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For Release: Immediate Contact: Patty McQuillan

Date: June 2, 2004 Phone: (919) 733-5027

STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AWARDED FOR EXPANDING NOAA BROADCASTS

WASHINGTON D.C. - On behalf of the State of North Carolina, Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor, state director of Emergency Management, will accept the national 2004 Mark Trail Award at the U.S. House of Representatives on June 3.

The National Weather Service nominated North Carolina for the award for purchasing radio transmitters and weather radios that expanded storm alert coverage to an additional one million residents.

“Emergency Management’s mission is to protect people’s lives and property, and the best way for them to get immediate notification of an emergency is through the NOAA weather radios,” Dr. Taylor said. “We are pleased to accept this award.”

Combining state and federal funding, the Division of Emergency Management purchased six new radio transmitters that were installed in the cities of Jefferson, Linville, Henderson, Garner, Warsaw and Windsor. Other existing transmitters were relocated to spots that would improve coverage areas.

“These new transmitters nearly cover the entire state,” said Jeff Orrock, Warning Coordinator Meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Raleigh. “The state Division of Emergency Management is to be commended highly for being an indispensable partner with the National Weather Service in relaying life-saving information to the citizens of North Carolina.”

In addition, following Hurricane Fran, the state used hazard mitigation funding to purchase nearly 13,000 NOAA weather radio receivers. Local emergency managers distributed the radios to public schools, colleges, hospitals, day care centers, and nursing homes in their counties.

The Division of Emergency Management also expanded the use of NOAA Weather Radio for civil emergencies as well as for radiological events. The state modified the State Emergency Alert System plan and the State Radiological Response plan by making NOAA Weather Radio one of the primary notification methods to disseminate information regarding non-weather related emergencies.

Dr. Taylor recognized the work of Ed Jenkins, NCEM lead natural hazards planner and Gary Faltinowski, NCEM Planning Support branch manger, both of whom managed the weather radio expansion project.

“Ed Jenkins and Gary Faltinowski coordinated with state and federal agencies and brought many other folks together to make this a successful project,” Taylor said. “This was a prime example of the good things that can be accomplished when agencies work together to serve and protect North Carolina residents.”

The nomination came from members of the National Weather Service in Morehead City, Wilmington, Greenville/Spartanburg, Blacksburg and Wakefield. North Carolina is served by seven NWS regional offices.

The syndicated comic strip character, Mark Trail, has been the official spokesman for NOAA Weather Radio since 1997. Jack Elrod, the creator, writer and illustrator for Mark Trail, became involved with NOAA Weather Radio in 1995, featuring it in a Sunday comic strip which now is published in approximately 175 newspapers.

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