Interview with Christine Wielgos, February 16, 2022

Partial Transcript: This interview is part of the Western Kentucky 2021 Tornado Resilience Project.

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos discusses her position as a Warning Coordinator Meteorologist for the National Weather Service. She talks about serving as a liaison between the emergency management services and the public. Wielgos notes the scope of the Paducah branch of the National Weather Service compared to other branches.

Keywords: National Weather Service; Tornado Resilience Project; Tornadoes--Kentucky; Warning Coordinator

Subjects: Meteorologists.; Meteorology.; Natural disasters--United States.; Paducah (Ky.); Tornadoes.; United States. National Weather Service.; Weather forecasting--United States.

Partial Transcript: Let's look back at December tenth and eleventh, uh, this was a very long week for you all.

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos discusses her role in the lead up to the tornado hitting on December 2021. She talks about not being part of the initial forecast process, but the situation changed as more warmth and humidity was being recorded. Wielgos was not at the office on the day the tornado hit, but was available in case she was needed. Wielgos mentions that she was working over fifty hours of overtime during this period.

Keywords: 2021 tornadoes; Tornadoes--Kentucky

Subjects: Forecasting.; Meteorology.; Natural disasters--United States.; Tornadoes.; Weather forecasting--United States.; Weather update.

Partial Transcript: So, where, where did you go out on these tornado surveys?

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos discusses how tornadoes are surveyed and categorized after the fact. Wielgos notes that her team uses damage indicators to determine the origins of the storm as well as windspeed using the Enhanced Fujita scale. Wielgos describes how this is shortened to EF scale, which scores storms between zero and five.

Keywords: Damage surveys; EF Scale; Enhanced Fujita Scale; Tornado surveys; Tornadoes--Kentucky; Windspeeds

Subjects: Natural disasters--United States.; Tornadoes.; Weather forecasting--United States.

Partial Transcript: And, you said you did fifty hours plus of surveys, can you describe some of the scenarios you saw when you were out there doing those types of surveys?

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos discusses her experience surveying Mayfield, Kentucky. She notes that she and her boss needed to rely on Google Earth to be able to determine what Mayfield looked like before the tornado. Wielgos describes her shock at the scale of the storm, and how she had not seen anything like it.

Keywords: 2021 Kentucky tornado; Google Earth; Google Maps; Tornado damage; Tornado survey; Tornadoes--Kentucky

Subjects: Mayfield (Ky.); Natural disasters--United States.; Tornadoes.; Weather forecasting--United States.

Partial Transcript: So, so, Christine, I've heard many people compare this to the 1925 tri-state tornado, is that the closest comparison?

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos discusses comparisons between the 2021 tornado with one that hit Kentucky in 1925. Wielgos compares the length of both storms, as well as where they stand in longest tornado paths lists.

Keywords: 1925 tri-state tornado; 2021 Kentucky tornado; Tornado life cycles; Tornado pathways; Tornadoes--Kentucky

Subjects: Natural disasters--United States.; Tornadoes.; Weather forecasting--United States.

Partial Transcript: So, what was the most eye-opening, uh, jaw-dropping experience you had while out on a survey?

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos discusses seeing the impact of the storm on people who survived. She credits their willingness to heed the warnings ahead of time and take precautions. Once the tornado hit and passed, Wielgos saw resilience and a sense of peace despite the chaos and destruction following the storm.

Keywords: Disaster survivors; Resilience; Tornado damage; Tornado relief; Tornado survivors; Tornadoes--Kentucky

Subjects: Natural disasters--United States.; Tornadoes.; Weather forecasting--United States.; Weather--Psychological aspects.

Partial Transcript: One of your things is that you focus on getting the word out, and, how--how do groups that are doing emergency and--management and things like that prepare for systems like this?

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos describes the communication process for relating information to the National Weather Service's local partners. Wielgos notes that it is up to the partners to determine the best course of action, and that her job is to ensure they have the most accurate information available.

Keywords: Communications; Disaster preparation; Disaster protocols; Emergency communications; Preparation protocols; Tornadoes--Kentucky

Subjects: Emergency management.; Natural disasters--United States.; Tornadoes.; United States. National Weather Service.; Weather forecasting--United States.; Weather update.

Partial Transcript: Great, um, Christine, something else I wanted to ask, um, I asked about the eye-opening, most jaw-dropping experience, but what was something you saw that was a positive out on--out on these surveys?

Segment Synopsis: Wielgos describes the continued feelings of hope and gratefulness even among the devastation. She relates an anecdote from an elderly couple in their eighties whose home was destroyed, but were thankful that they survived, even while picking rubble out of their home.

Keywords: Anecdotes; Disaster survivors; Tornado survivors; Tornadoes--Kentucky

Subjects: Disaster relief.; Natural disasters--United States.; Tornadoes.; Weather forecasting--United States.; Weather--Psychological aspects.