According to the National Weather Service, Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,000 tornadoes and an average of two landfalling deadly hurricanes. This is on top of winter storms, intense summer heat, high winds, wild fires and other deadly weather impacts. Some 90 percent of all presidentially-declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $14 billion in damage.

A StormReady county or community has equipped itself with an action plan in the case of severe weather. A county or community must meet the following criteria before being declared officially StormReady:

• A 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center must be established;
• There must be more than one method of receiving severe weather forecasts and warnings and alerting the public;
• A system must be created that monitors local weather conditions;
• The significance of public readiness must be promoted through community seminars;
• A formal hazardous weather plan must be developed, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding exercises.

StormReady counties and communities help save lives through preparedness and awareness.