Is your community StormReady ?
How well is your community prepared for severe weather? Are there improvements you could make? To help ensure communities are as prepared as possible for severe storms, the National Weather Service developed the "StormReady" program.
Purpose:
The StormReady program is intended to encourage severe weather preparedness activities in communities that have achieved a notable level of preparedness. The public recognition comes in the form of "accreditation" when the community has net criteria collaboratively established by Emergency Managers and the National Weather Service.
The primary beneficiaries of the StormReady program will be the people who live in the accredited communities. They can take comfort in the fact that their community leaders have achieved some standard level in protecting them from hazardous weather. Although StormReady does not mean storm proof, it can provide people with a greater sense of safety.
Being StormReady saves lives! Click here for an example from Ohio.
Economic Benefits:
There may also be economic benefits to becoming StormReady. For example, new industries may be more likely to relocate in an area that is an accredited StormReady community. Accreditation may also result in lower flood insurance rates, for communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Insurance Services Organization (ISO) has officially recognized StormReady in its Community Rating System (CRS). This system is used by the insurance industry to set premiums within a community. The more CRS points a community can acquire, the lower the insurance premiums.
Guidelines:
Chart of guidelines based on the population of your community.
For Emergency Managers:
StormReady Toolkit - Get the resources you need to evaluate if your community is StormReady
StormReady Map - Listing of current StormReady Communities across the United States
How to apply:
- Contact your local NWS office.
- Apply online, AFTER asking your National Weather Service office if this option is available for your area.
- Not online? Prefer paper? Fill out the application in PDF, WP, or Word
- Combined form available: PDF, WP, Word
- Arrange a Verification Visit(s),
- Receive approval of local advisory board action
- Congratulations! Conduct recognition ceremony!
- Read Paperwork Reduction Act Information
Want more information?
Please email Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jim Keysor at the National Weather Service in Gaylord, Michigan or call him at (989) 731-3384 ext 726.
