National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Television station WIFR in Rockford became the latest StormReady Supporter in Illinois. Through the StormReady Supporter program the National Weather Service (NWS) and local emergency management provide guidelines to help businesses, schools, hospitals and other facilities become better prepared for severe weather. Some of the requirements of the StormReady Supporter program include;

• Establishing a warning point - a location at the facility where weather is monitored, severe weather watches and warnings are received from NWS, and warnings are disseminated to the rest of the facility
• Redundant methods of receiving warnings, including a NOAA Weather Radio
• Redundant methods of disseminating emergency information to all staff and patrons at the facility
• A written severe weather operations plan
• Staff training on severe weather procedures, and periodic tornado drills
• Designated storm shelters

WIFR met or exceeded all requirements. For more information on the Stormready program for communities and counties, or the StormReady Supporter program for businesses, go to  http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/

Pictured left to right; Mike Bardou NWS Chicago, Jamie Enderlen NWS Chicago, Jim Allsopp NWS Chicago, Mark Henderson Chief Meteorologist WIFR, Greg Graber General Manager WIFR, Matthew Knott Division Chief Rockford Fire Department