A collaborative effort of the University of Missouri Meteorology Club, Emergency Management, Residential Life and other campus personnel meant Mizzou was recognized Monday by the National Weather Service with a StormReady designation.
“Communities and institutions that demonstrate a strong commitment to severe weather preparedness and communication” receive the designation, Mizzou said in a news release, joining five other Missouri colleges and universities with the recognition.
“I am thrilled that Mizzou has achieved certification as a StormReady campus,” said Thomas Schwent, StormReady coordinator for the Meteorology Club. “We’ve made significant progress, and we’re not done yet. Over the next year, the Meteorology Club will be working hard to maintain and build upon what we’ve accomplished.”
From left, Kevin Deitsch of the National Weather Service, Marcus George from University of Missouri Residential Life, Eric Aldrich and Thomas Schwent from the Mizzou Meteorology Club and Jerry Jenkins, Mizzou emergency management coordinator, pose for a photo after Mizzou received a StormReady designation from NWS.
Communities and institutions with the designation take a proactive approach to severe weather preparedness, where they “continuously improve local hazardous weather operations and heighten public awareness of weather impacts,” Mizzou said.
“Supporting the NWS StormReady program is about more than just preparedness — it demonstrates our commitment to protecting lives, strengthening community resilience and ensuring that when severe weather strikes, we remain ready to respond effectively and confidently,” said Jerry Jenkins, emergency management coordinator for the university, also acknowledging the Meteorology Club and Kevin Deitsch, with NWS, for their work in helping the campus get the designation.
The groups and people that worked together will ensure Mizzou emergency response plans, communication systems, weather-related drills and educational programs remain comprehensive, effective and up to date. This also means continued work with NWS, state and local emergency management and the media to adhere to StormReady standards.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the Mizzou meteorologist students, Res Life, and Emergency Management to achieve the status of a StormReady campus,” Deitsch said, who is warning coordinator for NWS in St. Louis.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: National Weather Service designates Mizzou as StormReady
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