In 1998, NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) created StormReady, a voluntary program aimed at preparing communities to help protect residents from the hazards of severe weather. StormReady provides clear-cut advice to political leaders, emergency managers and media that can help improve local hazardous weather operations.

Once a community meets preparedness criteria, it is pronounced “StormReady.” Before that happens, communities must:

· Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center

· Have more than one method of receiving severe weather forecasts and warnings and alerting the public

· Create a system that monitors local weather conditions

· Promote public readiness through community seminars

· Develop a hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding training exercises

· Lee County has been certified since 2001

Storm Ready Certification Process

An advisory board, comprised of National Weather Service meteorologists and state and local emergency managers, reviews applications and visits locations to verify the steps in the process to become StormReady. After the advisory board approves certification, the community will receive a formal letter and StormReady signs that can be displayed along major roadways. The StormReady designation is valid for three years and is typically awarded on a County basis.

For more information about the StormReady program, please visit the StormReady Web site: www.stormready.noaa.gov

ALL TEN COUNTIES IN REGION 6 ARE STORMREADY!

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