(Sept. 4, 2012) - National Weather Service officials have recognized Bowie Co., Texas as a StormReady® community. The StormReady program helps community leaders and residents better prepare for hazardous weather and flooding. StormReady communities have made a strong commitment to implement the infrastructure and systems needed to save lives and protect property when severe weather strikes.

Ken Falk, acting meteorologist-in-charge of the Shreveport, La. forecast office, presented county officials with a certificate and special StormReady signs during a recognition ceremony at the Bowie Co. Courthouse in New Boston, Aug. 29.

"It is great to see the Bowie officials have taken the initiative to become StormReady," said Falk. "This partnership with the National Weather Service will result in Bowie County being better prepared to respond when severe weather threatens."

"We are thankful for the relationship we have with the National Weather Service and appreciate this recognition," said Bowie Co. Deputy Emergency Coordinator Cindy White. "We hope that through the Storm Ready recognition our citizens will know their first responders, elected and appointed government officials are ready to respond appropriately when severe weather strikes."

The population of Bowie County is nearly 93,000 citizens, with more than a third of them in the city of Texarkana. The county is also home to the Red River Army Depot, where more than 8,000 retired military and civilians live or work.

"We are proud that the National Weather Service is recognizing Bowie County as a StormReady community and we would like to thank all the spotters and emergency volunteers who helped us earn this recognition," said Bowie Co. Emergency Coordinator John Carson.

The nationwide community preparedness program, founded in 1999, is a grassroots approach to preparing for natural hazards. Today, more than 1,900 U.S. communities are better prepared for severe weather through the StormReady program.

To be recognized as StormReady, a community must maintain a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one way to receive National Weather Service warnings and to alert the public; be able to monitor local weather and flood conditions; conduct community preparedness programs; and ensure hazardous weather and flooding are addressed in formal emergency management plans, which include training SKYWARN® weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

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