StormReady® School Supporter Recognition for Single Schools
Proposed Guidelines for Florida Schools
Re-recognition period:  5 years

	The goal of the National Weather Service (NWS) StormReady® School Supporter program in Florida is to elevate the level of weather safety at participating Florida schools. The program is voluntary and thus the guidelines are understood to be significantly more stringent than that expected of an average school.  StormReady® School Supporters are better prepared to save lives from weather events through better daily weather awareness, planning, and faculty and student education. No school is storm proof; however having a higher level of weather awareness and planning can save lives. 

NWS Jacksonville has created 2 tiers of recognition schools can attain when they have achieved a certain level of severe weather readiness:  
1.	StormReady® Supporter School (completed all Guidelines below)
2.	StormReady® Supporter School District (all public schools are StormReady® Supporter Schools)

1.	SkywarnTM Spotter Training (includes Lightning Safety Training) 

	At minimum, we ask that the principal, assistant principal(s), severe weather coordinators, physical education teachers, athletic directors and coaches complete a NWS Skywarn TM Storm Spotter training course.  This course will educate you on local weather hazards.  Training may be via a NWS sponsored class or online training which is available on the resources page.  Re-training is encouraged every 5 years. 

2.	Severe Weather Threat Assessment Training 

	At minimum, we ask that the principal, assistant principal(s), severe weather coordinators, physical education teachers, athletic directors and coaches complete an online severe weather threat assessment course which is available on the resources page.  This course will help you decide if your school is under immediate threat of severe weather. 

3.	Severe Weather Emergency Plan (SWEP) 

	Develop a Severe Weather Emergency Plan.  A baseline document of severe weather safety recommendations is available on the resources page called “NWS Recommendations When Developing a Severe Weather Emergency Plan for a School.”  Schools are encouraged to customize this plan.   

4.	NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWRAH)

		NWRAH automatically tone alerts for NWS severe weather watches and warnings, even when in silent, alert mode.  The radio constantly broadcasts the latest forecast and observation information.  Schools should have at least 2 NWRAHs which were provided by the Department of Homeland Security and the NWS. NWRAH requirements for a StormReady® Supporter School in Florida are: 

A.	A SAME Alert capable NWRAH receiver must be located in both the school’s main office and athletic office. 
B.	If the school is beyond a transmitter’s broadcast range then an external antenna may be required. 

5.	Back-Up Weather Information

	The school must establish at least one backup method of receiving real time weather information. Examples of backup weather information sources include, but are not limited to, pagers, phone tree, Emergency Alert System, AM/FM radio station/TV, internet, cable television, Blast Fax, etc. 

6.	Tornado Shelter Areas (FEMA: Tornado Protection) 

A.	Tornado Shelter areas on school property must be identified and prominently marked (signs, stencil. etc.). 
B.	Routes to the nearest Tornado Shelter Areas should be prominently marked if students and staff are normally located some distance from the Shelter Areas.

7.	Tornado Drills 

	The School must participate in two annual tornado drills; one must be the Florida Hazardous Weather Awareness Week statewide tornado drill (held in February). 

8.	Daily Forecast 

	Disseminate the daily NWS weather forecast to the school.  Some recommendations include reading the forecast during morning announcements via the intercom or school network TV and/or posting the Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO) product in the front office and near the school’s athletic office.  The HWO details where and what type of weather hazard is expected when strong or severe thunderstorms are in the forecast. 

9.	 Hazardous Weather Awareness Week (HWAW)

	The school must participate in HWAW, normally each February.  The school must communicate the weather related topic each day during HWAW to the faculty and students (for example during morning announcements). 

10.	Weather Equipment:  Highly Encouraged

Equipment below is highly encouraged for schools to eventually obtain and utilize:  

a.	A portable SAME Alert capable NWRAH receiver available and present for outdoor events, especially when a large population will be present (examples:  graduations, athletic events, carnivals). 
b.	A portable lightning detector (or ideally a permanent lightning detection system) for outdoor activities.  
c.	A weather station.  Involvement in the CoCoRaHS program is encouraged.  

Updated 10/23/2015