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The following was issued by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
PEORIA, ARIZONA
EARNS STORMREADY TITLE
Officials
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National
Weather Service office in Phoenix, Ariz., have designated the city of Peoria as
a StormReady community. During a presentation at the Peoria City Council
chambers today representatives from the National Weather Service will commend
the community's efforts to enhance its hazardous weather operations. NOAA is
part of the Department of Commerce.
The
StormReady program gives communities the skills and education needed to survive
severe weather - before and during the event. StormReady helps community leaders
and emergency managers strengthen their local hazardous weather operations by
ensuring that they have the tools needed to receive life saving National Weather
Service warnings in the quickest time possible.
"The
National Weather Service recognized Peoria for the wide variety of community
disaster resistant projects that help prepare citizens for severe desert weather
and flood threats," said Phoenix NWS Weather Forecast Office Meteorologist
in Charge, Anton Haffer. "Peoria is the third community within the Phoenix
metropolitan area to receive this formal certification. Paradise Valley and Mesa
received their certifications in 2003. The Storm Ready certification for Peoria
will be in effect for three years, until the summer of 2007."
Haffer
said Peoria receives about 8 inches of rainfall annually and has a history of
severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and brief, but intense, rainfall
causing rapid flooding of washes and normally dry river channels.
"More
than 140,000 people live in Peoria and they, along with those who visit this
community, will benefit from the efforts of the city and the National Weather
Service to warn those who might be in harm's way during any severe weather
event," said Haffer.
According
to David Runyan, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the NWS office in
Phoenix, StormReady is a great example of federal, state and local governments
working together to prepare communities for severe weather and floods.
Runyan
noted how the StormReady program has raised public awareness and saved lives
across the nation. The StormReady program informs community officials and the
public how to receive warnings and information concerning hazards that threaten
their community. Television, cable service, and AM/FM radio stations broadcast
National Weather Service warnings. Residents may also receive National Weather
Service warnings and forecasts on specially designed NOAA Weather Radios that
receive broadcasts directly from the Phoenix NWS weather forecast office.
Thanks to
the StormReady program in Peoria, storm warnings will be issued on NOAA Weather
Radio to receivers throughout the community. NOAA Weather Radio receivers,
placed in public access buildings and in the emergency communication centers, as
well as local broadcasts of storm warnings using the radio and television
Emergency Alert System, will provide storm information to save lives and protect
property. NWS officials said Peoria is leading the way in south central Arizona,
with a commitment to emergency communication and preparedness plans.
"The
Storm Ready program is voluntary and provides communities with clear-cut weather
warning and preparedness advice from a partnership with the National Weather
Service and emergency managers," said Michael F. Fusco, Peoria City Safety
and Emergency Manager. "The preparedness program is a grassroots approach
to help communities develop plans to handle local severe weather threats from
severe thunderstorms."
NOAA's
National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and
warnings for the United States and its territories. 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.
The
Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (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.
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Contact: David Runyan 602-275-7002
Ext. 223, Anton Haffer 602-275-7002 Ext. 222
On the Internet: NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov
National Weather Service - http://www.weather.gov
An image of the StormReady sign and more program information is available at
- http://www.stormready.noaa.gov
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