Upshur County Designated a StormReady Community

January 8, 2023

Mountaineer News

Upshur County Commission

L-R: Commissioner Tenney, Commissioner Nolte, Upshur DHSEM Director Steve Wykoff, Upshur DHSEM Deputy Director Derek Long, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tony Edwards, WV EMD Region 4 Liaison Shawn Dunbrack and Commissioner Doug Bush. / Photo by Mountaineer News

BUCKHANNON, WV - During the January 5th Upshur County Commission meeting, Tony Edwards, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston announced that Upshur County, West Virginia is the latest in the state to receive the StormReady status designation.

Upshur County Commissioners were presented with a sign recognizing the designation.

The StormReady program helps arm local communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property before, during and after the severe weather event. Edwards said they’ve been helping train interested individuals across the country spot potentially dangerous weather patterns.

StormReady is a program through the National Weather Service. In order to earn the designation, a county must:

• Establish a 24-hour warning point and Emergency Operations Center

• Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and redundant methods of alerting the public

• Monitor weather conditions locally

• Promote the importance of public readiness by sharing weather preparedness information in the community

• Ensure government facilities such as schools are able to receive severe weather alerts

• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

In addition to the above requirement, Upshur County is working with the National Weather Service and the US Geological Survey on upgrading the Buckhannon River gauge to a full forecast point. Once this process is complete, river level forecasts will be improved and available at all times instead of just during periods of high flows, as is the current practice.

The county also purchased and installed a weather station at the DHSEM/911 Communication Center in Buckhannon. The information this weather station provides will help emergency officials and citizens better monitor local weather conditions.

Edwards stated that, although they have the neat tools to use for forecasting and warnings on weather events, "there’s nothing better than local spotters in the community to let us know what’s going on,” he said.

The designation comes under review for renewal every four years.

For more information on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), CLICK HERE.

Watch Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tony Edwards address Commission and award the designation: