Westminster, MD (November 10, 2016) – Officials from NOAA’s National Weather Service today praised Carroll County’s emergency management team for completing a set of rigorous criteria necessary to earn the distinction of being declared StormReady.

StormReady is a nationwide community preparedness program that 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 a partnership between local National Weather Service offices and state and local emergency managers. StormReady started in 1999 with seven communities in the Tulsa, Okla., area. There are now more than 940 StormReady communities in 47 states.

“Carroll County’s achievement of becoming StormReady enhances the relationship between the county and NOAA’s National Weather Service,” said Chris Strong, warning coordination meteorologist of the Baltimore/Washington National Weather Service Forecast Office in Sterling, Va. “Through StormReady, the county will be better prepared to help protect the lives and property of its citizens during severe weather events.”

“Safeguarding our communities from dangerous weather and other potential threats is a daily priority in Carroll County, and we appreciate this recognition from our partners at the National Weather Service,” said Board of County Commissioners President Stephen Wantz. “Being StormReady means Carroll County is using the right combination of technology, planning and good old-fashioned legwork. We cannot prevent hurricanes or winter storms, but we are doing everything we can to ensure that we are prepared.”

At today’s Board of County Commissioners Open Session, National Weather Service officials presented a StormReady recognition letter and special StormReady signs to county officials. The StormReady recognition will be in effect for three years, at which time the county will go through a renewal process.

To be recognized as StormReady, a community must: Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; Have multiple ways 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; and Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

About NOAA National Weather Service

NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.