| NOAA 2000-R299 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ron Trumbla 12/19/00 |
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The National Weather Association has selected National Weather Service employee Steven Piltz as the recipient of this year's NWA Operational Achievement Individual Award. Piltz is the meteorologist-in-charge of the NWS Forecast Office in Tulsa, Okla. In making the announcement, the NWA cited his "numerous, diverse and innovative contributions toward improving operational weather support to the citizens of northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas; and, his work in originating the NWS StormReadyTM program to accredit hazardous weather preparedness in all communities." Piltz is one of the chief architects behind the conception, development and nationwide implementation of the NWS StormReady program. The program provides a benchmark to measure and improve nationwide severe weather preparedness capability. Before StormReady, there was no accepted standard to determine an adequate level of preparedness and no viable means for communities to share successes and lessons learned. StormReady provides that capability. Through personal initiative, commitment, effort and leadership in creating teams that cross agency boundaries, Piltz helped insure the success of the StormReady program. The National Weather Association began its awards program in 1977 to provide deserved recognition to individuals involved in operational activities and to promote excellence in operational meteorology and related fields. The emphasis is on people who perform the day-to-day tasks of providing meteorological information and support services to the public. |