Barksdale becomes STORM READY

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amber Corcoran
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Barksdale recently commemorated an achievement by being formally recognized as a StormReady® Community in a ceremony here Nov. 15.

Home to more than 15,000 residents, Barksdale is the first military installation in Louisiana and the only base in the Air Force Global Strike Command to be recognized as a StormReady® Community by the National Weather Service.

"Barksdale experiences active, severe weather episodes throughout the year, and potentially deadly weather could occur on any given day," said Mario Valverde, meteorologist in-charge of the National Weather Service forecast office in Shreveport, La.

In order to better prepare for severe weather and keep residents safe, base officials partnered with the NWS to meet the StormReady program criteria.

"Earning a StormReady certification is not easy," said Capt. Daniel Muggelberg, 2nd Operations Support Squadron weather flight commander. "You need a method of monitoring weather patterns, a process to disseminate information to a large community and strong emergency management plans to assist when storms occur. It really takes being a team player because disasters don't stop at the railroad tracks."

To be recognized as StormReady®, a community or university 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; and develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

"The StormReady program is designed to help communities improve communication and safety skills needed to save lives -- before, during and after a severe weather event," said Bill Parker, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS office in Shreveport.

Today there are more than 2,100 StormReady® communities nationwide, including 60 military installations.

"This award highlights a highly-trained staff which takes tremendous pride in protecting their community and resources," said Muggelberg.