Contacts: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Vallee Bunting (FEMA) 11/19/97 Barry Reichenbaugh (NWS)
While the seasonal predictions based on El Nino conditions may point to an overall mild winter in some parts of the nation, people regardless of where they live or travel should be ready for the worst that winter can offer, officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency advised today.
FEMA Director James Lee Witt emphasized that "preparing in advance and knowing what to do will save many lives, including a great many of those who die every year in fires caused by improperly-used space heaters, faulty furnaces or the like."
Witt added: "You should know the winter hazards you face in your region or when you travel, how to avoid or reduce those hazards, and you should take steps now to be prepared."
Weather patterns over the United States are expected to be impacted considerably by this year's strong El Nino, especially during the winter months. NOAA's long lead climate outlooks predict that the southern United States will be wetter than normal, while somewhat drier than normal conditions develop in the northern High Plains and in sections of the Midwest during the fall and winter season, the typical pattern during an El Nino.
Temperatures are likely to be warmer than normal in the northern half of the United States and along the California coast, and slightly cooler than normal along the Gulf Coast during late winter and early spring. Average temperatures in the far West, the Northwest and from the Northern Great Plains eastward through New York state will generally be above normal, said Ed O'Lenic, senior meteorologist with the NOAA/National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md.
According to Kay Goss, FEMA's associate director for Preparedness, Training, and Exercises, "Our fear is that predictions of mild winter weather in some parts of the nation could tempt some people to let their guard down."
"Mild winters can still serve up some pretty powerful storms," said Kevin McCarthy, a program manager in NWS's Office of Meteorology in Silver Spring, Md. "One of the most memorable winter storms this century paralyzed the entire East coast for days in March of 1993, a recent winter affected by an El Nino."
Emergency management officials point out that timely preparation, including structural and non-structural mitigation measures to avoid the impacts of severe winter weather, can avert heavy personal, business and government expenditures.
The best source for the most current National Weather Service forecasts and storm warnings comes from local NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, McCarthy said. Special radios sold at most electronics stores can pick up NOAA Weather Radio frequencies. The National Weather Service operates more than 450 NOAA Weather Radio transmitters throughout the country.
More detailed information on winter preparedness and safety tips is available on FEMA's World Wide Web site at http://www.fema.gov/fema/wntsft.htm). Current weather forecasts are available on the NWS site at ( http://www.nws.noaa.gov).
Note to editors:
Radio actualities on winter preparedness will be available on the FEMA Radio Network (1-800-323-5248). Additional information is available on the FEMA World Wide Web site http://www.fema.gov and from FEMA's Fax-on-Demand system at (202) 646-FEMA. Journalists who wish to be added to FEMA's e-mail news release distribution list can send e-mail to ( eipa@fema.gov).
All NOAA news releases and links to other NOAA material can be found on the NOAA World Wide Web site ( http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs). Journalists who wish to be added to NOAA's news release distribution list, or who wish to switch from fax to e-mail delivery, can send an e-mail to ( releases@www.rdc.noaa.gov ) or fax to (202) 482-3154. Find NWS background on the NWS Public Affairs World Wide Web site ( http://www.nws.noaa.gov/pa). Information on cold weather preparedness and winter outlooks can be found on the NWS's Meteorology World Wide Web site ( http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/wntrstm.htm) and Climate Prediction Center site ( http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov).