Perry County School District is officially prepared for any weather that Mother Nature may throw its way. The district has earned the National Weather Service’s StormReadySupporter designation, which was officially presented to Safety Director Garrett Schott during the June 11 meeting of the Board of Education.
StormReady establishes an industry standard for severe weather preparedness and communication, based on the principles of redundancy, practicality, and partnership.
StormReady Supporter guidelines vary slightly from area to area, but generally include:
• Active partnership with local emergency management officials
• A written severe weather plan
• Practices, exercises, and/or training as appropriate
• One or more means of monitoring the weather, including NOAA Weather Radio wherever available
• Appropriate dissemination method(s)
• Effective action during severe weather events
“The district has been doing most of these things for many years,” Officer Schott said. “I worked with the National Weather Service office in Paducah to document our eligibility for the StormReady Supporter designation, and our response to the January ice storms and the March 14 tornado that hit campus clearly demonstrated our ability to respond effectively during severe weather events.
“I’m very proud of our district for making safety a top priority,” he said. “School safety encompasses many different areas of planning and preparation and involves district administrators, SROs, teaching and support staff, and the cooperation of our students. It’s a team effort, and one we can all be proud of.”
Christine Wielgos worked with Officer Schott as he completed the StormReady Supporter application. “Your school is the first in this region to obtain the StormReady Supporter designation,” Wielgos said. “The school has multiple ways to receive hazardous weather notifications, as well as multiple communications channels to ensure that all students, staff, and parents receive vital information in a timely manner. You have a hazardous weather response plan, and regularly practice tornado drills using your tornado shelters. The district is well-prepared to respond to hazardous weather.
“Your community should be very proud and grateful for all of the work that Officer Schott and your staff have done to prepare your district for dangerous weather. Your district also does a fantastic job with communicating information about emergencies and preparation efforts.”