On November 25, 2013 Polk County completed a full renewal of their StormReady status. Polk County completed a set of rigorous criteria necessary to earn the distinction of being StormReady®. Polk County initially became StormReady twelve years ago in the fall of 2001.

StormReady is a voluntary program that provides communities and universities with clear-cut advice from a partnership between local National Weather Service forecast offices and state and local emergency managers. To be recognized as StormReady, a community or college must:

• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;
• Have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings and to alert the public;
• Create a system that monitors local weather conditions;
• Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars;
• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

The National Weather Service congratulates Polk County on maintaining their StormReady status.