Washington, DC, October 31, 2013 - As announced by Peyton Robertson, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Chair of Sandy Assessment Team director of NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, via Federal News Radio, Sea Grant programs in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut are administering a new $1.8M NOAA-funded Coastal Storm Awareness Program. Here is Robertson's discussion with FNR's "Federal Drive" program, which airs daily from 6-9 a.m. and features interviews with top government executives and contractors.



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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is funding new research into how people react to storm warnings. The announcement comes as we mark the first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. Or was it Hurricane Sandy? The wording changed several times throughout the event. Some say that led to confusion and perhaps kept victims in their homes for too long.

NOAA wants to understand how people respond to severe weather warnings so it can deliver more effective messages in times of crisis. NOAA is spending almost $2 million under the Sea Grant program to enhance the public's ability to effectively plan, prepare and respond to natural disasters. NOAA says many of the deaths caused by superstorm Sandy were a result of choices made in the face of emergency mangers, community leaders and the media.

The announcement comes as we mark the first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. Or was it Hurricane Sandy? The wording changed several times throughout the event. Some say that led to confusion and perhaps kept victims in their homes for too long.

“This work should lead to an improved response from coastal residents in the face of impending storms. A better understanding of the true implications of extreme weather threats like Sandy is a step forward in building a Weather-Ready Nation," said Robertson.

For more, stream the full audio chat above with Robertson and Federal News Radio, which can be heard throughout the Greater Metropolitan Washington Area at 1500 AM and in Frederick at 820 AM. Also, check out NOAA and Sea Grant's related press release, "NOAA and Sea Grant Fund a New Coastal Storm Awareness Program."

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New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NSGCP engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links. NYSG also offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/coastlines for NY Coastlines, its flagship publication, and Currents, its e-newsletter supplement, each distributed several times a year.