American Red Cross of Southern Arizona

Recognized as 2022 Southeast Arizona

Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have developed the Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador Initiative to help improve the nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events. WRN Ambassadors extend across government, non-profits, academia, and private industry; and share the goal of making the nation more ready, responsive, and resilient against extreme environmental hazards. WRN is a strategic outcome where society’s response should be equal to the risk from all extreme weather, water, and climate hazards. Nationwide, there are over 12,000 WRN Ambassadors committed to working with NOAA, the NWS and other Ambassadors to strengthen resilience against extreme weather.

    American Red Cross of
    Southern Arizona Executive
    Director Courtney Slanaker

NWS Tucson recognized the American Red Cross of Southern Arizona as the 2022 Ambassador of Excellence in southeast Arizona for their efforts to prepare the public for hazards relating to extreme weather.  The Disaster and Preparedness classes that they conduct for the public to promote weather safety are specific to weather-related hazards common to Arizona.  “Be Red Cross Ready” teaches adults how to prepare for and respond appropriately to disasters from natural hazards such as extreme heat, wildfires, severe thunderstorms and flash flooding. “The Pillowcase Project” teaches children about weather hazards as well as personal and family preparedness.  In 2022, more than 300 individuals attended these classes to learn how to keep their families and neighborhoods safe from hazardous weather. Additionally, they routinely collaborate with NWS Tucson during Monsoon Awareness Week to amplify that campaign via electronic media and by participating in a safety fair to share preparedness information with attendees.

American Red Cross of Southern Arizona team members accept the 2022 Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence certificate from NWS Tucson.

The weather preparedness and training programs of the American Red Cross of Southern Arizona are not only for outreach.  They also instruct their dedicated volunteers about how to put that knowledge into practice and further relay that information to those with whom they interact. The Red Cross is truly a force multiplier that helps the NWS in its efforts to build a Weather Ready Nation. 

NWS Tucson has dozens of local Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors across southeast Arizona. The Ambassador initiative recognizes leaders in the community that help build community resilience in the face of extreme weather events – from promoting safety messages in outreach activities, to being a “weather-ready” role model. Any organization can become a Weather Ready Nation Ambassador.  Schools, government agencies, private businesses, civic organizations, homeowner associations and others can apply online at weather.gov/wrn/ambassadors. If you have questions about the WRN Ambassador initiative or the online application, please contact Ken Drozd at kenneth.drozd@noaa.gov.