The City of McAllen is StormReady! Certification Ceremony Wraps Successful Completion of Program, November 2010

City of McAllen is StormReady®!
Photo of NWS Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley Management Team with City of McAllen Officials involved in StormReady certification process

Photo of NWS Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley Management Team with City of McAllen Officials involved in StormReady certification process

City of McAllen, Texas, Officials and NWS Management at the StormReady® Certification. From left: Telcommunications Analyst Jeff Teer, Communications Technology Manager Randy Ashley, NWS Brownsville/RGV Meteorologist in Charge Steve Drillette, City Attorney/Emergency Management Coordinator Kevin Pagan, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Pilar Rodriguez, and NWS Brownsville/RGV Warning Coordination Meteorologist Barry Goldsmith.

It was a long time coming, but the City of McAllen was rewarded with a well earned recognition as a StormReady® Community in October, 2010, culminating with an official certification ceremony held at the bi–weekly City Commission/Public Meeting at a packed Commissioners Chambers in City Hall, on November 22nd. National Weather Service Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley Meteorologist in Charge provided an overview of the StormReady® Program and its importance to enhancing the mission of saving lives by ensuring critical reception and dissemination capabilities capable of reaching the vast majority of residents. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Barry Goldsmith gave credit to each member of the superb team of officials and communications specialists who were instrumental in not only meeting the baseline criteria for large communities, but going above and beyond in many of them. Following the remarks, a Certificate of Recognition was provided to Mr. Pagan, along with a Letter of Recognition and two StormReady® road signs.

Welcome aboard, McAllen! Let’s hope we never have to fully activate StormReady® capabilities for this great city. But we are certain that when dangerous weather bears down, McAllen has the communications infrastructure, from technology to trained personnel, to save lives and protect the entire community.