This role signifies an exciting expansion within OR&R. With this new position, OR&R now has RPCs covering New England, the South East/Caribbean, the West Coast/Pacific Islands, and Alaska. RPCs are important positions within the DPP as they are responsible for building critical relationships with regional partners and identifying opportunities for OR&R to be better prepared for human caused and natural disasters. Additionally, RPCs are great points of contact for NOAA preparedness products, services and tools, all of which help with emergency response and preparedness and recovery planning. With this expansion west, OR&R will have “in region” staff to work directly with partners and stakeholders on the West Coast to ensure NOS can maintain its missions and protect its people and infrastructure.

“The recent and life-taking impacts from atmospheric river flooding and other storm events such as the first ever issued Tropical Storm Warning for Hurricane Hilary by the National Hurricane Center for Southern California in 2023 highlight the value to NOAA to add a greater regional presence on the West Coast,” says Charlie Henry, Director of the Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center. 

OR&R plans to implement a fifth Regional Preparedness Coordinator in the Gulf of Mexico region at the NOAA Disaster Response Center in Mobile, Alabama soon, rounding out the program’s coverage on every U.S. ocean coast.