Re: FOIA Request for Information by Jan 31

[National Weather Service Operations Center]

Good morning Mike/PEB,

All requested centers have responded to this request. SPC and NWC had no inputs, so we just saved off their email responses as PDFs. All information was uploaded into this Google Drive Folder.

Please let us know if you need anything else.

Thanks!

Shawn Smith

----

National Weather Service Operations Center

College Park, MD

24/7 Contact: (301) 244-9650

Email: nws.op...@noaa.gov

On Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM Mike Sowko - NOAA Federal <mike....@noaa.gov> wrote:

Apologies for the earlier confusion, Shawn. I have Helene on the brain from starting that review process this week. Alas, this FOIA request is for Hurricane Milton. Same concept, different storm. We still require your help, so I have changed the draft message to say Milton.

Milton was pretty much confined to SR, so please send the following draft to SR-ROC, WPC, NHC, SPC, and NWC. Please copy Ben, Jamie Enderlen, Freda Walters, and me in your email. 

Thanks again!

Mike

Mike Sowko

Chief, NWS Performance and Evaluations Branch

NOAA/NWS/Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Office Location: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Cell: 301-233-9258

Draft:

Hello SR-ROC and National Centers,

The Performance and Evaluation Branch (PEB) is facilitating a FOIA request about NWS performance during Hurricane Milton. A media outlet submitted the following:

“Requesting any and all after-action reports created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service that analyzes and evaluates the agencies’ response to Hurricane Milton and the ensuing tornadoes it spawned. (Date Range for Record Search: From 10/09/2024 To 01/16/2025).”

SR-ROC, please reach out to any offices that were affected by Milton and collect any reviews, reports (after-action or other), or presentations that were created in the date range specified regarding their performance with Milton. WPC, NHC, SPC, and NWC, please provide the same if any was developed by your center. Even though the focus of the inquiry is tornadoes, please include all applicable materials developed related to any of Milton's hazards. However, do not include PII or any information pertaining to office staffing.

Once you’ve collected these reports, please send the materials to the NWS Operations Center, Cc: PEB Chief Mike Sowko, Service Assessment Program Manager Jamie Enderlen, and Program Analyst Alfreda Walters. We require this information by January 31 to meet the FOIA deadline.

We are aware that the same outlet contacted WFOs Miami and Melbourne for related information, but this is a separate FOIA request. 

Thank you for your cooperation. 

NWS Operations Center

[Mike Sowko - NOAA Federal]

Thank you, Shawn and Ops Team. This is perfect! Your diligence, responsiveness, and organization are very much appreciated.

Have a great day and weekend,

Mike

Mike Sowko

​Chief, NWS Performance and Evaluations Branch

NOAA/NWS/Office of the Chief Operating Officer

​Office Location: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Cell: 301-233-9258