Chester County Re-certifies as StormReady

Chester County Re-certifies as StormReady

We have experienced our fair share of natural disasters over the last couple of months.  We were under a Drought Watch and then had one of the rainiest seasons in our history.  We felt the tremors from an earthquake in Virginia, experienced the affects of Hurricane Irene, suffered through Tropical Storm Lee, and endured a series of torrential thunderstorms that brought a lot of water really quickly to our area.  Chester County residents and businesses understand that Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with.

To help Americans guard against the ravages of severe weather, the National Weather Service has designed StormReady, a program aimed at preparing communities like Chester County with the communication and safety tools necessary to save lives and property.  Chester County has met the requirements to be designated StormReady since 2002.  Every three years we re-demonstrate to the National Weather Service that we meet the requirements of a StormReady community.  We successfully demonstrated those requirements again and are certified as a StormReady community through November 2014.

Not only does StormReady let the community know that local and county emergency managers are prepared to respond to Mother Nature’s wrath, but it also helps in determining National Flood Insurance Program rates.  Chester County being StormReady makes us eligible for additional Insurance Service Organization (ISO) community rating points.

Some of the requirements we must demonstrate to the National Weather Service include:

·         Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;

·         Have more than one method of receiving severe weather forecasts and warnings and alerting the public;

·         Create a system that monitors local weather conditions;

·         Promote the significance of public readiness through community seminars;

·         Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding exercises.

Over the next month or so we’ll write on each of those requirements and how they are important to you so be sure to check back and learn more!