KNBN-TV in Rapid City was recently recognized by the National Weather Service for completing the requirements of the StormReady^® Supporter program.

Chief Meteorologist Bob Riggio and Meteorologist Erik Dean were presented a certificate by the National Weather Service Office in Rapid City. The StormReady Supporter recognition will be in effect for five years.

“StormReady encourages communities and organizations to improve local severe weather operations and public awareness," said Susan Sanders, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the Rapid City National Weather Service office. “StormReady communities are better prepared to save lives and property through planning, training, education, awareness, and communication.”

KNBN-TV was specifically recognized for its capability to receive weather warnings from the National Weather Service through several methods and relay them to their viewers.  The station also participates in annual awareness campaigns and prepares its staff to respond to hazardous weather warnings.

StormReady is a nationwide preparedness program created to help community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs by providing guidelines established by the National Weather Service and emergency management professionals. StormReady started in 1999 with seven communities in the Tulsa, Okla., area. There are 925 StormReady Supporters and over 3,000 StormReady Sites across the country.