PIKE CO, IN (WFIE) -
A representative of the National Weather Service was in Pike County Thursday, to declare the community 'storm ready,' having met all NWS requirements for severe weather preparedness.
Pike County is now the 29th Indiana County to earn this distinction, and county representatives say they couldn't have done it without help from the federal government.
"There's a very specific set of requirements. There's actually seven different main criteria that they have to reach at certain levels within that, based on population, and they're done that," said Rick Shanklin with the NWS.
Those criteria include having strong planning, communication, and warning systems in place. Shanklin says Pike county exclusively received a federal 'NOAA Grant' to install new sirens.
EMA Director Tonda Dixon says they couldn't have achieved this recognition without it.
"We're very happy and fortunate to get the NOAA grant, to get those sirens. First county in the state of Indiana to ever be awarded that grant," Dixon noted.
Dixon says, while the county is happy to be recognized, she still sees room for improvement, and she says everyone in the community is responsible, for being prepared.
"I'd like to see more people prepare their emergency preparedness kits. I'd like to see more people become weather spotters. So we've got more work to do but we've come a long way."
Pike County will retain this distinction from now through July 12, 2015. At that time, the county will be reevaluated by the National Weather Service.
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Pike County will retain this distinction from now through July 12, 2015.
