Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) was designated StormReady by the National Weather Service (NWS) at the NBK Emergency Operations Center, March 10.

NBK is the first naval installation in the Pacific Northwest to receive the designation, allowing the installation to be informed with real time updates for inclement weather.

"This designation makes you StormReady for the next three years," said Ted Buehner, a warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS.

To be designated StormReady, a community must establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center (EOC); have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public; create a system that monitors weather conditions locally; promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars; and develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

"It demonstrates that we have a program to keep personnel and families on base ready," said Capt. Tom Zwolfer, commanding officer, Naval Base Kitsap, from Wood Dale, Illinois. "I'm proud of Scott, Amanda and Force for bringing entities on base together to achieve this accomplishment."

Scott Larson, NBK supervisory emergency management officer, Amanda Windes, NBK emergency management officer, and Force Tolar, NBK EOC manager, reached out to every agency, command and organization on the base to apply for the designation from the NWS, whose mission is providing "weather, hydrologic and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community," according to their website.

"This is just part of our collaborative in emergency management," said Tolar. "This program keeps us informed about some of the threats with real time updates from the NWS, [which allows] us to avoid disrupting services on base and prepare people."

Having NBK, a tenant command of Commander, Navy Region Northwest (CNRNW), StormReady ties directly into CNRNW's mission, which is providing "shore-based services, enabling the fleet and supported commands to focus on their mission. The effective management of our installations is integral to delivering essential operations, facilities, and quality of life programs," according to their website.

The NWS goal is making the U.S. a "Weather Ready Nation" by building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events, as Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each year, Americans cope with an average of the following intense storms: 100,000 thunderstorms; 10,000 severe thunderstorms; 5,000 floods or flash floods; 1,000 tornadoes [and two] land-falling deadly hurricanes, according to the NWS.

"StormReady does not mean storm proof," said Buehner. "When you're prepared, you're not scared."

Contact your National Weather Service office and Warning Coordination Meteorologist for required advising before filling out the application here: http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/apply.htm.

For more information about StormReady, visit: http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/.

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, visit http://www.navy.mil/.