[emo-news] Press Release - Norwich StormReady designation renewed

[Emergency Management News - Norwich, NY]

  City of Norwich 

  Emergency Management
  Office

  One City Plaza

  Norwich, New York 13815

  (607) 334-1299

  (607) 336-2080 (fax)

  
 









PRESS
RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 17, 2006 


ON HEALS OF ANOTHER
DEVASTATING FLOOD, 


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
RECOGNIZES THE CITY OF NORWICH


 


 


The National Weather Service has renewed the
certification of the City of Norwich as StormReady under a nationwide program to help
communities guard against the ravages of severe weather.  The City’s StormReady designation, first
obtained in 2001, was renewed in 2003 and has been extended for another three
years.


 


"Communities have fewer fatalities and lower
property damage if they plan for disasters that potentially threaten them
before the disaster occurs," said Dave Nicosia, Warning Coordination
Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Binghamton.  “The City of Norwich has gained the skills necessary to survive severe
weather and flooding, both before and during the event.”


 


Nicosia presented a certificate of renewal to Mayor Joseph
Maiurano and the city Common Council at a meeting Tuesday.


 


“We know that severe weather is one of the biggest
threats to our community," said Mayor Maiurano.  “Knowing how susceptible we are to flooding
and other serve weather, we work to constantly improve our ability to handle
weather disasters that could affect the citizens of our City.”


 


Norwich was the first community in the state to be declared
StormReady five years ago and among the first 75 counties or communities
nationwide to gain this recognition.   Over
1,100 communities and counties in the country have received StormReady
designation. No community is storm proof but StormReady is designed to help
communities save lives and limit the impacts.


 


“One of the main goals of StormReady is to enhance the
partnership between the National Weather Service and local emergency management
officials for warning the public of severe weather,” said A. Wesley Jones,
Director of the City Emergency Management Office.  “Our StormReady designation is an especially
important accomplishment since the City of Norwich has a long history of severe weather, especially
flooding”.


 


According
to Nicosia, to be
recognized as StormReady, a community must:


 


·        
Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency
operations center;


·        
Have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings
and forecasts and to alert the public;


·        
Create a system that monitors weather conditions
locally;


·        
Promote the importance of public readiness through
community seminars;


·        
Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which
includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.


 


“The
City of Norwich has far
exceeded all of the requirements of the StormReady program,” Nicosia said.




- 30 -


 
              A. Wesley Jones, Director
Norwich Emergency Management
One City Plaza, Norwich, NY 13815
(607) 334-1299
(607) 336-2080 (fax)
http://www.norwichnewyork.net/emergency










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