National hurricane operations plan. FCM-P12-2006

The tropical cyclone warning service is an interdepartmental effort to provide
the United States and designated international recipients with forecasts, warnings, and assessments concerning tropical and subtropical weather systems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce (DOC) is responsible for providing forecasts and warnings for the Atlantic and Eastern and Central Pacific Oceans while the Department of Defense (DOD) provides the same services for the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean (see Figure 1-1). NOAA, along with other Federal agencies such as the U.S. Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), also conducts supporting research efforts to improve tropical cyclone forecast and warning services. The bottom line--this interdepartmental cooperation achieves economy and efficiency in the provision of the tropical cyclone forecast and warning services to the Nation. The National Hurricane Operations Plan provides the basis for implementing agreements reached at the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference (IHC), which is sponsored annually by the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. The goal of the IHC is to bring together the responsible Federal agencies to achieve agreement on items of mutual concern related to tropical cyclone forecast and warning services for the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The procedures and agreements contained herein apply to the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.