(l to r) Stephen Zito, Vice President of Arena Operations; Jim Belles, Meteorologist-in-Charge NWS Memphis; Anthony Cavallucci, Senior Forecaster NWS Memphis; and, Michael Cerha Senior Director of Operations at FedExForum center court (Photo: WFO Memphis)
(January 16, 2009) - Officials from the National Weather Service forecast office in Memphis, Tenn. recognized the FedExForum as a StormReady® Supporter. The state's first commercial site to achieve StormReady supporter status, FedExForum is home to the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis Tigers basketball team.
"StormReady encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations and public awareness in partnership with their local National Weather Service office," said Jim Belles, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service forecast office in Memphis. Belles presented officials with a recognition letter during a center court ceremony prior to a game with the Utah Jazz.
The nationwide community preparedness program uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle local severe weather and flooding threats. The program is voluntary and provides communities with clear-cut advice from the local National Weather Service forecast office and state and local emergency managers. The program began in 1999 with seven communities in the Tulsa, Okla. area. Today, there are more than 1,400 StormReady communities.
"The program is designed to help the FedExForum, and all the other StormReady entities, improve communication and safety skills needed to save lives - before, during and after a severe weather event," said Richard Okulski, warning coordination meteorologist for the Memphis forecast office.
To be recognized as StormReady, a community must establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings and to alert the public; create a system that monitors local weather conditions; promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars; and, develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
The FedExForum StormReady recognition will expire in three years, after which the site will undergo a renewal process.
