Ripley Co. Officially Recognized As "StormReady"

Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 6:28 AM

By Travis Thayer Standing left to right: Tony Wood (Friendship Water Department), Major Matt Chastain (Civilian Air Patrol/Ripley County EMA), Rich Corkhum (Deputy Director Ripley County EMA), Brandon Peloquin's (Warning Coordination Meteorologist at National Weather Service), Patrick Rose (Director Ripley County EMA), Ollie Craig (Communications Officer/Administrative Assistant Ripley County EMA), Darrel Ake (Ripley County EMA), Todd Schutte (Batesville Fire and Rescue) Seated left to right: Ripley County Commissioner Mark Busching, President of the Ripley County Commissioners Gary Stutler, and Ripley County Commissioner Bob Linville.

(Ripley County, Ind.) – Ripley County is now officially StormReady.

Officials from the National Weather Service recognized Ripley County, Indiana as StormReady during a ceremony at the courthouse annex in Versailles yesterday. Brandon Peloquin, Warning Coordination Meteorologist of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wilmington, Ohio presented officials with a certificate and a StormReady sign during the ceremony. To be recognized as StormReady, a county must maintain a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one way to receive National Weather Service warnings and to alert the public; be able to monitor local weather and flood conditions; conduct community preparedness programs; and ensure hazardous weather and flooding are addressed in formal emergency management plans. Meterologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service Ken Haydu said, “By becoming StormReady, officials in Ripley County have shown a commitment to protecting the lives of the people they serve.” The StormReady program will help community leaders and residents better prepare for hazardous weather and flooding. RELATED STORIES: NWS Says Ripley County Is “StormReady”