Westport's 'Storm Ready' Status Renewed

The National Weather Service renewed Westport's "Storm Ready" recognition status, Westport Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Andrew Kingsbury said Thursday. 

The status has been renewed for the third time since May 2007, when the town first applied the for program, according to Kingsbury. 

To be recognized as Storm Ready, a community must:

• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;
• Have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings and to alert the public;
• Create a system that monitors local weather conditions;
• 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.

Kingsbury, Deputy Chief Robert Kepchar, Assistant Chief Robert Yost and Assistant Chief Michael Kronick recently traveled to the National Weather Service station in Upton, N.Y., to visit the facility and to receive the Renewal Certificate.