GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 15, 2005 -- WeatherBug, the leading provider of up-to-the-second live local weather information services, today announced an extended partnership with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Maryland is the first state in the country to provide a common weather intelligence platform for all emergency management officials. Utilizing live local weather data from the exclusive network of WeatherBug Tracking Stations, MEMA will enhance their analysis and responsiveness in day-to-day operations and emergency situations to help save lives.

Standardizing on WeatherBug Streamer(TM), an online application providing instantaneous weather information and analysis, MEMA, the state Emergency Operation Center (EOC), all county emergency management coordinators and Baltimore City and Ocean City emergency managers now have access to:

-- advanced warning and detailed intelligence for severe weather incidents like hurricanes, flooding, winter storms and wind gusts,

-- more accurate and up-to-date data for plume modeling,

-- enhanced interoperability enabling all users to be on the same system working with the same information and,

-- more accurate, timely weather data facilitating safer and faster emergency response activities.

"It is imperative to have access to live local weather information to make critical decisions that can save lives and property, and to be able to alert first responders and the public instantaneously," said John Doherty, Senior Vice President, Professional Services at WeatherBug. "By opening up our exclusive weather network in the state of Maryland, MEMA will be able to make life-saving decisions based on live local information. It is a strong example of a public/private partnership providing great benefits for many stakeholders."

In addition to WeatherBug Streamer, MEMA also integrates WeatherBug Network data into the Emergency Management Mapping Application, EMMA, for plume models. The EMMA was developed by Towson University and the National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center, NARAC. Provision of the data in multiple platforms allows for rapid and easy access to critical weather information. The same WeatherBug Network data is also made accessible to Homeland Security via NOAA/NWS in case of a terrorism attack or major disaster.

WeatherBug operates a proprietary network of 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations and over 1,000 cameras that are strategically placed at schools and public safety facilities throughout the nation. This highly granular and up-to-the-second weather network aids emergency managers in precisely assessing the impact of current weather conditions on hazardous situations and natural disasters, helping them determine which municipalities to evacuate, select approach routes for first-responders, and choose the type of equipment to dispatch to a disaster site. In addition, the program provides more accurate and up-to-date data for plume models.

About WeatherBug(R)

WeatherBug ( http://www.weatherbug.com ) ensures that individuals, schools, businesses and communities always get the most precise live weather conditions, the most relevant reports, and the earliest weather warnings to safeguard their property and their lives. WeatherBug owns the world's largest exclusive weather network, which has 8,000 live WeatherBug Tracking Stations and over 1,000 cameras that generate neighborhood level reports every second (other weather data is up to an hour or more old). This network powers various products and services, including: WeatherBug, the number one weather Internet application, with over 54 million downloads, that streams live neighborhood conditions to its home and work users; WeatherBug Media Services, which delivers live weather information to over 80 million U.S. households through partnerships with more than 100 local television stations; WeatherBug Education, which provides engaging weather information and educational tools to schools and colleges, including an online learning program for K-12 schools called WeatherBug Achieve; and WeatherBug Professional Services, which uses the company's unique weather network and software to provide high-value solutions for vertical industries such as energy, transportation, and first response. WeatherBug is a brand of AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. http://www.aws.com .

SOURCE WeatherBug

Web Site: http://www.aws.com

http://www.weatherbug.com