OK-FIRST won the prestigous Innovations in American Government Award from Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government, the Ford Foundation, and the Council for Excellence in Government. OK-FIRST was one of five winners in 2001, selected from a pool of over 1,300 programs.
Why Is OK-FIRST Innovative?
According to the Innovations in American Government program, "innovative" programs share the following attributes: significance, effectiveness, novelty, and replicability.
Signficance -- the problem OK-FIRST helps to address: improved preparedness and response to weather-impacted situations including man-made and natural disasters.
Novelty -- OK-FIRST was the first state-wide outreach program to support public safety officials (emergency management, fire service, and law enforcement) through a comprehensive website of modern weather products coupled with a continuing education certification program and ongoing customer support.
Effectiveness -- the results of OK-FIRST are innumerable decisions beneficial to the protection of life and property. Local officials have applied OK-FIRST information to tornadoes, floods, severe thunderstorms, firefighting, hazardous materials, outdoor civic events, winter weather, drought, and more.
Replicability -- the Oklahoma Climate Survey stands ready to help advise locations outside Oklahoma to implement similar programs.
