All Five Campuses of Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Earn StormReady Supporter Designation

Pictured (left to right): Tony Edwards, NWS Jackson, KY Warning Coordination Meteorologist; Ron Hayes, SKCTC Operations Manager for Security and Safety; Dr. Lynn Moore, SKCTC President; Shawn Harley, NWS Jackson, KY Meteorologist-in-Charge

All five campuses of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) were recognized as National Weather Service StormReady® Supporters during a brief ceremony at the SKCTC Cumberland Campus on Friday, February 26, 2016. The StormReady® Supporter program recognizes organizations for their severe weather preparedness efforts and SKCTC is the first community college in the state of Kentucky to have all of their campuses recognized as StormReady® Supporters!

In order to be able to properly respond to severe weather and qualify as a StormReady® Supporter, SKCTC developed a severe weather plan tailored specifically for each of their campuses. This plan includes multiple ways of receiving severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service and communicating this information to the students and staff. Safe areas were identified on each campus where students and staff can seek shelter in the event of severe weather. Finally, key staff at each campus was given training on the weather hazards they may face and how best to respond in the event of a weather emergency.

The college was also recognized as a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador during the ceremony. The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ initiative is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) effort to formally recognize NOAA partners who are improving the nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events.

To learn more about the StormReady® program, Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador initiative and other east Kentucky organizations recognized by the National Weather Service for their severe weather preparedness efforts, please visit https://www.weather.gov/jkl/partnerships.