The GSP forecast area
covers much of western North Carolina. The western North
Carolina counties covered by WFO GSP (Greenville - Spartanburg, SC)
include:
The ILM forecast area
covers southeast North Carolina. The southeast North
Carolina counties covered by WFO ILM (Wilmington, NC) include:
The MHX forecast area
covers eastern North Carolina. The eastern North
Carolina counties covered by WFO MHX (Morehead City, NC) include:
The MRX forecast area
covers southwest North Carolina. The southwest North
Carolina counties covered by WFO MRX (Morristown, TN) include:
The RAH forecast area
covers central North Carolina. The central North Carolina
counties covered by WFO RAH (Raleigh, NC) include:
The RNK forecast area
covers northwest North Carolina. The northwest North
Carolina counties covered by WFO RNK (Blacksburg, VA) include:
National
Weather Service Headquarters
NWS Headquarters, located
in Silver Spring, Maryland, establishes policies and coordinates the
national fire weather program. The national program manager coordinates the
program with the regional program managers. The national program manager
also works with the national headquarters of the Federal forestry and other
natural resource management agencies and the Association of State Foresters
in determining overall requirements for meteorological support. The
national program manager coordinates national training in forestry and fire
weather for NWS forecasters. National
Weather Service Regional Headquarters
Regional Headquarters
manage the technical operational aspects of the fire weather program within
each region. They also provide guidance and assistance to
meteorologists-in-charge (MIC) on program operations and developing issues
through Supplements to the National Directives System (NDS) and
conferences. Regional Headquarters advise National Headquarters on matters
pertaining to technical planning and operations. The regional program
managers coordinate the regions' fire weather programs and advise the
Regional Directors on the operational and administrative aspects of the
regions' programs. Weather
Forecast Offices (WFO)
Weather Forecast Offices
prepare and disseminate forecast products for all sectors of the
population, including those for the Fire Weather program. These offices are
responsible for providing forecasts for user agencies within their County
Warning and Forecast Area (CWFA). Most offices have a designated fire
weather focal point or fire weather program leader. The National Weather
Service Weather Forecast Offices will provide 24-hour, 365 days a year
service. The NWS WFO's can be reached at: Blacksburg Weather
Forecast Office Greenville-Spartanburg Weather Forecast Office Morehead City Weather Forecast Office Morristown Weather Forecast Office Raleigh Weather Forecast Office Wakefield Weather Forecast Office Wilmington Weather Forecast Office NOTE: Unlisted telephone
numbers used for coordination cannot be listed here. All user agencies have
been or will be provided voice and fax numbers to be used for official
purposes only. Meteorologists-in-Charge
(MIC)
The
Meteorologists-in-Charge are responsible for the provision of adequate
weather services for the offices' assigned areas of program responsibility.
The MIC's will ensure that the focal points or program leaders are provided
adequate time for user liaison and assistance activities. Michael
Caropolo, Wilmington, NC Darin
Figurskey, Raleigh, NC Larry
Gabric, Greenville-Spartanburg, SC Rich
Bandy, Morehead City, NC George
Mathews, Morristown, TN Jeff Orrock, Wakefield, VA
Dave
Wert, Blacksburg, VA Program
Leaders (or Focal Points)
Fire weather focal points
and program leaders are the "customer service representatives"
for the program. The focal points or program leaders, as representatives of
the MIC's, are in regular contact with the partner agencies, helping them
assess their meteorological needs, informing them of NWS products and
services available to meet these needs, and educating them in the most
effective use of the various NWS products and resources, including NOAA Weather
Radio (NWR). Focal points and program leaders will work with users to
utilize existing NWS products and services produced for other programs that
could meet the requirements of natural resource management. The focal
points and program leaders are also tasked with ensuring staff
meteorologists are trained and remain proficient in preparing forecast
products for support of the fire weather program. Fire Program Leaders can
be reached via e-mail on their NWS office fire weather homepage. James Merrell, Morehead City, NC
John Tomko, Greeville-Spartanburg, SC
Participating
Agencies
The following agencies
are participants of this operating plan: USDI National Park
Service. NOAA National Weather
Service Nature Conservancy NC Forest Service US Army - Fort Bragg US Army - Sunny Point
Military Ocean Terminal US Marine Corps - Camp
Lejeune US Air Force - Dare
County Bomb Range US Fish and Wildlife
Service US Forest Service USDI Bureau of Indian
Affairs NC Wildlife Resources
Commission NC Division of Parks
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