Filling Gaps and meeting needs through the VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement Program

Objectives

The goal of this proposed work is for communities in the Southeast to be more risk aware and capable of responding to severe weather events through active engagement and co-creation of knowledge that is based on VORTEX-SE research (both physical and social science).  Objectives "

1. To continue to build partners in the region, recognize needs and identify gaps in knowledge and misconceptions that can be addressed through the VORTEX-SE extension program.
2. To understand a subset of target audience needs and recent research findings that can continue to inform a severe weather extension program.
3. To continue to implement the goals, objectives, and model framework found in the Education, Outreach, and Engagement (EOE) Plan developed as part of the pilot phase to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities to severe weather.

Methodology

In order to accomplish the above objectives, the following activities are proposed:  

1. Weather Wise Train-the-Trainer Curriculum  Weather-Wise Train-the-Trainer curriculum provides library staff, partners from local universities and junior colleges, and other volunteers with a hands-on training model and online outreach tools to share Weather-Wise content with their communities effectively. Establishing these connections expands the reach of crucial severe weather safety information to areas with limited access to preparedness guidance. Obtaining state library funding for printing and kits will equip library partners and volunteers with the materials needed to successfully lead Weather-Wise workshops in their communities. The intended beneficiaries of this activity are Library patrons, local volunteers, and students in regions with limited preparedness guidance.
2. Weather Wise Content Creation Internship  The Weather-Wise Content Creation Internship offers journalism and media studies students an opportunity to apply and enhance their mass communication skills by creating engaging, accessible content that broadens the reach of severe weather preparedness information. By contributing to social media campaigns, visual materials, and digital storytelling pieces, students help make Weather-Wise messages more relatable and far-reaching across different age groups and communities. The project not only supports the program’s goal of increasing public awareness and resilience, but also gives students meaningful, real-world experience in public communication, community outreach, and content strategy. Interns also qualify as Weather-Wise training volunteers, as they are frequently exposed to the curriculum while generating content.
3. Online and Social Media Presence  Create a dynamic online channel for Weather-Wise: weekly website updates, regular social-media posts, monthly video summaries, and a newsletter—making preparedness tips easy to access. Reach audiences who rely on digital channels by providing concise, regular preparedness updates online.
4. Storm Tech Webinar Series  This project offers a public webinar and accompanying extension publication on tools and technology like weather balloons, satellites, and storm spotting networks so people understand the weather monitoring technology that contributes to the generation of vital severe weather alerts.   
5. Step Change for Safer Sheltering  This evolving initiative seeks to better understand and address systemic challenges in tornado shelter access across the southeastern U.S., particularly in under-resourced or high-risk communities. Through the identification of access barriers, co-development of localized solutions, and creating public-facing communications tools, the project aims to generate incremental but impactful improvements in shelter decision-making. The initiative emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration - from engineering to public health to social work – to drive actionable insights and co-designed interventions.
6. Convene the Advisory Council to Guide Implementation  Continue quarterly meetings with the VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement Advisory Council (AC). The AC provides much needed feedback on the direction of the extension programming based on their own knowledge working in this field and the programs they support. New research and tools are identified during these calls as well as prioritization of needs from stakeholders along with ideas for how to leverage funds to help the most people.  
7. Project Reporting and Evaluation  Annual reporting of project accomplishments and impacts will be part of this activity. The evaluation will look at how the program works with external partners, if programming has led to behavior change by the target audiences, how well resources have been leveraged, if desired outcomes have been met, and a host of other topics aimed at understanding the benefits and impacts of the program so this can be messaged to NOAA management.

Rationale

In the southeast United States, there is a disproportionately large number of tornadoes resulting in fatalities compared to the rest of the country. Researchers have attributed this to several factors including, tornadoes that occur at night across rugged terrain and tornadic activity that persists throughout the year rather than within a defined season. Of importance, prior research has identified lack of adequate shelter, a high number of people in vulnerable conditions and lack of visibility of tornadoes as contributing factors to higher fatality rates (Ashley, 2007).  In addition, in places where there is extreme poverty, some people tend to live in unmarked homes and/or roads (Fothergill and Peek, 2004). This makes it more difficult for emergency management to locate them both before and after an event. Furthermore, the distance and travel times for emergency responders to get from their stations to mobile homes is greater in comparison to permanent home residents (Strader et.al. 2018).   To address these vulnerabilities, in early 2020 the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) in collaboration with NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) partnered to create a model for a regional extension program to integrate physical and social science research from the VORTEX-SE program to local application for a broader target audience.  The program has grown to include public-private partnerships with businesses to increase the reach of risk communication messages about severe weather. In its next phase, the program plans to focus on safer sheltering strategies in communities, with a commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind. This includes exploring innovative, cost-effective solutions and tailored messaging, all informed by continued collaboration with NSSL. By providing a space for shared learning and co-production of knowledge, the program helps generate practical, consensus-driven solutions that reflect the different needs and perspectives of participants.