Welcome to the National Weather Service La Crosse StormReady Page

StormReady Information

Overview of StormReady Program
Designated StormReady Communities (in NWS La Crosse area)
Program Intentions
Recognition Process
Local StormReady Manual & Documents (including community certification criteria and forms)
Greater Tri-State StormReady Advisory (GTSSRA) Board Members
For More Information
National StormReady Page

Overview of StormReady Program

"StormReady" is a national voluntary program, administered through your local National Weather Service office, that gives communities the skills and education needed to cope with and manage potential weather-related disasters, before and during the event. The program encourages communities to take a new pro-active approach. This nationwide preparedness program uses a grassroots effort to help communities develop plans to improve local hazardous weather operations and public awareness for all types of local severe weather threats. In other words, StormReady is aimed at arming America's communities with the communication and safety skills necessary to save lives and property.

Many laws and regulations have been created to help local emergency managers deal with hazardous material spills, search and rescue operations, medical crises, etc., but there are relatively few uniformly-recognized standards dealing with the specifics of hazardous weather response operations. Recognizing this need, the National Weather Service has designed the StormReady program to help communities or counties implement procedures to reduce the potential for disastrous, weather-related, consequences. By participating in StormReady, local agencies can earn recognition for their jurisdiction by meeting criteria established by the National Weather Service in partnership with federal, state, and local emergency management professionals.

The "StormReady" program does not replace FEMA's "Project Impact" program, rather, it compliments Project Impact. Together, they offer a community the means to anticipate and survive severe weather. The entire community - from the mayor, emergency managers, to business leaders and civic groups - can take the lead on becoming StormReady. The La Crosse National Weather Service Forecast Office will work with communities to complete an application and review process.

StormReady is a voluntary program, and is being offered as a means of providing guidance and incentive to officials interested in improving their respective hazardous weather operations. Implied or explicit references to "requirements" are made with regard to the voluntary participants in the StormReady program and should not be construed as being state or federal mandates.

It's paramount for communities to understand the types of weather-related threats in the area, when they are most likely to occur, and prepare in advance for severe weather events. Under the auspices of StormReady, the National Weather Service in La Crosse will continue to help the citizens of northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and central and western Wisconsin understand the dangers posed by these weather events. Education and communication are a very big part of the StormReady program.

Our region of the county experiences a wide range of dangerous weather, from winter storms and blizzards, to severe thunderstorms, flooding, and tornadoes. In June 1998, straight line winds associated with severe thunderstorms caused widespread and extreme damage to the region. In July 1999, a tornado moved right through the middle of Lewiston, MN. In the summer of 2000, heavy rains produced widespread river and flash flooding.

Deaths and injuries can occur in severe weather. The same thing can happen again, even in your community. Will your community be ready for the next severe storm? Will community and emergency response officials, and local residents know that severe storms are imminent? Will your community be StormReady?

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Designated StormReady Communities

Current listing of "StormReady" Communities in the La Crosse Warning and Forecast Area (Your Community could be listed here! Contact your local County Emergency Manager Director for further information).

StormReady Communities Rochester, MN Stewartville, MN Byron, MN Dover, MN Eyota, MN Oronoco, MN Olmsted County, MN Edgewood, IA Viroqua, WI

Pending (working toward designation) Other Possible Communities Winona, MN Plainview, MN New Hampton, IA Lancaster, WI Sparta, WI

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StormReady Program Intentions

• Provide detailed and clear recommendations by which local emergency managers may establish/improve effective hazardous weather operations.
• Strengthen a community's ability to receive and use severe weather watches and warnings from the National Weather Service.
• Improve the timeliness and effectiveness of hazardous weather warnings for the public.
• Help local emergency managers justify costs and purchases related to supporting their hazardous weather-related program.
• Reward local hazardous-weather mitigation programs that have achieved a desired performance level.
• Provide a means of acquiring additional Community Rating System points assigned by the Insurance Services Organization (ISO).
• Provide an "image incentive" to counties, cities, and towns that can identify themselves being "StormReady."
• Encourage the enhancement of hazardous weather preparedness programs in jurisdictions surrounding "StormReady" communities and counties.