WFO Nashville WCM Tom Johnstone, Motlow College President Dr. MaryLou Apple, Safety Coordinator David Britton and Huntsville WCM Davis Nadler (Photo: WFO Huntsville)
(Oct. 26, 2012) -- National Weather Service officials have recognized Motlow State Community College as a StormReady® Supporter. The recognition includes the main campus in Lynchburg, Tenn. and three learning centers in Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna.
As part of a collaborative effort between Motlow College's safety coordinator and the National Weather Service forecast offices in Nashville, Tenn. and Huntsville, Ala., each campus has individually met the StormReady Supporter requirements.
"The StormReady Supporter designation represents an excellent achievement for Motlow State Community College," said David Nadler, warning coordination meteorologist for the Huntsville office. "Each campus is now better prepared to handle impacts and decision making prior to and during significant weather events. This has not only strengthened the relationship between the college and the two forecast offices, it has greatly enhanced public safety."
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 nearly 2,000 StormReady communities.
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 StormReady program is part of the National Weather Service's working partnership with the International Association of Emergency Managers and the National Emergency Management Association.
The StormReady recognition expires in three years, after which the center will go through a renewal process. For more information, visit: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/stormready.
