Section 7: Outreach and Education Activities - NOAA

StormReady®/ TsunamiReady
StormReady/TsunamiReady, a joint effort of the NWS, and local, state, and Tribal Nation emergency managers, is an
NWS-administered, national community preparedness program that helps arm America's communities with the communication
and safety skills needed to save lives and property before and during a weather or tsunami emergency. It
helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs. In general, to be considered, a
community, Tribal Nation, or entity must possess a solid communication network, and provide verification of its multihazard
emergency operations plan.
Specifically, in order to become StormReady/TsunamiReady the community, Tribal Nation, or entity must:
• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
• Have multiple methods to receive and disseminate severe weather warnings and information for their community
• Have various methods to monitor weather conditions locally
• Promote the importance of public readiness
• Develop a formal hazardous weather action plan, including severe weather spotter training and drills
This program started in 1999 in Tulsa, OK. By February, 2010, over 1500 communities in 49 states had earned their
StormReady/TsunamiReady designation.
Reasons to be StormReady/TsunamiReady: Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each
year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,000 tornadoes and an average of two
land-falling deadly hurricanes. Additionally, the U.S. faces winter storms, intense summer heat, high winds, wild fires
and other deadly weather impacts. You can make sure your community is ready for the weather with the National
Weather Service’s StormReady/TsunamiReady program.
Some 90% of all presidentially declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly
$14 billion in damage. StormReady/TsunamiReady communities are better prepared to save lives from the onset of severe
weather through advanced planning, education and awareness. No community is storm proof, but StormReady/
TsunamiReady can help communities save lives.
Additionally, by becoming StormReady/TsunamiReady, communities or Tribal Nations can earn points through the insurance
industry that count toward a certain threshold level at which point the community’s residents and businesses are
able to get a rate-reduction on their hazard insurance policy.
Your town/organization can be StormReady/ TsunamiReady: Any incorporated village, city or even an entire county
or Tribal Nation, can earn a StormReady/ TsunamiReady designation. In addition, Indian Nations, universities, commercial
sites, military bases and major government sites can become StormReady/ TsunamiReady.
Schools and organizations can also be involved, but these entities become StormReady/ TsunamiReady “Supporters.”
As a Supporter, they are not required to set up a 24-hour warning center, nor do they get the free informational signs.
However, they must meet all of the other population-based criteria.
Many communities and Tribal Nations have already satisfied most of the StormReady/ TsunamiReady criteria – it’s just
a matter of completing the application and making sure the remainder of the criteria are met to earn the official designation.
The WCM will assist the community or Tribal Nation in their efforts and point out any shortcomings.
9