Winston-Salem State University is set to achieve a significant milestone by officially becoming a StormReady campus during a recognition ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, at 2 p.m. The event will take place in the Donald J. Reaves Center, Room 100A, and feature Nicholas “Nick” Petro, the warning coordination meteorologist from the National Weather in Raleigh.
WSSU is the second historically black university in the University of North Carolina system to earn the StormReady recognition and the second higher education institution in Forsyth County to earn the designation. The StormReady program, sponsored by the NWS, is a voluntary initiative that promotes community preparedness for severe weather. It recognizes entities that are committed to enhancing their readiness for hazardous conditions.
Earning the StormReady Designation
To attain StormReady status, WSSU completed a thorough application process, which included a site visit and an extensive meeting with local NWS officials. The university met several stringent criteria, including establishing a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, implementing multiple methods for receiving weather forecasts and warnings and creating a system to monitor local weather conditions. Furthermore, the university has actively promoted the importance of preparedness through community seminars and developed a formal hazardous weather plan that involves training severe weather spotters and conducting emergency exercises.
According to the NWS, the United States experiences around 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and six deadly hurricanes yearly. Approximately 90 percent of all federally declared disaster areas are weather-related.
“This designation highlights our ongoing commitment to keeping the campus community informed of severe weather threats and implementing best practices for weather preparation and public awareness,” said Jason Stogner, director of WSSU’s Office of Emergency Management.
The recognition ceremony will feature remarks from WSSU Chancellor Bonita Brown, Stogner, and Petro, who will formally present the StormReady certificate.
