Kesha Williams
July 31, 2014
Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean is underway so Elizabeth City State University is gearing up for the most notable season of threatening weather. ECSU is now a Weather Ready Nation Ambassador. The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador initiative is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) effort to formally recognize NOAA partners who are improving the nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events. As a WRN Ambassador, partners commit to working with NOAA and other ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather. In effect, the WRN Ambassador initiative helps unify the efforts across government, non-profits, academia, and private industry toward making the nation more ready, responsive, and resilient against extreme environmental hazards. Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) is a strategic outcome where society’s response should be equal to the risk from all extreme weather, water, and climate hazards. For many coastal residents, the most alarming season is hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center declares hurricane season for the Atlantic as June 1 through November 30. That’s plenty of time for storms to arise and cause considerable property damage. In April of 2014, tornadoes posed the greatest threat. The N.C. Department of Public Safety reports nine tornadoes touched down in this region damaging or destroying 327 homes and resulting in the death of an infant. Hurricane Irene, in 2012, was blamed for seven deaths and 38 counties were approved for federal disaster assistance for individuals and business owners. The agency also reports in April of 2011 tornadoes impacted 30 counties, claimed 24 lives, injured 133 people, destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and businesses. As a WRN Ambassador, ECSU staff will provide the kind of information that will help residents make wise decisions. WRN Ambassadors serve a pivotal role in affecting societal change – helping to build a nation that is ready, responsive, and resilient to the impacts of extreme weather and water events. To be officially recognized as a WRN Ambassador, an organization must commit to: Promoting Weather-Ready Nation messages and themes to their stakeholders Engaging with NOAA personnel on potential collaboration opportunities Sharing their success stories of preparedness and resiliency Serving as an example by educating employees on workplace preparedness The WRN Ambassador initiative is the connecting hub of a vast network of federal, state, and local government agencies emergency managers and city planners researchers, the media the insurance industry nonprofit organizations the private sector and many others who are working together to address the impacts of extreme weather on daily life.
