WABC Named "Storm Ready" By National Weather Service

The National Weather Service has named WABC 7's news team to its StormReady weather preparedness program, which helps local communities build safety and communication skills in the event of storms like Hurricane Sandy.

The StormReady program was created in 1999 in Tulsa, OK., to help communities and local media prepare for severe weather including tornadoes, flash floods, hurricanes and lightning.

To qualify for StormReady, a site must have a 24-hour emergency center or warning point, communication centers to alert the public, a system that monitors weather, a hazardous weather plan and community seminars.

Because the New York City area is highly susceptible to storm surges and sea level rise, the StormReady program could "help communities save lives" according to Dr. Jason P. Tuell, Director of the Eastern Region of the National Weather Service.

"All the technology in the world can't save a single life if people are not presented with weather forecasting alerts in a timely and effective manner," said Lee Goldberg, WABC 7's chief meteorologist. "The Eyewitness News AccuWeather Team is poised to ensure that our viewers understand the pending threats from severe weather and have the time to take precautionary action."