National Weather Service Partners for Iowa Heat Awareness

National Weather Service Des Moines partnered with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Iowa Heat Awareness from June 6-10, 2016.

Throughout the week, several partners assisted in promoting heat awareness and heat safety information. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation highlighting heat safety and impacts.  KCCI-TV, a CBS affiliate, conducted 6 live shots at the weather forecast office during the station’s morning broadcast on June 8th and interviewed Warning Coordination Meteorologist Kelsey Angle.

National Weather Service Des Moines partnered with the Polk County Health Department for a vehicle heat demonstration on June 9th. Hydrometeorological Technician Brad Fillbach installed a Maximum-Minimum Temperature System (MMTS) radiation shield and display unit in a GOV vehicle. The demonstration showed how quickly the temperature inside a vehicle can change in a short amount of time. Polk County Health Department Educator and Public Information Officer, Nola Aigner assisted with describing the health impacts to children and pets. The demonstration was attended by local television stations and broadcast live by UnityPoint Health through their Facebook page.

During the vehicle heat demonstration and throughout the week, the forecast office also provided updates and briefings through social media including Facebook, Twitter and Periscope. Forecaster Ken Podrazik, Meteorologist Intern Kurt Kotenberg, Meteorologist Intern Allan Curtis and Meteorologist Intern Kevin Skow provided 10 briefings through Periscope.

 

(Left to Right) Nola Aigner, Educator and Public Information Officer, Polk County Health Department; Ken Podrazik, Forecaster, National Weather Service Des Moines
(Left to Right) Kelsey Angle, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service Des Moines; Alyx Sacks, Anchor/Reporter, KCCI-TV
Maximum-Minimum Temperature System (MMTS) radiation shield and display
Heat Demonstration Vehicle
Blog post by Kelsey Angle, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Des Moines

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