Lee County is now StormReady

Congratulations Lee County for becoming a StormReady county!

Chicago National Weather Service:

pictured; Jim Allsopp, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist and Kevin Lalley, Lee County Emergency Management Coordinator

Lee County is now a StormReady county. StormReady, a program started in 1999 in Tulsa, OK, helps arm America's counties and communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property - before and during the event. StormReady helps county and community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs. StormReady counties are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness. No county is storm proof, but StormReady can help counties save lives.

Lee is the 23rd county in Illinois to meet the StormReady requirements. Some of the requirements include:

 

· Having redundant methods of receiving NWS watches and warnings

 

· Having redundant methods of disseminating warnings throughout the county

· Deploying NOAA Weather Radios in all public buildings
 

· Monitoring weather

· Public education programs
 

· Trained Skywarn storm spotters and communications with the NWS

· Annual severe weather drills or table top exercises
 

For more information about the StormReady program, visit www.stormready.noaa.gov