City of Renton recognized as StormReady

December 16, 2009 7:24 pm

The National Weather Service has recogized Renton as StormReady, which means the city’s citizens and visitors are better prepared for rapidly changing weather patterns and severe weather.

To achieve this distinction, the city of Renton met rigorous criteria, which include developing severe weather safety plans and communications infrastructure, actively promoting severe weather safety through awareness activities and conducting safety training.

The StormReady preparedness program helps communities develop severe weather and flooding response plans with NOAA’s National Weather Service and local emergency managers.

Since the program began in 1999, more than 1,500 U.S. communities have become StormReady. Renton is the fifth city in King County to receive thie designation.

“The City of Renton takes great pride in being recognized as StormReady,” said Mayor Denis Law. “The safety of our residents is a top priority, and with this designation we are now able to respond more effectively to any hazardous weather event we potentially could experience.”

The designation – and two road signs designating Renton as StormReady – were presented at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Ted Buehner, warning coordinating meteologist with the National Weather Service, in presenting the designation, pointed out to the council and the audience that being ready for a storm isn’t the same as being storm-proof.

The designation is renewed every three years.

To earn StormReady designation, a community must:

  • Establish a 24-hour center for receiving National Weather Service warnings and an emergency operations center
  • Have redundant ways to receive 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
  • Develop a formal hazardous weather plan for 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.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

For information on the StormReady program go to www.stormready.noaa.gov.