Greater Green Valley Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Recognized as 2023 Southeast Arizona

Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have developed the Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador Initiative to help improve the nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events. WRN Ambassadors extend across government, non-profits, academia, and private industry; and share the goal of making the nation more ready, responsive, and resilient against extreme environmental hazards. WRN is a strategic outcome where society’s response should be equal to the risk from all extreme weather, water, and climate hazards. Nationwide, there are over 13,000 WRN Ambassadors committed to working with NOAA, the NWS and other Ambassadors to strengthen resilience against extreme weather.

NWS Tucson recognized the Greater Green Valley Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as the 2023 Ambassador of Excellence in southeast Arizona for their efforts to prepare the public for hazards relating to extreme weather. Green Valley CERT educates members of the community about weather safety and interacts with the National Weather Service to increase awareness. They collaborate with the NWS, utility companies, and other organizations active in disasters to host an annual preparedness fair which educates the community.  Another example of Green Valley CERT’s efforts to promote a Weather Ready Nation was their participation in a recent Monsoon Madness Forum organized by the Green Valley Council where community members were able to learn about monsoon dangers and preparations from CERT personnel, the NWS, and other public safety officials.  Members also make an impact in their community by frequently handing out information about heat safety and other topics at a local farmers market.  Finally, Green Valley CERT not only regularly trains its members, but extends this training to the public by hosting monthly meetings on subjects such as NWS Skywarn Spotter training and monsoon sandbag training. 

Green Valley CERT Board members accept the 2023 Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence certificate from NWS Tucson. From left to right: Ken Drozd, Peggy McGee, Hayes Galitski, Jack Cruikshank, Carole Petty, Linda Reed and John McGee.

NWS Tucson has dozens of local Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors across southeast Arizona. The Ambassador initiative recognizes leaders in the community that help build community resilience in the face of extreme weather events – from promoting safety messages in outreach activities, to being a “weather-ready” role model. Any organization can become a Weather Ready Nation Ambassador.  Schools, government agencies, private businesses, civic organizations, homeowner associations and others can apply online at weather.gov/wrn/ambassadors. If you have questions about the WRN Ambassador initiative or the online application, please contact Ken Drozd at kenneth.drozd@noaa.gov. See the NWS Tucson Ambassador page for additional information about past Ambassadors of Excellence and a list of all Ambassador organizations in southeast Arizona.