"
"Preparation and advance warning are vital factors in tsunami readiness., will present special TsunamiReady and StormReady signs to city
officials.

tsunami preparing

accufore. Scott.nws.gov/akq

),
director of NOAA's National Weather Service.S.gov
NOAA's National Weather Service: http://www.

timely temperatures

stormready.

chasing preparing

com

About AIR Worldwide Corporation

AIR Worldwide Corporation (AIR) is a leading risk modeling company
helping clients manage the financial impact of catastrophes and
weather.S. TsunamiReady helps accomplish this. "I'm confident
that our citizens deeply appreciate NOAA's commitment to saving lives through
planning, education and awareness.weather.

geologic drought

"The new
AIR-AEF offering provides insurers with valuable insight into which
regions have a heightened risk of hurricane activity during the
upcoming season. A member of the ISO family of
companies, AIR was founded in 1987 to provide its insurance,
reinsurance, corporate, and government clients a complete line of risk
modeling software and consulting services that produce consistent and
reliable results. Headquartered in Boston, AIR has additional offices
in North America, Europe, and Asia.com

Ultimately it is the public 's ability to react to
such warnings that completes the chain in an effective tsunami warning
process ." Lautenbacher noted that Indian
Harbour Beach, a small community of 9,000 in Central Florida, was the first
community on the East Coast to attain TsunamiReady status.
To be recognized as TsunamiReady /StormReady, a community must:

* Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;

* Have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and
to alert the public;

* Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally;

* Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars;

* Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe
weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.noaa.

drought preparing

U. winter storms) and analyzing the risk
associated with ocean eddies for oil production companies operating in
the Gulf of Mexico and other regions.

Norfolk Va. First East Coast City Declared TsunamiReady

"In our view, the City of Norfolk has made tremendous progress on
educating its citizens about all natural disasters, from hurricanes to
tornadoes and winter storms, to east coast tsunamis.

Both community preparedness programs use a grassroots approach to help
communities develop plans to handle local severe weather, wave impacts,
flooding threats, and help communities inform citizens of threats associated
with each.noaa.nws.gov
TsunamiReady program: http: //www.

severe hazards

AIR and AEF Offer Insurers the Ability to Estimate Potential Hurricane Losses Based on Climate Forecasts

"City officials and emergency managers have worked hard to establish a 24-
hour system to receive NOAA warnings and inform Norfolk residents about what
actions to take if a tsunami or severe weather is headed their way. "Through StormReady and TsunamiReady, the City
of Norfolk will be better prepared to help protect the lives and property of
its citizens and visitors during severe weather events, as well as for the
rare, but potentially devastating tsunami.

nina threats

The methodology is captured in AEF's Hurricane Index,
which AIR uses to create an alternative, climate-conditioned catalog
of potential hurricane activity. Southeastern North Carolina is about 50% less
likely to be hit by a tropical cyclone when an El Nino occurs in
conjunction with low North Atlantic Oscillation conditions.

hurricanes prediction

Using
state-of-the-art hurricane and weather forecast systems, AEF provides
their clients with the best scientific information available for
managing their atmospheric and oceanic natural catastrophe risk.
Lautenbacher was joined by numerous federal, state and local dignitaries
at the recognition ceremony held at Nauticus, the National Maritime Center
today.gov
National Weather Service: http://www. "With TsunamiReady, communities are encouraged to improve public
awareness and local response to hazardous situations, associated with tsunamis
before and during such an event .

threats danger

----AIR
Worldwide Corporation (AIR) and Accurate Environmental Forecasting
Inc. (AEF) are offering companies the ability to estimate hurricane
losses based on climate forecasts.gov/.noaa., as a leader for
becoming the first TsunamiReady community since the multinational Indian Ocean
tsunami tragedy .

danger tsunami

coasts.
StormReady and TsunamiReady help us create better prepared communities
throughout the country," said Bill Sammler, warning coordination meteorologist
of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wakefield, Va.noaa. Ocean Shore, Wash.gov/tsunamiready.

extremes tsunamis

"Anticipating the impact of current climate conditions can
significantly improve seasonal hurricane risk assessment for
insurers ," said Uday Virkud, senior vice president at AIR.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing
economic security and national safety through prediction and research of
weather and climate-related events and environmental stewardship of our
nation's coastal and marine resources.

preparing extremes

David L.
StormReady started in 1999 with seven communities in the Tulsa, Okla.
The NOAA National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data,
forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories .

preparing phenomena

On the Web:
NOAA: http://www.stormready.

severe nino

Its development leverages more than 150 years of hurricane
data from the National Hurricane Center's Atlantic Hurricane Database.

On the Web:
NOAA: http://www.
(Logo: http://www.,
area.htm
StormReady program: http://www.

disasters tsunamis

Additional areas of expertise include forecasting other natural
atmospheric hazards (e."
"Coastal communities like Norfolk contain 53 percent of the nation's
population. This program will enable
the city to apply for additional reductions in the premiums paid into the
National Flood Insurance Program which could result in an additional savings
of over $100,000 for the city and local taxpayers," added Ron Keys, director
of emergency preparedness for the City of Norfolk .gov
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Wakefield VA:
http://www. NOAA , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
is an agency of the U. At a recognition ceremony in Lincoln City today, Steve Todd,
meteorologist-in-charge of the NOAA National Weather Service office in
Portland, Ore.noaa.

preparing nino

For more information, please visit
www. WASHINGTON, Norfolk, today , became the first major
East Coast city with a well designed tsunami emergency response plan to alert
residents and visitors of tsunami threats, and evacuate areas if necessary. "The City of Norfolk is honored that NOAA's National Weather Service
has recognized our community as the first major East Coast city to achieve
TsunamiReady/StormReady recognition," said Mayor Paul Fraim. We are honored that the City of Norfolk is leading the way in
preparedness with the designation of being both TsunamiReady and StormReady,"
said Congressman Robert. The voluntary program provides communities with clear-cut
advice through a partnership between local National Weather Service offices
and state and local emergency managers. Gen."
"TsunamiReady arms communities with improved communication, education and
safety skills needed to save lives and property," said Tyree Wilde, warning
coordination meteorologist at the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Portland,
Ore.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and
providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine
resources.

threats tsunami

Other areas of expertise include
site-specific seismic engineering analysis, catastrophe bonds, and
property replacement cost valuation.air-worldwide. Lautenbacher, under
secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.noaa.

hurricanes wildfires

This should enhance insurers' risk management
strategies , allowing them to key in on locations where hurricane
activity is most likely to deviate from the long-term average.
The AEF Hurricane Index reflects fluctuations in climate signals,
such as the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the variability of
sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic, and the North
Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), all of which can influence hurricane
activity . Founded in 1998, AEF is
committed to providing expert scientific information in a form that
can be easily applied for our client's risk assessment requirements. This new tsunami section will provide the public and worldwide
visitors a dramatic and experiential understanding of the dangers of tsunamis
and the need for preparedness," said Richard Conti, director of The National
Maritime Center, Nauticus.

"The mission of the National Weather Service is to protect lives and
livelihoods from hazardous weather and other natural and man-made dangers.S. Department of Commerce. Johnson, U .gov

tsunami hazards

"Our index captures the climate phenomena that can influence
hurricanes impacting the coastal United States," said Dr. Lewis
Rothstein, AEF president and co-CEO."
The AEF forecasts can be accessed through AIR's CLASIC/2(TM) and
CATRADER(R) systems or on a service basis.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency
responsible for tsunami and all severe weather warnings, officially recognized
the City of Norfolk as the latest of 26 TsunamiReady communities along U. Protecting our growing population along the coastline from the
ravages of natural disasters is a major concern in Virginia.
Citizens in a seaside community, such as Lincoln City, which is in an area
prone to earthquakes, must understand the importance of moving to high ground
or inland immediately in case a tsunami occurs," said Jay Wilson, earthquake
and tsunami program manager for Oregon State Emergency Management.
There are now more than 860 StormReady communities in 47 states and 16
TsunamiReady communities along the West Coast of the U.

disasters threats

stormready.com/cgi-bin /prnh/20041022/DCF003LOGO )
"While an expanding tsunami observation and communication network allows
NOAA forecasters to monitor conditions and issue warnings, the public must
know how to react to such warnings in order to complete an effective tsunami
warning process," said Brig. The NOAA
National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning
and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and
enhance the national economy.

wildfires extremes

The new risk modeling capability,
which combines AIR's loss modeling technology and AEF's expertise in
forecasting the climate's impact on hurricane risk, provides insurers
and reinsurers with a risk assessment tool to manage hurricane risk
for the forthcoming season. "Southeastern Louisiana, for
example, is about 20% more likely to be hit by a tropical cyclone
during El Nino years. Utilizing the latest science and technology, AIR models
natural catastrophes in more than 40 countries and the risk from
terrorism in the United States. Hurricane Isabel
in 2003 was the costliest disaster ever in Virginia, with more than $1billion
in damages. All coastal communities in the United States are at some risk for
a tsunami.
"The Indian Ocean tsunami and Atlantic coast simulations will be part of
the permanent exhibit at Science-on-A-Sphere and will be open to the public
after our winter renovation. A new NOAA tsunami kiosk will be added in the
future., which
serves the Hampton Roads area. Through the emerging Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal
partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that
is as integrated as the planet it observes. WASHINGTON, Officials from NOAA's National Weather
Service are recognizing the city of Lincoln City, Ore. "The TsunamiReady program helps
educate the public on the immediate actions necessary to stay safe.

immediate preparing

I.S. Norfolk was also recognized as StormReady, becoming one of nearly
1,000 communities across the country with a proactive approach to warning and
educating the public about tornadoes, flooding and other severe weather. Harbour Beach
attained the designation July 7, 2005.

Editors note: An image of the StormReady/TsunamiReady signs and more
program information is available at http://www. Air Force (Ret.
In addition to becoming TsunamiReady , Lincoln City also will be recognized
as StormReady. The StormReady and TsunamiReady recognition will be in effect for
three years when the county will go through a re-recognition process. The program is voluntary and provides communities with clear-cut
advice from a partnership between the local NWS office and state and local
emergency managers., became the first TsunamiReady community in 2001.

timely phenomena

"
AEF has developed a methodology to determine the change in
probable hurricane activity based on evolving atmospheric and oceanic
conditions.

About Accurate Environmental Forecasting

AEF is the technological leader for providing numerical weather
prediction (NWP) based hurricane hazard products worldwide.g. I'm
particularly proud to honor the City of Norfolk as the first major East Coast
city to become TsunamiReady," said Vice Admiral Conrad C. "NOAA
has expanded its tsunami detection and warning capability since the Indian
Ocean tsunami, and community preparedness programs like TsunamiReady are key
components of this effort. C.
The event featured the first public display of the Indian Ocean tsunami,
plus a hypothetical Atlantic coast tsunami simulation based on an earthquake
originating from the Puerto Rico Trench, presented on NOAA's Science on a
Sphere exhibit at Nauticus. This dramatic simulation provides viewers with a
contextual and experiential understanding of the dangers of tsunamis and the
need for preparedness.
Norfolk also became the fifth Hampton Roads community to earn the
StormReady designation."
NOAA, an agency of the U.

NOAA Cites Lincoln City Ore. as the First Community to Become TsunamiReady Since the Indian Ocean Disaster

Forecasts and warnings for various severe weather conditions, information on preparing for disasters, and news coverage of major weather events.

preparing hurricanes

Business Editors/Technology Editors

BOSTON + NARRAGANSETT, R.
AEF's web address is www. TsunamiReady is an outgrowth of the StormReady program
created by NOAA's National Weather Service in 1999 to encourage communities to
take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations and
public awareness.newscom.S .
To be recognized as TsunamiReady and StormReady, a community must:

* Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;
* Have more than one way to receive tsunami and severe weather warnings
and forecasts to alert the public;
* Create a system that monitors local weather conditions
* Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars;
* Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe
weather spotters and holding emergency exercises., Hawaii, and Alaska.noaa.