NOAA Works Closely with AccuWeather to Promote 2014 National Preparedness Month Initiative

Leading Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador AccuWeather takes leadership role in promoting National Preparedness Month through global multi-media platforms

AccuWeather Global Weather Center – September 9, 2014 – AccuWeather, Inc., the global leader in digital weather information and prominent Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador, is leveraging the global reach of its multi-media platforms to spread the message of National Preparedness Month “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”. AccuWeather has launched a series of articles, videos, and media outreach to promote Weather-Ready Nation initiatives, including September’s National Preparedness Month, working together to build a nation that is ready, responsive, and resilient to the impacts of extreme weather events, and has recorded a candid discussion between National Weather Service Director Dr. Louis Uccellini and AccuWeather, Inc. CEO Barry Lee Myers.

“The National Weather Service is working closely with AccuWeather to enable businesses across the U.S. to be better prepared for severe weather,” said Myers. “The weather industry plays a key role in severe weather preparedness because we provide the site-specific and customized weather forecasts that meet the needs of finance, health, and retail, as well as many others industries. A strong relationship between NWS and AccuWeather allows all parts of the weather community to provide the most detailed and effective severe weather information possible, protecting the lives and property of enterprises and individuals throughout the country.”

“For people to be responsive and resilient to a severe weather outbreak, such as hurricanes and snowstorms, they need a plan – and not one that they developed five minutes before the event. To do that, they need to know where to go for information,” Uccellini said. “For many people it’s to the private sector firms, for others, government agencies… It’s an increasing partnership within the emergency management community getting ahead of a (severe weather) event so more lives can be saved.”

Uccellini said in the video interview that AccuWeather communicates with its customers days in advance and cited the November 7, 2013 tornado outbreak where citizens and enterprises were able to receive advanced warnings through a range of devices, from computers to cell phones, for specific warnings that caused them to take timely actions that ultimately protected their lives.

As a noted WRN Ambassador, AccuWeather has reached out to all parts of the U.S. with highly visible news stories and videos, including interviews with Uccellini, that are syndicated across their leading global web site, mobile site, and on their popular apps available across mobile devices.

“AccuWeather is an ideal fit as a WRN Ambassador because we supply the forecasts that help local companies be more aware and better prepared,” said Myers. “WRN encourages cooperation between all parts of the weather community which is a win-win for everyone. The NWS collects the best weather data available anywhere and AccuWeather interprets the data into specialized forecasts and helps enterprises keep abreast of watches and warnings with special services that are much more specific and will help benefit businesses and their customers.”

“Weather-Ready Nation is part of a strategic plan to enhance communication and make businesses and citizens ready, responsive, and resilient to disasters which are often weather and weather related,” Uccellini said. “Not just NOAA, but the entire weather enterprise, of which AccuWeather is predominant part, is instrumental in making forecasts and warnings and distributing them to a wide array of people who have to be ready for these types of events.”

AccuWeather was named one of NOAA's first WRN Ambassadors. AccuWeather's ability to provide critical, customized, and pinpointed weather services and warnings with Superior Accuracy™ strengthens the company's importance in the initiative. An essential leader and provider of weather forecasts that protect foundational infrastructure including rail lines and businesses, AccuWeather is committed to helping people live safer, better lives.

Use Links Below to See Video Excerpts

Dr. Louis Uccellini, Director of National Weather Service and Barry Lee Myers, CEO of AccuWeather, Inc. Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador and the vital role of the Weather Industry

Dr. Louis Uccellini, Director of National Weather Service The importance of advanced preparedness and why the US has the best weather services in the world

Barry Lee Myers, CEO of AccuWeather, Inc. and Dr. Louis Uccellini, Director of National Weather Service The positive impact of investing in superior forecasting technology to save lives and protect property

Dr. Louis Uccellini, Director of National Weather Service The value of advanced, specific severe weather warnings

About AccuWeather, Inc. and AccuWeather.comEvery day over a billion people worldwide rely on AccuWeather to help them plan their lives, protect their businesses, and get more from their day. AccuWeather provides hourly and Minute by Minute™ forecasts with Superior Accuracy™ for nearly 3 million locations worldwide, with customized content and engaging video presentations available on smart phones, tablets, free wired and mobile internet sites, connected TVs, and Internet appliances, as well as via radio, television, and newspapers. Founded in 1962 by Dr. Joel N. Myers - a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society who was recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in American history by Entrepreneur Magazine's Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs - AccuWeather also delivers a wide range of highly-customized enterprise solutions to media, business, government, and institutions, as well as news, weather content, and video for more than 180,000 third-party websites. AccuWeather's CEO, Barry Lee Myers, is a recognized expert in global weather information issues and one of the world most recognized advocates for cooperative relationships between government weather agencies and the weather industry.

Barry Lee MyersBarry Lee Myers has been an integral part and leading force of AccuWeather executive management team for several decades. Since becoming CEO in September 2007, the company has weathered the recession and posted the highest grossing years and the largest web and mobile audience growth in the history of the company. He has been responsible for directing the strategic initiatives of the company and developing many of the company's acquisitions, major business relationships, and ground-breaking opportunities.

Before becoming CEO, Myers was Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Myers served on the Graduate School faculty at Penn State for 18 years as a member of its nationally recognized Smeal College of Business.

He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the American Weather and Climate Industry Association, the weather industry's trade association, since 1990, serving as the industry's chief government-relations officer. He also has served as advisor to the Director of the U.S. National Weather Service at the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization Meetings in Geneva on several occasions and serves as advisor to NOAA. He is recognized as an expert in public/private relationships in the weather and weather media industry worldwide.

Myers received his B.S. in business administration and economics from the Smeal School of Business at Penn State and his master's in business (ABD) there also. His J.D. is from the Boston University School of Law.

Report a Typo