From left, Jenkins County Commission Chairman James Henry and Jenkins County Emergency Management Director Bob Fields accept a StormReady plaque from Jerry Harrison of the NOAA’s National Weather Service. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) Officials from NOAA’s National Weather Service recently praised the emergency management team of Jenkins County for completing a set of rigorous criteria necessary to earn the distinction of being declared StormReady.

“Jenkins County is among the latest of several Georgia Counties designation,” said Jerry Harrison, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service forecast office in Charleston, S.C., which serves the Jenkins County area. “Through StormReady, the county will be better prepared to help protect the lives and property of its citizens during

To be recognized as StormReady, a community must:

 establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;

 have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public;

29 H Boemfoeroew 1Tn-weather conditions locally;  promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars; and

 develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which indicates training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

Harrison presented a StormReady plaque and special StormReady signs to local emergency management director Bob Fields and Jenkins County Commission Chairman James Henry.

The StormReady recognition will be in effect for three years at which time the county will go through a renewal process.