roar/Seeing the Funnel

51. How Much Time Was There Between Hearing the Warning and the Storm’s Arrival?No Warning Less Than 5 Minutes 5-10 Minutes 11-15 Minutes 16-30 Minutes 31+ Minutes

52. Do You Feel That You Had Enough Time to Take Protective Action?YesNo

53. How Much Time Do You Need After Hearing a Warning to Take Proper Protective Action?Less Than 5 Minutes 6-10 Minutes 11-30 Minutes More Than 30 Minutes

54. Can There Be Too Much Time Between a Warning and the Actual Storm? No, the More Warning the Better Yes, More Than 15 Minutes is Too MuchYes, More Than 30 Minutes is Too MuchYes, More Than 1 Hour is Too Much

55. Did You Live in a Mobile Home on 4/27?No Yes

56. If Yes, Did You Leave Mobile Home Before Storm Struck Your Area? NoYes: When I Heard the Tornado WarningYes: When I Saw Storms on Radar, But Before the Warning was IssuedYes: Between the Tornado Watch and When Storms Started Moving My WayYes: Only When I Saw Evidence of the Approaching Storm Not Applicable

57. Will You Act Differently Next Time There is a Tornado Warning?No Yes: Take Protective Action Sooner Yes: Take a Different Protective ActionYes: Seek Information SoonerYes: Have Better Sources of InformationYes: Execute a Safety Plan That I Did Not Have Previously

58. Looking Forward

59. In Your Opinion, Are There Too Many Tornado Warnings?No, I Want to be Warned Any Time There is a Potential Threat of a Tornado. Yes, Tornado Warnings are Issued For Too Many Marginal Events.Yes, Perhaps There Should be a Different Alert For Radar Indicated Tornadoes Yes, Tornado Warnings Should Only Be Issued When A Tornado Is On The Ground

60. What Are Your Thoughts On Storm Based Warnings (Polygons)?I like them, they are more preciseI like the old county based warnings better, they are less confusingI don’t have a way to access them, so they are irrelevant I have never seen this

61. When a Tornado Warning is Issued for Your Location, What’s Your Expectation?That a Tornado Will NEARLY ALWAYS Occur in the Warned AreaThat a Tornado Will SOMETIMES NOT OCCUR in the Warned AreaThat a Tornado Usually Doesn’t Occur When Warnings are Issued

62. The National False Alarm Rate for Tornado Warnings is 76%But 70% of All Tornadoes Are Warned For…Would you Like to:Leave it as isHave a Lower False Alarm Rate, at the Expense of More Unwarned Tornadoes?Have a Higher False Alarm Rate and Catch Even More Tornadoes With Warnings?

63. FOCUS GROUP: How Can the Warning System Be Made Better? Idea 1 Idea 2Idea 3Idea 4Idea 5 Idea 6

64. Thank You!

65. Extra Slides

66. What County Do You Live In?Tuscaloosa/Jefferson/St. Clair/Calhoun/CherokeeMarion/Franklin/Lawrence Walker/Cullman/BlountMarshall /DeKalb/Jackson Other I Don’t Know

67. What Made You Pick the Primary Station You Watched?Trust that meteorologist more One station covered my area more specifically One station showed more video One station showed more radar loops One station showed maps with the track displayed

68. What Made You Switch to Another Channel?Get more informationMy area was not being mentionedAnother was showing live video Someone told me to turn to another stationOne station was not showing radar enough

69. If Yes, What Made You Take Protective Action?Seriousness of warning informationProximity of the storm Hearing the sirensHearing that a tornado was doing damageEnvironmental clues (clouds, debris)