Carroll recognized by National Weather Service as StormReady

Thanks to its new certification as a National Weather Service StormReady Community, Carroll County is now better prepared to handle significant weather events.

Phil Hysell, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, told the Carroll County Board of Supervisors about the program and what the certification means during the board’s July 1 meeting.

“It’s a pleasure to be here tonight to celebrate Carroll County as a community that is more resilient, responsive and ready for more significant weather events,” Hysell told Carroll supervisors. “On May 28 the National Weather Service and Virginia StormReady Advisory Board approved Carroll County as a StormReady community.”

Hysell said StormReady is a voluntary National Weather Service program designed to better prepare schools, businesses and communities like Carroll County from significant weather events through partnerships between local National Weather Service offices and state emergency management,” Hysell said. “The StormReady program recognizes those communities that take a proactive approach in improving their hazardous weather operations and promoting and participating in public awareness activities.”

StormReady was formed by the National Weather Service in 1999 to help communities implement procedures to reduce the potential for disastrous weather consequences. In order for Carroll County to be recognized as StormReady, it had to meet several requirements. Some of those included monitoring weather conditions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and having multiple ways to receive and disseminate life-saving weather warnings to the community. Carroll also had to promote public readiness through public webinars or seminars and had to participate in various weather drills and have a a formal hazardous weather plan.

“Because Carroll County not only met but exceeded all these requirements, they were recognized as StormReady in May of this year. There are numerous benefits to being a StormReady community,” Hysell told the board. “It improves the timeliness and effectiveness of our life-saving weather watches, warnings and advisories. It’s an incentive for your community and it actually saves lives. Communities that are StormReady are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced preparedness, awareness and education. I want to say thank you again and congratulate you again for this important recognition.”

On a personal note, Hysell said it had been a tremendous privilege to work with Carroll County Emergency Services Manager Gary Bergeron throughout the process.

“This would not have happened without his assistance,” Hysell said. “Hopefully by working as partners it will prevent weather hazards from turning into weather disasters.”

Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on X@AWorrellTCN