PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Perry County has been officially accredited as StormReady by the National Weather Service (NWS), recognizing the County’s commitment to hazardous weather preparedness and strong emergency operations.
The StormReady recognition was presented on Thursday, January 15, during the regular session of the Perry County Commission Meeting by Christine Wielgos with the National Weather Service and accepted by Perry County Emergency Management Director Patrick Naeger.
StormReady is a national program unveiled by the National Weather Service in April 2000. The program is designed to help communities strengthen their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe weather events. In order to be accredited as StormReady, a community must achieve a specific level of hazardous weather operations readiness, including meeting established criteria for planning, communication, and emergency response.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our local officials and emergency personnel who work year-round to ensure Perry County is prepared when severe weather threatens,” said Naeger. “Being StormReady means we are strengthening our systems, improving communication, and putting safety first for the residents we serve.”
Perry County officials expressed appreciation to the National Weather Service for the accreditation and for its continued partnership in supporting local preparedness efforts and understands the importance of protecting residents through continued training, emergency planning, and public awareness initiatives that help ensure families have the information they need to stay safe during hazardous weather.
Wieglos expressed the importance of being StormReady.
“It’s a very significant accomplishment,” she said. “Being part of a Weather-Ready Nation is about preparing your community’s vulnerability to extreme weather and water events. Greater preparation will leave us better positioned to mitigate the impacts of hazardous weather events.”