For 105 years, the American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) Annual Meeting has brought together scientists, researchers and professionals from across the weather and water communities. This year’s meeting, themed "Towards a Thriving Planet: Charting the Course Across Scales," emphasized the importance of bridging research with real-world applications to build resilience against extreme weather events.
Members of our VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement Team attended the meeting and highlighted efforts to improve communication, preparedness and resilience in tornado-prone communities. They showcased their unique expertise to the conference, sharing insights on tornado research, risk communication and community engagement.
Advancing tornado forecasting, warning technology
Alan Gerard, the VORTEX-USA/SE federal program coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), presented "An Overview of NSSL R2O Transitions Supporting the NEXRAD Program." He covered advancements in weather radar technology and forecasting tools that help meteorologists detect tornadoes earlier and with greater accuracy. These improvements are critical for enhancing severe weather warning systems and saving lives.
During his presentation, Dr. Anthony Lyza, NSSL physical scientist and VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement’s executive officer, detailed the testing of new forecasting tools designed to improve severe weather warnings. By working closely with emergency managers, meteorologists and researchers, his work contributes to cutting-edge advancements in tornado detection that translate into real-world benefits for communities.
Research seeks to understand community response, impacts
Dr. Makenzie Krocak, NSSL social scientist and the team’s social science lead, explored the evolving landscape of weather information. Her presentation examined how shifts in technology and media influence how people receive and act on weather warnings. She emphasized the critical need to adapt communication strategies to ensure the public receives accurate and actionable weather information.
Dr. Kodi Berry, VORTEX-USA program lead at NSSL discussed efforts to coordinate physical and social science data collection following the devastating March 2023 Rolling Fork-Winona-Amory, MS, tornado event that caused 22 fatalities, injured 225 people and devastated multiple structures. Her presentation emphasized the importance of integrating storm data with community impact studies to develop better forecasting tools and emergency response strategies.
Dr. Justin Sharpe, VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement’s social science coordinator, reviewed how people in Rolling Fork perceived and responded to the devastating storm. He and other scientists from the University of Oklahoma’s Cooperative Institute for Severe and High Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO) and NSSL interviewed people in the community and analyzed the public’s reactions, decision-making processes and the effectiveness of tornado warnings. By understanding these behaviors, researchers can improve how warnings are communicated to better protect lives. Learn more about the NSSL’s field studies in Rolling Fork and surrounding areas here.
Dr. Tracie Sempier, of Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and the VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement’s engagement coordinator, and I (the program’s risk communication and learning specialist) collaborated on a session titled "Building a More Weather Wise Southeast." Our presentation emphasized the need for stronger community engagement and education in tornado-prone areas, particularly in the Southeastern United States, where mobile homes and nighttime tornadoes increase vulnerabilities. We highlighted strategies for working with local leaders, residents, educators and emergency managers to improve preparedness and response efforts.
The VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement Team’s work underscores a fundamental point: science alone isn’t enough to save lives — it must be effectively communicated and applied at the community level. By combining physical science, social science and community engagement, our team helps ensure that tornado warnings and severe weather preparedness efforts reach the people who need them most.
Meet the author
Kristiana Allen
Risk Communication and Learning Specialist
Kristiana Allen is a risk communication and learning specialist with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium’s Education and Engagement Team. She also is a member of the NOAA National Severe... Read more
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