Cowley County, Kan. (September 7, 2021) – Cowley County Emergency Management is proud to be recognized for receiving our 7^th StormReady^® renewal. Cowley County has been a StormReady^® County since 1999 marking the 22^nd consecutive year with that achievement. 

Nation-wide, approximately 98% of all Presidential Disaster declarations are weather related leading to 500 deaths per year and $15 billion in damage. No community is storm proof; however, StormReady^® jurisdictions are prepared with communication and safety skills necessary to save lives and protect property before, during and after the event. 

To be StormReady^®, jurisdictions must meet the following criteria: 

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

“We at the NWS appreciate all of your efforts to ensure the wellbeing of the citizens in Cowley County during times of inclement weather.  Secondly, we recognize and appreciate the extra effort the Cowley County team makes in providing crucial information that helps us in our warning decision process,” states Chance Hayes, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Wichita.