StormReady

Definition

Percent of local governments that are certified StormReady by the National Weather Service

Why is it Important?

Severe weather causes an estimated $15 billion in damage in the United States every year.¹Communities can increase their preparedness for severe weather through the National Weather Service’s StormReady program, which helps strengthen local safety programs, reduce fatalities, and minimize property damage. The program encourages advanced planning, education, and awareness through various requirements such as establishing a 24-hour warning point and developing a formal hazardous weather plan. This indicator measures the percent of local governments (cities and counties) that are certified StormReady.

How are we Doing?

The percent of local governments that are certified StormReady increased from 2.5 percent in the baseline year 2010 to 6.5 percent in 2022. This percentage has been increasing since 2000, when zero local governments were certified in the region. In addition to the 13 local governments that are currently certified, five universities are certified. There are also 17 businesses and nonprofits that are StormReady supporters, meaning that they promote the principles and guidelines of the program. St. Louis County was the first local government in the area to become certified StormReady in 2001. The other 12 certified local governments are Madison County, the city of Freeburg, and the Village of Godfrey in Illinois; the cities of Ballwin, Wildwood, St. Peters, St. Louis, Clayton,  St. Charles, O’Fallon and Wentzville in Missouri; and St. Charles County in Missouri.

Geographic Level

St. Louis eight-county bi-state region, including Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties and the city of St. Louis in Missouri and Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois. View map.

Notes

¹National Weather Service, StormReady Program; accessed on 26 December 2019 at https://www.weather.gov/stormready/

Data Sources

National Weather Service StormReady Program