BELLAIRE MAYOR’S MUSINGS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •Bellaire is certifiably ‘StormReady’
By Andrew Friedberg
Our emergency
management
personnel
are great at what
they do, and
they’re always
working to get even
better, including
by implementing
new ideas and best
practices. Bellaire
has recently been recognized by the
National Weather Service (NWS) as a
StormReady community, based on the
strength and effectiveness of our severe
weather response plans, communications
and emergency operations. An added
benefit of achieving this designation is
credit toward our Community Rating
System classification, which lowers flood
insurance premiums for property owners.
The city’s application began with an
internal assessment of what we were
already doing well, and identifying
areas for improvement to meet all the
requirements. Through two site visits by
NWS, the latter of which also included
state and county emergency management
representatives, we were evaluated
according to program guidelines.
A StormReady community must:
establish a 24-hour warning point and
emergency operations center; have more
than one way to receive severe weather
warnings and forecasts and to alert the
public; create a system that monitors
weather conditions locally; promote the
importance of public readiness through
community seminars; and develop a
formal hazardous weather plan, which
includes training severe weather spotters
and holding emergency exercises.
The assessors toured our Emergency
Operations and Communication Centers,
and visited with the personnel to discuss
and observe our systems and processes.
Their positive feedback centered on
our communications abilities — both
external and internal — before, during
and after a severe weather event.
They were particularly impressed by
our PrepareBellaire emergency alert
system for pushing timely and accurate
information out to the public. In
reviewing our Communication Center
they praised our innovative use of
NWSChat and other tools for situational
awareness and direct communication
with NWS. They also commented
favorably on our internal coordination
among the public safety, emergency
management and public information
functions. Overall, they found our
“community severe weather plans are
excellent with numerous ways to receive
and disseminate weather warnings and
information.”
NWS will formally present our
StormReady recognition at an upcoming
City Council meeting. Editor’s note:
The NWS StormReady presentation is
tentatively scheduled for the Nov. 18
council meeting. It’s renewable every
three years, and maintaining it will be
an important part of our ongoing effort
for continuous improvement. Learn
more about the program on the NWS
StormReady website, https://www.
weather.gov/StormReady.
Friedberg blogs on civic matters
at cityofbellairemayorsmusings.
blogspot.com
4911 Welford | Bellaire
We know Bellaire!
NEIL SILVERMAN
Bellaire Neighbor & Realtor®
713.725.9750
nsilverman@BernsteinRealty.com
AMY BERNSTEIN
Broker/Owner
713.932.1032
abernstein@BernsteinRealty.com
713.932.1032
BernsteinRealty.com
Friedberg