Full Notification

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY TO BE DESIGNATED “TsunamiReady™/StormReady®”

Santa Barbara County officials will be awarded the TsunamiReady™ /StormReady® status by representatives of the National Weather Service at Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, April 1st. TsunamiReady™ is a readiness program developed by NOAA’s National Weather Service that builds upon its StormReady® program, both designations that Santa Barbara County received in January 2014. The TsunamiReady™ designation recognizes communities that have taken steps necessary to ensure residents and visitors are better prepare storms, tsunamis, and the hazards they pose.

The county met rigorous criteria to achieve this distinction, which include developing a tsunami response plan and communications infrastructure, installation of tsunami hazard zone signs, as well as actively promoting tsunami safety through public awareness activities and training. The county worked closely with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and Geological Survey in completing these requirements.

The TsunamiReady™ preparedness program helps communities develop tsunami response plans with NOAA's National Weather Service and local emergency managers. Since the program began in 2004, more than 130 U.S. communities and counties have become TsunamiReady™. The StormReady® program focuses on community response and communications plans to develop preparedness measures for the hazards that storms can pose. StormReady® features over 2000 sites nationwide. While no community is tsunami or storm-proof, the programs allow for stronger emergency response plans and preparedness activities to develop effective strategies to deal with events.

To be recognized as TsunamiReady™ a county must:

• Establish a 24-hour center for receiving National Weather Service warnings and activating local warning systems.
• Have more than one way to alert the public about tsunami and severe weather warnings.
• Promote public readiness through community education and the distribution of information.
• Develop a formal tsunami plan, which includes holding emergency exercises.

The TsunamiReady™ program is part of the National Weather Service's working partnership with the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Emergency Management Association and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. The TsunamiReady™ designation must be renewed after three years.

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at http://www.sbcoem.org, Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/SBCountyOEM and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/SBCountyOEM.