(L to R) Tennessee Emergency Management Agency-East Region Director Gary Ellis, Roane Co. Commissioner Bobby Collier, County Executive Mike Farmer, County EM Director William Rose and WFO Morristown MIC George Mathews (Photo: WFO Morristown)
(April 14, 2008) - Officials of the National Weather Service have recognized Roane County, Tenn., for completing a set of rigorous warning capabilities necessary to earn the distinction of being a StormReady community.
George Mathews, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service forecast office in Morristown, Tenn., presented a recognition letter and special StormReady signs to county officials in a special ceremony at the Roane County Courthouse.
"StormReady assures citizens and elected officials that their county has an advanced level of readiness to deal with hazardous weather and to help protect its people," said Mathews. "Roane County has had its share of severe weather events. StormReady will help prepare the county for all kinds of challenges resulting from extreme weather conditions."
The preparedness program uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle severe weather and flooding threats. It is voluntary and provides communities with a partnership between local National Weather Service offices and state and local emergency managers. Currently, there are more than 1,300 StormReady communities across the country.
"StormReady encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations and public awareness," said Howard Waldron, warning coordination meteorologist with the Morristown forecast office. "StormReady arms communities with improved communication and safety skills needed to save lives - before and during the event."
The StormReady recognition is good for three years, at which time the county will go through a renewal process. To be recognized as StormReady, a community must establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings and to alert the public; create a system that monitors local weather conditions; promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars; and, develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.