PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EFFORTS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OF SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS


CONTACT:  Barry Reichenbaugh                          7/20/98
          National Weather Service
                    
          Diana Gonzalez
          Potomac Television
          

                          NOTE TO EDITORS
                                  
    PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE HIGHLIGHT
   NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EFFORTS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OF SEVERE
                         WEATHER CONDITIONS

In two new public service announcements available by satellite feed July 21, Vice President Al Gore encourages Americans to use NOAA Weather Radio receivers with built-in alarms to get immediate severe weather information and warnings direct from National Weather Service.

The Vice President's topic is a timely one with all of the severe weather the United States has experienced recently -- the value of NOAA Weather Radio, a severe weather warning system that can help keep everyone safe -- 24 hours a day.

In the PSAs, the Vice President explains that the National Weather Service uses its network of more than 460 broadcast transmitters to issue severe weather and flood watches and warnings, and other local emergency messages.

To downlink the feed of the 30- and 60-second PSAs:

     
                    July 21, 1:15 -- 1:45 pm ET
                    satellite coordinates: c-band, Telstar 4, Transponder 20
                    downlink frequency: 4100 MHz
                    audio frequency: 6.2/6.8

Broadcast quality copies of the public service announcements also are available for the cost of reproduction from Video Transfer in Rockville, Md. Contact Video Transfer by phone: (301) 881-0270; by fax: (301) 770-9131; or by e-mail: vidtrans@erols.com.