Anne Arundel County was designated and recognized by the National Weather Service as a StormReady® Community on April 11, 2017. StormReady is a nationwide program that helps communities better protect their citizens during severe weather by focusing on improving communications and preparedness. The program is voluntary and encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations. To be certified as StormReady, communities must:
- Establish a 24-hour warning point and Emergency Operations Center
- 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
- Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises