Last week, the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) joined colleagues from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, and the National Weather Service for an immersive extreme weather risk and preparedness workshop at the University of Oklahoma’s National Weather Center. As the frequency and impacts of these weather events—whether floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, blizzards, or ice storms—increase, so too does the need for a greater understanding of available data and trend patterns so we can collectively ensure the safety of our communities, citizens, and critical infrastructure.
The one-day workshop brought together more than 50 scientists and leading experts from across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the federal government, as well as first responders from around the country, to identify new operational strategies that will ultimately better prepare agencies to mitigate the effects of future extreme weather events. Lessons learned and best practices from the workshop will soon be released in a written report that summarizes the information, discussions, and findings that were shared at this workshop. The report will inform DHS’s and S&T’s own next steps, both through research and development (R&D) and operational action.