Keeping Austinites safe when extreme weather approaches is a key focus of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). Educational programs, emergency alert systems, and advanced planning are in place, which has enabled HSEM to renew the City’s certification as a National Weather Service (NWS) StormReady community.

StormReady is part of the NWS Weather-Ready Nation program that aims to arm communities with the knowledge, communication, and safety skills necessary to be prepared when storms arrive.

Austin has been a StormReady community since December 15, 2004, when the City became the first in South Central Texas to go through the certification process. This latest certification is valid through December 15, 2027.

There are five criteria a community, business, or organization must meet to be considered a StormReady community. They are:

• Establish a 24-hour emergency operations center.
• Establish multiple channels to receive and share severe weather warnings and forecasts with 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 that requires emergency exercises and provides training to create severe weather spotters.

“Being a StormReady city is one way we demonstrate that we take emergency preparedness seriously in our community,” said HSEM Director Ken Snipes. “We also partner to host SKYWARN because we believe that everyone has a responsibility to stay informed and support each other through disasters.”

In partnership with the Austin and San Antonio National Weather Service Office and Travis County Emergency Management, HSEM will co-host a SKYWARN Severe Weather Training event to train weather spotters. The next opportunity for the public to receive this training is Saturday, March 2 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at St. Edwards University in the Jones Auditorium.

Event: SKYWARN Severe Weather Training Class
Time: Saturday, March 2, 8:30 a.m. to noon
Location: St. Edwards University, Jones Auditorium

The course is free and there will be basic and advanced class options available. Those interested in learning more about severe weather events including tornadoes, flash floods, hail, and how to submit weather reports to the NWS can register for the SKYWARN class online. Use the code SkyWarn to register for parking.