[PHX-Skywarn] Phx NWS In the newspaper

[Allen Sklar]

Hello All..
Via the Arizona Republic....

http://www.arizonarepublic.com/arizona/articles/0205nepvstorm05.html

Paradise Valley is 'StormReady'
First Valley town to earn special weather rating
By Diana Balazs
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 5, 2003

PARADISE VALLEY - Paradise Valley will become the first municipality in the Phoenix
metropolitan area to be designated as a StormReady Community by the National Weather
Service.

In Arizona, only Yuma and Coconino County have that designation. A StormReady
Community is one that has an emergency weather plan in place, which includes a
combination of training, education and public awareness. There are 521 StormReady
Communities in 43 states.

The National Weather Service is expected to formally bestow the title to Paradise
Valley at the March 13 Town Council meeting.

"It just opens up a great opportunity for the city to be able to explain to its
residents what they have done in the last few years to help mitigate the effects of
natural disasters," said meteorologist David Runyan in the weather service's Phoenix
office.

Rural/Metro District Chief Mike Winters, the town's fire marshal, said Paradise
Valley will be better prepared to handle any kind of weather-related emergency. "It
just kind of gives us that added edge," he said. The certification is good for three
years.

Police Chief John Wintersteen said the town has had its share of severe weather. And
it has taken steps to minimize the damage caused by storms. For instance, it has a
program to bury utility lines along Lincoln Drive and Tatum Boulevard.

"Twice we've had long sections of poles blown down during storms. By removing those
poles underground, we significantly reduce the risk that our major arterials would
be blocked," Wintersteen said.

Police also have trained its supervisors as storm spotters, acquired special weather
radios for Town Hall, the police department and public works, and has the means to
set up a 24-hour emergency operations center. The town also will host a class March
4 for residents interested in becoming storm spotters.