(Greensburg, IN) – The National Weather Service (NWS) Indianapolis office recognized Decatur County as a StormReady partner on Tuesday at the county Annex Building.
The designation highlights entities that have taken significant steps to prepare for and respond to severe weather, with the ultimate goal of saving lives.
The NWS says the StormReady program provides strict guidelines for communities, counties, and commercial enterprises to enhance their weather preparedness.
While no location is entirely immune to severe weather, the weather service says becoming StormReady helps ensure a higher level of safety and readiness for hazardous weather and flooding.
“Having a strong emergency action plan for hazardous weather is absolutely critical,” said David Beachler, Meteorologist in Charge for NWS Indianapolis. “Decatur County is proactive in their preparedness efforts and takes the threat of lightning, strong winds, hail, tornadoes, and extreme heat very seriously. The NWS and Decatur County work closely together to make quick, critical decisions that protect citizens who might otherwise be vulnerable and unaware of approaching weather.”
“The safety of our citizens in Decatur County is of utmost importance,” Decatur County Emergency Management Director Michael Snyder said. “We work closely with the National Weather Service to ensure we have the best information available to make informed decisions for our county when severe weather is in the area. The StormReady designation recognizes the steps we have taken to protect life and property across Decatur County.”
The National Weather Service Indianapolis Forecast Office serves as the primary source of weather data, forecasts, and warnings for 39 counties in Central Indiana, including Decatur.
The NWS says it works with Decatur County and other partners to build a Weather-Ready Nation, supporting community resilience in the face of increasingly extreme weather.
Established in 1999, the nationwide StormReady program is a grassroots initiative focused on preparing for natural hazards.
Today, more than 1,600 counties and 1,200 communities are better prepared for adverse weather as a result of the program.
To be recognized as a StormReady partner, an organization must maintain a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center.
They must also have multiple ways to receive NWS warnings and alert the public, monitor local weather and flood conditions, and conduct community preparedness programs.
In addition, the organization’s formal emergency management plans must address hazardous weather and flooding, including training SKYWARN weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
The StormReady recognition is valid for four years and is renewable.
