Miami News Record, Miami, Oklahoma. July 9, 1997

NORMAN -- Twenty two emergency managers from across Oklahoma plus Wichita Falls and Fort Smith recently participated in a unique educational outreach program at the University of Oklahoma that will impact citizens statewide. The program known as OK-FIRST -- Oklahoma's First-response Information Resource System using Telecommunications -- is designed to place critical weather information in the hands of local public safety officials. The program also provides training on the use of the information and follow-up support through refresher training workshops. All information is available through computer linkages between the participants and the Oklahoma Climatological Survey at the University of Oklahoma using resources of Oklahoma's new OneNet system. The program purchased computer hardware for about one-half of the participating agencies.

OK-FIRST provides up-to-the-minute weather data to participating agencies from a combination 14 NEXRAD Doppler radars located in and around the state, the Oklahoma Mesonet -- a statewide network of 114 automated observing stations, and important details from the latest computer forecast models of the atmosphere. Additional information from the National Weather Service is also available. Delivery of information to public safety officials through OK-FIRST will speed responses to impending severe weather, range fires, hazardous material spills, and other weather-related emergencies, which affect lives and property. As a result, emergency managers in Oklahoma have been equipped with new informational technology that is second-to-none worldwide.

OK-FIRST was funded through a $549,910 grant from the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce. Matching funds for the program were donated by the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, and Unisys Weather Information Services of Kennett Square, PA.

Participants were chosen through a competitive process from over 65 applicants. Participants took part in two workshops held at the University of Oklahoma during June. A 3-day workshop provided basic computer training and a week-long workshop focused on using weather information in emergency operations. OK-FIRST will expand this fall and next spring when two additional groups of public safety officials will receive training.