Mobile Declared StormReady

Apr 17th, 2007

The City of Mobile has been named StormReady by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service. StormReady helps arm America's communities with the communication and safety skills they need to save lives and protect property. To be recognized as StormReady, communities must meet guidelines established by the NWS in partnership with federal, state, and local emergency management professionals.

Benefits of Mobile Becoming StormReady

The StormReady program encourages communities to take a proactive approach to
improving local hazardous weather operations. The program is a “win” situation for everyone involved: community leaders; the NWS; emergency managers; and, the general public. Here are just a few of the benefits your community will realize once you become StormReady:

• Improves the timeliness and effectiveness of hazardous weather warnings for the public;
• Provides detailed and clear recommendations which will help local emergency managers establish and improve effective hazardous weather operations. It can also help justify costs and purchases needed to support hazardous mitigation and emergency response plans;
• Rewards local hazardous weather mitigation programs that have achieved a desired performance level;
• Provides a means to possibly acquire additional Community Rating System points assigned by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP);
• Provides an image incentive to communities, which once recognized, can identify themselves as being StormReady; and,
• StormReady can help ensure your community is prepared for other civil emergencies.

What it Takes to Become StormReady

• Incorporate your community’s severe weather threats into your community’s hazard mitigation and emergency response plans;
• Establish a 24-hour Warning Point and Emergency Operations Center;
• Establish multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public;
• Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally; and,
• Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars, severe
weather spotter training and by conducting emergency exercises.