| NOAA 2002-R215 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marilu Trainor 8 /12/02 |
NOAA News Releases 2002 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs |
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“TSUNAMIREADY” COMMUNITY The National Weather Service (NOAA Weather Service), an agency of the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), today designated Cannon Beach Fire District Oregon’s first “TsunamiReady” community and as “StormReady”. The TsunamiReady and StormReady programs are voluntary preparedness programs that prepare communities to respond to tsunamis and severe weather. The communities must follow strict requirements for warning reception and dissemination, public outreach and education, awareness, administrative planning and communication. “Preparation and advance warning are vital factors in severe weather situations, particularly when it comes to tsunami readiness. Citizens in a seaside community, such as Cannon Beach, an area prone to earthquakes, must understand the importance of moving to high ground or inland immediately in case a tsunami occurs,” said Tyree Wilde, NOAA Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist in Portland. “If a large tsunami wave or other dangerous weather is headed for the area, the people who live, work or vacation along the northern Oregon coastal area will be more knowledgeable and be better prepared to handle these situations. Thanks to the efforts of the Cannon Beach Fire District, we have furthered our agency’s mission to educate citizens on protecting their lives and property from the potential effects of Mother Nature’s fury” said Steve Todd, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service forecast office in Portland. “Cannon Beach Fire District successfully met the readiness criteria and was approved by an advisory board made up of local county emergency managers, representatives from the Oregon State Emergency Management Division and the NOAA Weather Service”, said Wilde. During a ceremony held at the Cannon Beach Fire District Headquarters, Todd presented the community of Cannon Beach and the unincorporated communities of Falcon Cove and Arch Cape with two road signs officials will soon place on Highway 101 near the community entrances. “This recognition ceremony is the final step in naming these cities as part of the NOAA Weather Service StormReady and TsunamiReady programs. The local area becomes only the fifth community to receive the special TsunamiReady designation in the nation. More than 400 communities nationwide have been named StormReady,” said Todd. “It is terrific to have the efforts of the community recognized. The partnership of the City of Cannon Beach and its Emergency Preparedness Committee with the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District and state and federal agencies has made this possible. I view this as a milestone in a continual process of developing and maintaining preparedness for our community,” said Cleve Rooper, fire chief of the Cannon Beach Fire District. According to Mark Darienzo, earthquake and tsunami program coordinator with Oregon Emergency Management, “during the 1990s, Oregon State experienced 10 federally-declared disasters and dozens more local disasters. When disasters occur, a StormReady or TsunamiReady community will be better prepared for its citizens.” For more information on the TsunamiReady program, please visit http://wcatwc.gov/tsunamiready/tready.htm. For more information about the StormReady program please visit http://www.stormready.noaa.gov. Each NOAA Weather Service forecast office posts daily forecasts and severe weather warnings on their Web pages. Links to NOAA Weather Service offices across the country are available through http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrhq/nwspage.html. NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. To learn more about NOAA Weather Service, please visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov. Editor’s Note: Logos for the StormReady and TsunamiReady programs are available at http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/signs.htm. |