Arapahoe County Receives 'StormReady' Certification For 2nd Year

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — The Arapahoe County Office of Emergency Management has worked with the National Weather Service to re-certify the county for a second year as 'StormReady.'

The certification means that Arapahoe County has done everything possible to be fully prepared for extreme weather conditions, such a storms, tornadoes and flooding.

The county has seen hot, dry weather and monsoons have begun. The StormReady program guides county officials in setting up safety measures to save people's lives and property.

To be StormReady, a community must:

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

"Some 98 percent of all Presidentially declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage," Weather officials stated on the StormReady website.

"The StormReady program helps arm America's communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property —before, during and after the event."

More information about the program can be found here.