UNMC has earned the StormReady designation from the National Weather Service, recognizing the university’s commitment to severe weather preparedness, emergency communications and campus safety. The StormReady program recognizes communities and organizations that demonstrate a proactive approach to hazardous weather through established emergency operations procedures, reliable warning and notification systems and ongoing preparedness education.
“StormReady recognition demonstrates that UNMC has taken important steps to ensure its campus community is prepared to receive, respond to and act on critical weather warnings,” said Chris Franks, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service Omaha office in Valley, Nebraska. “This commitment to preparedness helps build a safer, more resilient campus.”
Achieving StormReady certification was a collaborative effort involving UNMC Emergency Management, Police and Public Safety and partners across campus, UNMC leaders said.
A critical component of the university’s preparedness efforts is UNMC Alert, the emergency notification system managed by UNMC Emergency Management, with UNMC Dispatch taking the lead in issuing timely emergency messages to the campus community and notifying the campus Incident Command Team when necessary.
“StormReady recognition is more than a certification, it’s a reflection of the systems, partnerships and people working every day to keep our campus safe,” said Diane Mack, UNMC Emergency Management director.
The emergency management team, she said, is especially grateful to its dispatchers, Chief Charlotte Evans, and the many individuals and departments across campus whose support and commitment helped the team achieve the milestone.
“Preparedness is truly a team effort, and this recognition reflects the collective dedication of our campus community to building a safer, more resilient UNMC,” Mack said.
To aid in that continuing effort, Mack called on members of the campus community to make sure they have updated their contact information in UNMC Alert.