Elmhurst Recertified As StormReady Community

ELMHURST, IL — The National Weather Service has recertified the City of Elmhurst as a StormReady Community. The fire department said Elmhurst has been a certified as a StormReady Community since November 2000, and continues to meet and exceed the requirements of the StormReady program.

The StormReady program helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen their local hazardous weather operations, the department said. StormReady does not mean Storm Proof. Communities are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through better planning, education and awareness.

To be recognized as StormReady, a community must:

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

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