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When Millersville University initially attained StormReady certification in 2020, it joined an exclusive group as only the seventh university in Pennsylvania to achieve this designation. Fast forward four years, and that distinction still holds true today. Recently, MU successfully renewed its designation, solidifying its commitment to storm preparedness. Moreover, the installation of Climavision weather radar on campus last August further enhances the university’s readiness to provide an accurate and timely prediction of severe weather events.
“The StormReady recertification affirms MU’s commitment to keeping our students, staff, visitors and the larger Millersville community safe from weather emergencies,” says Pete Anders, chief of police at Millersville University. “We are unique and safer by having the Center for Disaster Research and Education and our Weather Center on campus to assist through trainings and assisting our response and recovery from severe weather events. StormReady formalizes MU’s preparedness, particularly our ability to monitor severe weather and provide timely communications to the community.”
StormReady is a program designed by the National Weather Service, and there are currently more than 2,600 communities, counties, Indian nations, higher education institutions, military bases, government sites, commercial enterprises and other groups around the nation with a StormReady designation. This allows these entities to be better prepared and save lives from severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness.
The program encourages communities to take a new, proactive approach to local hazardous weather conditions by providing emergency managers and the community with appropriate and detailed information on how to improve their operations, according to the NWS guidelines.
“Millersville University through the Center for Disaster Research and Education, has received notification from the National Weather Service that our StormReady designation has been renewed for another four years through 2028,” says Dr. Sepi Yalda, professor and director of the CDRE at Millersville University. “This designation is important to show our commitment to our ongoing collaboration with the National Weather Service StormReady program to help keep our university and the surrounding communities well-informed and safe during high-impact weather events. Millersville University is one of only seven universities in PA and 320 nationwide with this designation.”
StormReady criteria includes:
- 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.
Obtaining a StormReady designation means not only understanding severe weather, but how to plan and respond to it.
For more information on the Center for Disaster Research & Education, visit CDRE Millersville University.
