The city of Parsons is preparing to be a StormReady community, a designation that could reduce fatalities and injuries in storms by sharing clear and timely details of storm or flood events.
Parsons Police Sgt. Jason Ludwig said he is about midway through the application process with the National Weather Service, which has a 32-page guide for seeking a StormReady designation.
Since the program’s inception in Oklahoma in 1999, over 2,000 counties, cities, towns, universities, Indian nations, commercial sites, government facilities and military installations have been recognized as StormReady. The program recognizes emergency management programs that meet the StormReady guidelines, demonstrating preparedness for hazardous weather and flooding. StormReady ensures jurisdictions have a standard level of emergency planning and communication capabilities. An effective StormReady Program is essential for NWS to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.
The weather service approved seven communities and 35 Kansas counties as StormReady. Neosho County Community College in Chanute is a StormReady college, the only entity in 12 Southeast Kansas counties with the designation, according to the NWS website.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)