Rusty Kapela, Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, participates in Earth Gauge.
Why did you decide to participate in Earth Gauge? Where do you see a need in your community for using Earth Gauge environmental and climate information?
When I first became aware of Earth Gauge, I saw a great educational opportunity – not only for the media, but for emergency managers and severe weather spotters, as well as the general public. Part of my role as a Warning Coordination Meteorologist is to manage our outreach program, and the Earth Gauge email topical messages and seasonal weather radio ‘tip’ messages make it very easy to send information to our partners, customers and the general public.
The greatest need in our community is to become aware of how all individuals can do more to educate themselves about environmental issues and do more in the conservation/preservation area. Our natural resources are limited, so it does matter what each individual can do alone.
What impact do you think Earth Gauge has made in your audience’s knowledge and understanding of the local environment? Do you have any recent examples of Earth Gauge information impacting your listeners’ behavior?
… I did receive a letter from a weather radio listener who subsequently installed a rain barrel after hearing a ‘tip’ about it on his radio. So, I think some people are acting on the information, but it’s difficult to measure its effect.
How does your role as a meteorologist go beyond the daily forecast?
It is my duty to improve my office’s outreach efforts in the area of severe weather preparedness in order to minimize the loss of life and property. An extension of this concept easily falls into the environmental area and all scientific areas since weather affects all environmental issues.
Which Earth Gauge materials do you use? What topics or tips have you found particularly helpful?
I have used all Earth Gauge materials for my outreach efforts. I immediately forward all Earth Gauge email messages to all of my media outlets, and depending on subject matter, send them to the emergency managers I work with, as well as severe weather spotters. As for the seasonal ‘tip’ messages, I record them onto our weather radios, send them out on our computer circuits as Public Information Statements and incorporate them into a Top News of the Day story on our office’s Web site. I believe all of the topics and tips have been useful. I’ve received many compliments from the TV meteorologists about the periodic email topics.
Where is your favorite local spot to spend time in nature and connect with your local environment?
Walking on a road that goes around Blue Spring Lake southwest of Palmyra, WI. It’s a 2.5 mile hike in a hilly, heavily-wooded environment surrounding a beautiful lake … Otherwise, hiking and climbing on Pikes Peak in Colorado would be ideal!