Photo: David Beachler (Left Center) Acting MIC for NWS Indianapolis and Senior Meteorologist Mike Ryan (Right Center) present Howard County Emergency Management Director Janice L. Hart (Center) with the StormReady placard at the Howard County Emergency Management Office in Kokomo. Also pictured from left to right: Sandi Baldwin Howard County Emergency Management Deputy Director, Justin Johnson Howard County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), Glenda Myers Kokomo Fire Department and Emergency Management Advisory Board Member, Josh Fulkerson Russiaville Town Marshal and Emergency Management Advisory Board Member, and Neil Winn Howard County Emergency Management Weather Officer.

The National Weather Service (NWS) Indianapolis office has officially recognized Howard County as a StormReady® partner. This distinction, awarded by the NWS, highlights organizations that have taken significant steps to prepare for and respond to severe weather, with the ultimate goal of saving lives.

The NWS's StormReady® program provides strict guidelines for communities, counties, and commercial enterprises to enhance their weather preparedness. While no location is entirely immune to severe weather, becoming StormReady® ensures a higher level of safety and readiness for hazardous weather and flooding.

“Having a strong emergency action plan for hazardous weather is absolutely critical,” said David Beachler, acting Meteorologist in Charge for NWS Indianapolis. “Howard County is proactive in their preparedness efforts and takes the threat of lightning, strong winds, hail, tornadoes, and extreme heat very seriously. The NWS and Howard County work closely together to make quick, critical decisions that protect citizens who might otherwise be vulnerable and unaware of approaching weather.”

“The safety of our citizens is of utmost importance,” Howard County Emergency Management Director Janice L. Hart said. “We work closely with the National Weather Service for each event to ensure we have the best information available to make informed decisions for our county when severe weather is in the area. The StormReady® designation recognizes the steps we have taken and continue to protect life and property across Howard County.”

Established in 1999, the StormReady® program is a grassroots initiative focused on preparing for natural hazards. Today, more than 1,600 counties and 1,200 communities are better prepared for adverse weather as a result of the program. To be recognized as a StormReady® partner, an organization must maintain a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center. They must also have multiple ways to receive NWS warnings and alert the public, monitor local weather and flood conditions, and conduct community preparedness programs. Additionally, the organization's formal emergency management plans must address hazardous weather and flooding, including training SKYWARN® weather spotters and holding emergency exercises. The StormReady® recognition is valid for four years and is renewable.

The National Weather Service Indianapolis Forecast Office serves as the primary source of weather data, forecasts, and warnings for 39 counties in central Indiana. The NWS works with partners like Howard County to build a Weather-Ready Nation and support community resilience in the face of increasingly extreme weather.

***StormReady^® is a registered trademark used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.