NOAA05-R299-31 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marcie Katcher 11/16/05 |
NOAA
News Releases 2005 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs |
Officials from NOAA's National Weather Service today praised Orange County, Calif., for completing a set of rigorous warning criteria necessary to earn the distinction of being StormReady. Orange County is the most populous StormReady site in California and the second most populous in the U.S. “StormReady
encourages communities to take a new, proactive approach to improving
local hazardous weather operations and public awareness," said
Ed Clark, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather
Service forecast office in San Diego. “StormReady arms communities
with improved communication and safety skills needed to save lives
and property, before and during a hazardous weather event.” “Orange County prepares for emergencies in a proactive fashion,” said Sheriff Carona. “We feel that the safety of our community is of paramount concern, and the StormReady program helps us to work with our community members so we are all prepared for severe weather. Just like communities, families need to be StormReady by having an action plan for severe weather.” “Every year, around 500 Americans lose their lives to severe weather and floods,” said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, director of NOAA's NWS. “More than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 2,500 floods and 1,000 tornadoes impact the United States annually, and hurricanes are a threat to the Gulf and East Coasts. Potentially deadly weather can affect every person in the country. That’s why NOAA's National Weather Service developed the StormReady program.” To be recognized as StormReady, a community must:
“The
United States is the most severe weather-prone region of the world.
The National Weather Service mission is to reduce the loss of life
and property from these storms, and StormReady will help us create
better prepared communities throughout the country,” added Clark. NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov NOAA’s National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov National Weather Service forecast office in San Diego: http://wrh.noaa.gov/sgx StormReady
program information and signage is available online: http://www.stormready.noaa.gov
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