[Press Release] : Press Release

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: James P. McNabb, Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency
Management - (573) 874-7400

Community is 'StormReady'

COLUMBIA, MO (October 4, 2004) -- During a special presentation this
morning in the Boone County Commission Chamber, a representative of the
National Weather Service presented the Columbia/Boone County Office of
Emergency Management with StormReady County signs in recognition of its
ability to provide severe weather information to citizens at any time.
There currently are at least 776 StormReady sites in 47 states.

The presentation was made by James P. Kramper, warning coordination
meteorologist and chairman, St. Louis Area StormReady Board. James P.
McNabb, director of Emergency Management accepted the signs. Also
attending the presentation were Presiding Commissioner Keith Schnarre,
Mayor Darwin Hindman, Commissioner Karen Miller, Commissioner Skip
Elkin, City Manager Ray Beck and Assistant City Manager Paula Hertwig
Hopkins.

StormReady criteria includes: communication, National Weather Service
information reception, hydrometeorological monitoring, local warning
dissemination, community preparedness and administrative. 

This designation confirms that the Office of Emergency Management is
meeting the standards required for warning and notification and is
prepared to communicate timely information to the community when needed.
There is a system in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week to alert
citizens to severe weather situations.

According to information on the StormReady Web site, "Americans live
in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each year, Americans
cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000
tornadoes, as well as an average of six deadly hurricanes. Potentially
deadly weather impacts every American. StormReady communities are better
prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through
better planning, education, and awareness. No community is storm proof,
but StormReady can help communities save lives."

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ (GoWord: GoPressRelease)
______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ (GoWord: GoWebMail)