NEW ORLEANS – July 8, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) announced today that, through continued efforts to increase resident safety in the face of severe weather, the National Weather Service (NWS) recognized New Orleans as a StormReady® community. The city qualified after a year-long application process during which NOHSEP demonstrated its solid communication system and comprehensive, multi-hazard emergency operations plan.
In recognition of this accomplishment, New Orleans will receive an official StormReady® sign to post in the city. As an additional benefit, the city has earned points through the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, which could reduce flood insurance premium rates for residents.
“This designation is especially meaningful as we approach the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “It reaffirms our city’s robust culture of preparedness, high level of readiness and strong partnerships between public safety agencies. While New Orleans will never be stormproof, we have now taken the critical steps to reduce our risk.”
“The City of New Orleans has every right to be proud of this accomplishment,” said Kenneth Graham, Meteorologist in Charge for NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge Area. “Earning a StormReady® recognition indicates that this community has made great strides to improve emergency first responder and citizen preparedness in the event of a natural disaster. We hope to see New Orleans’ improved communications infrastructure and increased level of severe weather awareness help minimize any future loss of life and recover from property damage more quickly.”
StormReady® is the NWS’s national community preparedness program that helps communities develop plans to handle all types of severe weather. Specifically, in order to become StormReady®, the community must:
Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;
Have multiple methods to receive and disseminate severe weather warnings and information for their community;
Have various methods to monitor weather conditions locally;
Promote the importance of public readiness;
Develop a formal hazardous weather action plan, including severe weather spotter training and drills.
New Orleans joins more 2,324 other StormReady® sites across 49 states, Puerto Rico & Guam including the surrounding parishes of Plaquemines, St. Charles and Jefferson.
The StormReady® designation is good for a period of three years.
