Ted Buehner from the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the Seattle/Tacoma National Weather Service announced that Kirkland has been designated as a StormReady city during the Kirkland City Council meeting on Aug. 16. Councilmembers, Kirkland Emergency Manager PattiJean Hooper and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Erin Tramontozzi were on hand to receive the honor.

To become an official StormReady city, a community 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.

For more information visit the StormReady website.