(Houston, Texas) – The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management is proud to announce that the National Weather Service (NWS) has recertified Harris County as a StormReady® County. The designation was originally obtained in 2015 and has now been extended for another three years.
“We are extremely proud to again be recognized as a StormReady county,” said Harris County Judge Emmett. “We always strive to be proactive in alerting and protecting our residents during emergencies.”
Less than 20 percent of all Texas counties are designated as StormReady®. To be certified, a NWS advisory board reviews the county’s application and inspects its emergency management operations capabilities. A StormReady® community or county must:
- Have a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center.
- Have multiple ways of receiving severe weather forecasts/warnings to alert the public.
- Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally.
- Promote the importance of public readiness through community outreach/seminars.
- Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
“Harris County has all the necessary assets and works closely with emergency partners to be in a constant state of preparedness,” said NWS Meteorologist in Charge Jeffry Evans. “No community is storm proof, but being StormReady® can help save lives.”
The StormReady® designation is also significant for earning Community Rating System (CRS) points. These points are recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program and help keep flood insurance rates affordable.
Click here for more information about the NWS StormReady® program.
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