NOAA Recognizes Randolph Community College
as a StormReady Supporter

ASHEBORO (November 19, 2009)

Officials from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service recognized Randolph Community College as a StormReady Supporter during the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday evening. The college, which employs 193 faculty and staff and has an enrollment of 3,051 curriculum students this fall, is the first community college in North Carolina to receive the StormReady Supporter recognition. The StormReady Supporter recognition is the result of Randolph Community College's dedication to their employees and students.

"The StormReady program encourages counties, businesses and universities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations and awareness," said Jeff Orrock, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh. "North Carolina and the Asheboro area have a long history of severe weather ranging from snow storms to flooding and tornadoes. It is the goal of StormReady to reduce the impact of severe weather through community education and preparedness."

The nationwide community preparedness program uses a grassroots approach to help organizations 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 the local NWS Weather Forecast Office and state and local emergency managers. StormReady started in 1999 with seven communities in the Tulsa, Okla., area. There are now more than 750 StormReady communities in 47 states.

NWS officials presented a StormReady recognition letter and special StormReady signs to Randolph Community College during a ceremony at the campus in Asheboro on Nov. 19.

"Every year, approximately 500 Americans lose their lives to severe weather and floods," said retired Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, director of NOAA's National Weather Service. "More than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes and 10 hurricanes impact the United States annually. Potentially deadly weather can impact every person in the country. That's why the National Weather Service developed the StormReady program."

To be recognized as StormReady, a business, school, community or county must:
• Establish a warning point and emergency operations center.
• Have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and disseminate alerts.
• Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally.
• Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars.
• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

"The United States is the world's most severe weather-prone region. The mission of the National Weather Service is to reduce the loss of life and property from these storms, and StormReady will help us create better prepared counties throughout the country," Orrock said.

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.

NOAA 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.

On the Web:
NWS Raleigh: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov
NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/ncnwr

 

Jeffrey A. Orrock, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Raleigh (left), presented the StormReady recognition plaque to Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Jr., president of Randolph Community College. RCC is the first community college in the state to receive this recognition.

---