National Weather Service Terminates Sandy Service Review

By Jillian Macmath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

November 15,2012; 8:00PM,EST

The National Weather Service terminated the Service Assessment Team Thursday that was to review the effort of the NWS during Hurricane Sandy.
Assessment team members, including AccuWeather's Mike Smith, were contacted via email by Douglas Young, Performance Branch Chief at NOAA, Thursday morning, informing them that "all plans and activities that have started should now cease."
The Assessment group was organized by David Caldwell, Director of the Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services at NOAA, and made public on Monday. The group was to include experts from the private sector. No reason for the change has been announced.
Smith was one of several Meteorologists, along with AccuWeather Chief Executive Officer Barry Myers, who were critical of the NWS response and called for an independent investigation.

In his blog, Smith said, "...the NWS should ask the National Research Council or some other independent organization to do an independent assessment of its performance along with that of Mayor Bloomberg and other emergency officials. We need a comprehensive overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the warning system and response."

Additionally, members of the team were informed that a larger, multi-agency review "may take place." Further reasoning for the termination was not provided. It is not known if the review will include any experts who are not employed by the government.
Hurricane warnings were discontinued as Sandy came ashore on October 29. More than 110 people died, with an estimate of $30-50 billion dollars in damage. Power remains out to many residents in Long Island, New York City and New Jersey.
AccuWeather is continuing to monitor this story and will provide more information in the days ahead.