“America’s Weather Enterprise: Protecting Lives, Livelihoods, and Your Way of Life”
National Weather Service
Support for Special Events
If you are planning a special event, one of your biggest concerns is likely the weather. Whether you are a private citizen or an event organizer planning an activity with a large number of participants and spectators, support for dealing with the impacts of weather is easily accessible. No one can guarantee good weather, but the National Weather Service (NWS) can help you prepare for hazardous conditions that may put participants and spectators in harm’s way. Our partners in America’s Weather Industry can also provide a high level of specialized weather support.
What kinds of weather information are available to me from NWS?
A government agency, the NWS provides weather, water, and climate information for the general public, including warnings to protect life and property. Some standard ways to receive NWS forecasts and warnings include the NOAA Family of Services, NOAA Weather Wire Service, NOAA Weather Radio, NWS web pages and our experimental XML/CAP feeds. Many of the informational products provided by the NWS are produced on a regular schedule, while some, such as tornado warnings, are produced as conditions warrant.
Your local NWS office can help you determine the best means of receiving NWS products and ensure you know how to use them. The NWS’ highest priority is public safety. Always keep in mind that the NWS issues watches, warnings, and other special products based upon severe weather criteria but rarely provides special forecasts for a particular activity or event.
What if I need more specific weather-related help for planning and running my event? Should I hire a service provider from America’s Weather Industry (AWI)?
If routine forecasts from the NWS aren’t sufficient, and you need customized or highly-localized information, you should consider a service provider from AWI. Our partners in the private sector can provide customized weather information, alerts, weather radar imagery, communication devices, and consulting services. Support by AWI can be organized, tailored and packaged to help you make decisions about how to plan and run your special event and for the management of the event, its participants and spectators. The NWS does not endorse any particular service provider, but we maintain a list of those available at http:/weather.gov/im/
If I hire a service provider from AWI, will NWS work with them?
Absolutely. The NWS is especially concerned that you are prepared for hazardous weather, and will want to talk with your service provider from AWI well before the event to coordinate roles in case a weather warning becomes necessary. Your service provider may also want to talk to us about availability of local weather information.
If weather becomes a threat to the event organized, will the NWS let me know?
If you inform the NWS about your event planning in advance, we can work with you on how you can obtain the latest NWS forecasts and warnings and how NWS provides support for hazardous weather. We can also let you know if the level of support needed is beyond what the NWS routinely provides.
Will the NWS come to my event?
The NWS works directly with state and local government officials, such as Emergency Managers, to help ensure public safety. It is NWS’ responsibility to promptly inform emergency managers and, when urgently required, Special Event Operators, when weather conditions may threaten life or property during a special event. The NWS can also provide outreach and education services (e.g. booth displays, etc,) at special events. Several special event venues have also been recognized by the NWS’ StormReady® program. StormReady helps ensure emergency operations planning addresses hazardous weather and that communication systems are effective and redundant.
What about National Special Security Events?
If a special event has been designated as a “National Special Security Event” by the Department of Homeland Security, NWS support is dictated by law. The NWS will provide full and prompt coordination and weather, water and climate support for these events. The NWS will cooperate with any service providers hired by the event coordinator.
What are some important weather safety tips for planning special events?
If you are a large venue operator or conducting a high attendance event, coordination should begin well in advance with local emergency management officials and first responders. Serious consideration needs to be given to postponing or canceling an event should forecasts, outlooks and watches indicate conditions are favorable for severe storms. In addition, continuously monitor forecasts and warnings, train your staff on hazardous weather response through exercises, and have multiple methods for communicating information to employees and attendees. The more detailed the information you provide to attendees, repeating that information often through multiple communication means, the more likely event participants are going to act on your safety instruction.
Related web sites:
NOAA National Weather Service: www.weather.gov
NOAA NWS Burlington,VT: www.weather.gov/btv NOAA NWS Albany, NY: www.weather.gov/aly
NOAA NWS’ StormReady Program: www.stormready.noaa.gov
NOAA Family of Services: www.weather.gov/datamgmt/fos/fosindex.html
NOAA Weather Wire Service: www.weather.gov/nwws/index.html
NOAA Weather Radio: www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr
Experimental XML/CAP 1.1 Feeds and Web Displays: www.nws.noaa.gov/alerts-beta/
FEMA’s Emergency Planning Guide for Businesses: www.ready.gov/business/index.html
Your Name * Robert O’Callaghan
Email * ecslonline@yahoo.com
Phone Number (514) 288-4475
Comments * Hello, we would like to invite you to acquaint yourself with our new Intercultural Music
Project L’ENSEMBLE DU CARRÉ ST-LOUIS et SHEN QI - Erhu (Chinois violin) CONCERT INTERCULTURAL (Oriental/Occidental fusion)
ORIENTAL MUSIC (Chinese and Japanese) presented with a slightly European and North American flavour; and OCCIDENTAL MUSIC including CANADIAN and QUEBECOIS MUSIC (classical, jazz, traditional, popular and original) presented with an oriental flavour.
DEMOS: www.ecslonline.com/nouveau1.html VIDEO section Thank you, Robert O’Callaghan
MONTPELIER, Vt. – A traveling art exhibit commemorating the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of Lake Champlain will be shown at the Boston Public Library
(July 1- Aug. 3).
The exhibit, “Champlain’s Lake Rediscovered: Vermont Artists Celebrate the Lake,” features 39 juried works by Vermont artists. Included in the collection are paintings, drawings, photography and handcrafted pieces. Shelburne Farms opened the exhibit in May, followed by a two-week exhibit at the National Arts Club in New York. It was the first time the National Arts Club hosted a traveling art exhibit representing living Vermont artists.
“The exhibit celebrates the historic beauty of Lake Champlain by contemporary artists who live and work in Vermont,” said Middlebury artist and exhibit curator Doug Lazarus. “It also gives these talented artists the opportunity show their work in major metropolitan areas outside of Vermont.”
The show, sponsored by the Willowell Foundation, will return to Vermont later this summer at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester (Aug. 22 to Sept. 20), with a final stop at the Vermont State House in Montpelier ( Sept. 23-Oct. 21).
For more information, visit http://champlainslakerediscovered.org.
Contact: Doug Lazarus
802-388-0239
dougtheartist@surfglobal.net
I have just posted 33old maps of Lake Champlain (from the Library of Congress) at my web site.
These are very old maps, which will be interesting to researchers andamateur historians.
http://www.old-maps.com/lakechamplain/old-maps-lake-champlain.htm
go to the link at the botom of the page
Dave Allen
daven@sover.net
New Map Chronicles Champlain’s 13 Years of Exploration in the St. Lawrence River Valley
The nearly 40-inch by 60-inch bilingual map, titled “They Would Not Take Me There: People, Places, and Stories from Champlain’s Travels in Canada, 1603-1616,” was developed by Michael Hermann, senior cartographer at the Canadian American Center, and Margaret Pearce, assistant professor of geography at Ohio University. UMaine professor of French Raymond Pelletier, associate director of the Canadian American Center, provided translation.
For more information: http://www.umaine.edu/canam/cartography/Champlain.html
Our author, Marjorie Ryerson, will be doing a Water Music concert for the Quadricentennial of Lake Champlain as part of the Burlington International Waterfront Festival (in St. Paul’s Cathedral, at 8 p.m. on July 12th.) Her book is Water Music by Marjorie Ryerson, Photographer and Orchestrator (Cloth, 978-0-472-11338-5, $35.00.) More book info: http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=17748
We offer a 50% discount off the retail price, unsold copies returnable for full credit. To order please contact me directly.
All the best,
Mike Kehoe
Sales & Marketing Director
University of Michigan Press
www.press.umich.edu
TEL(734)936-0388
FAX(734)615-1540
mkehoe@umich.edu
Winooski River Sojourn: Paddle and Pedal Through History
June 23-28
You may have hiked the long trail, paddled across Lake Champlain and biked through the Mad River Valley, but have you ever paddled down the Winooski River? Friends of the WInooski is holding the 2nd Annual Winooski River Sojourn June 23-28. This year’s trip will focus on the history and ecology of Vermont’s largest watershed - the Winooski. For those who prefer dry land we’ve partnered with the Cross Vermont Trail Association to add a biking contingent that will follow along the river while also exploring other areas of the watershed.
Don’t have six days to spare? No problem, you can sign up for a single day or multiple days. Check out the highlights of each day below:
Day 1: Marshfield to East Montpelier—12 miles of narrow,
winding paddling with some rocks and quick currents.
Features many quiet forested stretches. For experienced
paddlers. Day ends with a Winooski Bread Basket Dinner featuring foods grown in the Winooski Watershed. Tickets to the dinner are available at LACE in Barre and at the Friends of the Winooski table at the Montpelier Farmer’s Market through June 13.
Day 2: Montpelier to Waterbury, 11 miles—The river widens
downstream of Montpelier passing through farmland and
the spectacular Middlesex Gorge where rock walls tower 75ft
above the river. The day includes a couple of class I/II rapid
opportunities and one portage. The day will end with a talk by Skip Flanders entitled Settling the Winooski Valley which will discuss important events in the settlement of the valley and the river’s impact on settlement. This event is free and open to the public and will take place at the Methodist Church in Waterbury.
Day 3: Waterbury to Richmond, 15 miles This stretch of river
passes through the Green Mountains and features hardwood
forest and farms. A major portage at Bolton Dam in the
middle of the day is followed by an opportunity to paddle
Trestle Rapid (Class I/II). The morning program on Stream Dynamics and Ecology will feature streamside stations on stream goemorphology, water quality, aquatic communities, pollution sources, floodplain communities and more. Located behind the State Office Complex in Waterbury - this event will be free and open to the public. Paddlers, bikers and the general public will be treated to an evening of music by the Stone Cold Roosters at On the Rise Bakery in Richmond starting at 8:00pm.
Day 4: Richmond to Essex Junction, 11 miles The stretch from
Richmond to Essex is broad and flat, flowing through
fields, woodlands and residential areas. The river becomes
extremely wide and almost lake-like behind the dam in Essex.
Day 5: Essex Junction to Winooski, 7 miles The river’s only
remaining undammed gorge—the spectacular Lime Kiln
Gorge- lies in this section. Paddlers and the general public will have the opportunity to tour Green Mountain Power’s dam facilities in Essex Junction at 9:30am and 11am. Downstream in Winooski paddlers and bikers will have the chance to attend the Riverwalk Festival featuring a talk by Fred Wiseman of the Abenaki Cultural Center at 2:30 and Riverwalk tours at 10am, noon and 4pm.
Day 6: Winooski to Lake Champlain, 10 miles The river between
the City of Winooski and Lake Champlain meanders through
flat terrain which quickly changes from an urban setting to
farms and forestland. This stretch of the river includes many
historical landmarks including the Ethan Allen Homestead —
our lunch stop — as well as protected wildlife areas including
Half Moon Cove and Delta Park.
Spots are filling up fast, but you can still register by visiting http://www.winooskiriver.org
A person with regional history interest (asking for anonymity) has shared a different interpretation of where exactly Samuel de Champlain’s battle with the Iroquois may have taken place. The person writes:
I think that Crown Point residents and open-minded historians will not abide the public claim made by David Hackett Fisher (author of CHAMPLAIN’S DREAM) at Middlebury College on April 19, 2009. Is indeed Ticonderoga the ONLY place that could be the location of the battle in which Samuel Champlain participated?
Champlain wrote that they “had to pass a rapid” but he also wrote that “we had to enter another lake which is some nine or ten leagues in length, and that on reaching the end of it we had to go by land some two leagues and cross a river.” When exactly is the “afterwards” when he saw a rapid? How is it that they “had to pass a rapid” and did, yet they “had to enter another lake …” and did not and they “had to go by land some two leagues and cross a river” and did not? From Champlain’s words, how can we tell that the rapid that he “had to pass” and “saw afterwards” are the rapids in Riviere de la Chute at Ti?
Mr. Fisher is gullible to buy into this worn-out claim. Any accurate map can prove that Champlain did not have to pass the rapids to travel south on Lake Champlain for a battle at Ti. The three “had tos” in a row are:
1. we had to pass a rapid which I saw afterwards.
2. Thence they said we had to enter another lake which is some nine or ten leagues in length,
3. and that on reaching the end of it we had to go by land some two leagues and cross a river which descends to the coast
Why would Mr. Fisher claim that Samuel Champlain accomplished the first of the three “had to’s” while he was concerned that immediately after the battle “our Indians wasted time in taking a large quantity of Indian corn and meal belonging to the enemy, as well as their shields.” Why would Samuel Champlain take time to see rapids before they “set off for home”? If he didn’t want to waste time and he didn’t need to enter Lake George or cross the Hudson, why would he take time to travel to the rapids in Riviere de la Chute?
The claim that Samuel Champlain must have toured Riviere de la Chute’s rapids does not add up. And therefore neither does Mr. Fisher’s conclusion (based on Fort Ticonderoga’s claim) that the battle must have taken place in Ticonderoga. When will people begin to think for themselves and not just swallow whole every claim that the Pell family concocted and trained their minions to repeat over and over, decade after decade?
Here’s Champlain’s account, translated into English:
“…Continuing our way along this lake in a westerly direction and viewing the country, I saw towards the east very high mountains on the tops of which there was snow. I enquired of the natives whether these parts were inhabited. They said they were, and by the Iroquois, and that in those parts there were beautiful valleys and fields rich in corn such as I have eaten in that country, along with other products in abundance. And they said that the lake went close to the mountains, which, as I judged, might be some twenty-five leagues away from us. Towards the south I saw others which were not less lofty than the first-mentioned, but there was no snow on these. The Indians told me that it was there that we were to meet their enemies, that the mountains were thickly populated, and that we had to pass a rapid which I saw afterwards. Thence they said we had to enter another lake which is some nine or ten leagues in length, and that on reaching the end of it we had to go by land some two leagues and cross a river which descends to the coast of Norumbega, adjoining that of Florida. They could go there in their canoes in two days, as I learned afterwards from some prisoners we took, who conversed with me very particularly regarding all they knew, with the help of some Algonquin interpreters who knew the Iroquois language.
Now as we began to get within two or three days’ journey of the home of their enemy, we proceeded only by night, and during the day we rested. Nevertheless, they kept up their usual superstitious ceremonies in order to know what was to happen to them in their undertakings, and often would come and ask me whether I had had dreams and had seen their enemies. I would tell them that I had not, but nevertheless continued to inspire them with courage and good hope. When night came on, we set off on our way until the next morning. Then we retired into the thick woods where we spent the rest of the day. Towards ten or eleven o’clock, after walking around our camp, I went to take a rest, and while asleep I dreamed that I saw in the lake near a mountain our enemies, the Iroquois, drowning before our eyes. I wanted to succour them, but our Indian allies said to me that we should let them all perish; for they were bad men. When I awoke they did not fail to ask me as usual whether I had dreamed anything. I told them what I had seen in my dream. This gave them such confidence that they no longer had any doubt as to the good fortune awaiting them.
Evening having come, we embarked in our canoes in order to proceed on our way, and as we were paddling along very quietly, and without making any noise, about ten o’clock at night on the twenty-ninth of the month, at the extremity of a cape which projects into the lake on the west side, we met the Iroquois on the warpath. Both they and we began to utter loud shouts and each got his arms ready. We drew out into the lake and the Iroquois landed and arranged all their canoes near one another. Then they began to fell trees with the poor axes which they sometimes win in war, or with stone axes; and they barricaded themselves well.
Our Indians all night long also kept their canoes close to one another and tied to poles in order not to get separated, but to fight all together in case of need. We were on the water within bowshot of their barricades. And when they were armed, and everything in order, they sent two canoes which they had separated from the rest, to learn from their enemies whether they wished to fight, and these replied that they had no other desire, but that for the moment nothing could be seen and that it was necessary to wait for daylight in order to distinguish one another. They said that as soon as the sun should rise, they would attack us, and to this our Indians agreed. Meanwhile the whole night was spent in dances and songs on both sides, with many insults and other remarks, such as the lack of courage of our side, how little we could resist or do against them, and that when daylight came our people would learn all this to their ruin. Our side too was not lacking in retort, telling the enemy that they would see such deeds of arms as they had never seen, and a great deal of other talk, such as is usual at the siege of a city. Having sung, danced, and flung words at one another for some time, when daylight came, my companions and I were still hidden, lest the enemy should see us, getting our firearms ready as best we could, being however still separated, each in a canoe of the Montagnais Indians. After we were armed with light weapons, we took, each of us, an arquebus and went ashore. I saw the enemy come out of their barricade to the number of two hundred, in appearance strong, robust men. They came slowly to meet us with a gravity and calm which I admired; and at their head were three chiefs. Our Indians likewise advanced in similar order, and told me that those who had the three big plumes were the chiefs, and that there were only these three, whom you could recognize by these plumes, which were larger than those of their companions; and I was to do what I could to kill them. I promised them to do all in my power, and told them that I was very sorry they could not understand me, so that I might direct their method of attacking the enemy, all of whom undoubtedly we should thus defeat; but that there was no help for it, and that I was very glad to show them, as soon as the engagement began, the courage and readiness which were in me.
As soon as we landed, our Indians began to run some two hundred yards towards their enemies, who stood firm and had not yet noticed my white companions who went off into the woods with some Indians. Our Indians began to call to me with loud cries; and to make way for me they divided into two groups, and put me ahead some twenty yards, and I marched on until I was within some thirty yards of the enemy, who as soon as they caught sight of me halted and gazed at me and I at them. When I saw them make a move to draw their bows upon us, I took aim with my arquebus and shot straight at one of the three chiefs, and with this shot two fell to the ground and one of their companions was wounded who died thereof a little later. I had put four bullets into my arquebus. As soon as our people saw this shot so favourable for them, they began to shout so loudly that one could not have heard it thunder, and meanwhile the arrows flew thick on both sides. The Iroquois were much astonished that two men should have been killed so quickly, although they were provided with shields made of cotton thread woven together and wood, which were proof against their arrows. This frightened them greatly. As I was reloading my arquebus, one of my companions fired a shot from within the woods, which astonished them again so much that, seeing their chiefs dead, they lost courage and took to flight, abandoning the field and their fort, and fleeing into the depth of the forest, whither I pursued them and laid low still more of them. Our Indians also killed several and took ten or twelve prisoners. The remainder fled with the wounded. Of our Indians fifteen or sixteen were wounded with arrows, but these were quickly healed.
After we had gained the victory, our Indians wasted time in taking a large quantity of Indian corn and meal belonging to the enemy, as well as their shields, which they had left behind, the better to run. Having feasted, danced, and sung, we three hours later set off for home with the prisoners. The place where this attack took place is in 43° and some minutes of latitude, and was named Lake Champlain…”
Source: Samuel de Champlain, The Works of Samuel de Champlain (Toronto, 1925), Vol 2, 89–101.
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List of Lake Champlain Resources at the Vermont State Libraray
by Shelia.Kearns@mail.dol.state.vt.us
We hope libraries will use this during 2009 as we celebrate the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial. Among the items included in the Lake Champlain Bibliography are works about: Samuel de Champlain and his explorations.
Click here for more information and the resource list:
Department of Libraries- - http://libraries.vermont.gov/news |
Quadricentennial Special!
The Vermont Historical Society is commemorating the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of Lake Champlain with a special offer of the limited edition facsimile of William Chambers’ 1779-80 manuscript atlas of the lake.
Chambers’ stunning work includes 31 detailed plates of small sections of the lake’s shoreline, each rendered in black ink with blue and brown watercolor shading. Most plates include soundings and physical features, especially those that could be hazardous to sailors. This edition being offered to donors includes a 3′ by 10′ composite map of the entire lake, a map that was not included in the paperback edition of this facsimile. The plates are as much works
of art as they are navigational tools. Since many of the place names used by Chambers are now obsolete, the facsimile includes a handy glossary for modern readers.
The original atlas, one of the Society’s treasures, will be on display at the Fleming Museum in Burlington from April 14 through September 29. Now, thanks to the generosity of J. Kevin Graffagnino, former VHS director and editor of the facsimile, we are making available 100 copies of the 1984 limited edition of this prized volume. Each volume is bound in dark blue ½ leather with a matching slipcase. These volumes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
We are offering this collector’s edition during the Quadricentennial for each new or increased donation of $400. To make a donation and receive this special book, please contact Jane Campbell, at 802.479.8516 or jane.campbell@state.vt.us, or donate online by clicking here.
