The National Weather Service (NWS) has recently renewed Okaloosa County’s StormReady status, a designation that acknowledges the county’s emergency preparedness through robust communications infrastructure and an increased level of severe weather awareness. The county has maintained this designation since 2002. “I am extremely proud that Okaloosa County remains at the highest level of storm readiness,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon. “While we cannot prevent natural disasters, it is important for all of us to be prepared so that we can react appropriately before, during and after a storm.”
StormReady status is effective for four years and is a success that is approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NWS and the local StormReady Advisory Board. Applicants must demonstrate efficiency in Emergency Operations Planning, Coordination and Partnership Development and Community Preparedness.
To be officially StormReady, a community must:
• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center.
• Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public.
• Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally.
• Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars.
• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
“Meeting the metrics defined by the National Weather Service for this recognition is a reflection on the hard work of the County’s Emergency Management team,” said Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety Patrick Maddox. “The fact that we pay attention and have plans and policies in place, ensures that we are as prepared as possible in the event of a disaster.”
Learn more about NWS’s StormReady program at https://www.weather.gov/stormready/.
Sign up for local weather alerts at https://alertokaloosa.com/.
