Press Releases

Press  >  January 16, 2008 Release

Montgomery County Opens New Storm Operation Center;
County is First in Nation to Use WeatherBug® to Aid Snow Removal Efforts

To help combat storms in more efficient and effective ways, Montgomery County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) has opened a new Storm Operation Center. Operated by DPWT’s Highway Maintenance Section, the center is expected to improve storm response by bringing together improved technology and storm managers in one location. One of the innovations includes the use of WeatherBug®, a web-based local weather forecasting system, to help target resources to areas most impacted by weather conditions. Montgomery County is the first local jurisdiction in the nation to use WeatherBug in this way.

"Residents judge the effectiveness and efficiency of their government by the quality of the services it provides," said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. "Our new Storm Operation Center will boost the County’s ability to respond with first-rate service during storms and other weather emergencies."

DPWT is using WeatherBug’s Professional Geographic Information System-based Data Service, an information service that provides up-to-the minute weather information, forecasts, severe weather warnings and alerts, both regionally and nationally. The County’s snow plow routes are superimposed over the WeatherBug maps and displayed in the Storm Operation Center. This gives DPWT the ability to move resources, staff and equipment to the areas of the County most impacted by a storm. With two-, three- and four-hour forecasts offered by WeatherBug, crews can also anticipate needs a few hours in advance of storms. WeatherBug’s more than 650 tracking stations and cameras in the greater Washington metropolitan area provide a level of detailed local information that is not otherwise available.

In addition to WeatherBug, the Storm Operation Center features:

• A wall-mounted monitor that streams video of road and traffic conditions from all of the County’s 185 traffic cameras. Three additional monitors allow managers to select the cameras they wish to view. Staff can rotate cameras 360 degrees and up and down.
• An 800 megahertz radio system to communicate with DPWT depots, the Transportation Management Center, Ride On, Police, Fire and Rescue, State Police, State Highway, and others in the event that wireless communications fail. Monitoring of plow driver radio chatter also provides invaluable information about weather and road conditions.
• An internal web-based snow program that allows staff to track progress on plow routes countywide. The information is displayed on a screen that managers in the Storm Center and at all seven DPWT depots can access at all times. The snow program also displays information from weather road patrols that monitor air and pavement temperatures across the County.

Residents can access the snow program on the internet at home to determine whether plowing in their area has been completed, report a missed street, or obtain other storm status information. Go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov and click on "Winter Snow Information and Updates" on the homepage. For more information, call the Operations Hotline at 240-777-6000.

About WeatherBug
WeatherBug (weatherbug.com) ensures that individuals, schools, businesses and government agencies receive the most precise live weather information, the most relevant weather reports, and the earliest weather warnings to safeguard property, lives and to plan with confidence. WeatherBug maintains the largest exclusive weather network in the world. The live, local weather conditions are delivered to millions of consumers via the Internet and mobile devices, more than 100 state and local government agencies, including the National Weather Service, and to broadcast television stations, schools, and businesses.

About AWS
AWS Convergence Technologies (www.aws.com) provides innovative global technology solutions that profoundly improve the way people and businesses connect, communicate and use information. Since its inception in 1992, AWS has been building consumer and business brands, such as WeatherBug and WeatherBug Professional.

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Media Contact:
Esther Bowring
240-777-6530