Whatcom County has been recertified as Storm Ready.

Being Strom Ready is a combined effort by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Weather Service (NWS), the Whatcom County Citizen Corps Council (CCC), and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office – Division of Emergency Management (DEM), it will help residents be more prepared whenever severe weather or some other natural event strikes Whatcom County.  STORM READY is a program organized and administered by the NWS that gives a special designation to states, municipalities, or counties deemed especially ready to alert its residents whenever a severe weather event is imminent.  

First accomplished by Whatcom County in 2003, the STORM READY designation may be used by insurance companies as a positive factor in determining local insurance rates.  This process requires a complete reevaluation every six years.  That reevaluation was successfully completed in March of this year by the DEM staff.  This designation requires that the County have sufficient capabilities to receive and forward alerts to its residents at any time.  One requirement is that NOAA Weather Radios must be available in all city hall buildings, in the county courthouse, and in all the various school district headquarters.  Weather Radios are a direct link to the NWS office.  Severe weather warnings cause the radios to generate an alarm alerting listeners that protective action may be required.  Civil emergencies, hazardous material spills, and Amber Alerts are also transmitted through the Weather Radio system.

DEM Deputy Director Doug Dahl noted, “The recertification process highlighted one special need in this area.  None of the eight senior centers operated by Whatcom County were equipped with Weather Radios.  Because of the large numbers of vulnerable people who use these facilities, it is especially important that they be made aware whenever a life threatening event is nearing.  This was corrected when the CCC provided enough funding to purchase these and place them in the various senior center offices.”  

Weather Radios will be distributed to all of the Whatcom County Senior Centers on Thursday, September 17th.

The Whatcom County CCC was created 5 years ago as part of a National initiative to centralize Federal funding for such volunteer activities as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, and Fire Corps.  It also allows funding to enhance the preparedness of the local community.  Federal dollars are allocated by Congress and funneled through the states to the local Councils.  The Whatcom County CCC is comprised of county and city political leaders; medical, law enforcement and fire representatives; our two Native American tribes; and representatives from various volunteer organizations active in the County.

Contact:

Doug Dahl
Whatcom County Sheriff's Office - Division of Emergency Management
(360) 676-6681
DDahl.co.whatcom.wa.us

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