The City National Weather Service has named Federal Way StormReady, the third consecutive time it has received this accreditation. The city first earned the accreditation in May 2008, and again in May 2011. The accreditation is reviewed every three years and this current accreditation is valid through July 2017.

Four of the five most recent presidential-declared disasters for the Federal Way area have been weather-related. Earning the StormReady accreditation demonstrates the city’s commitment to maintaining a high level of preparedness and effective response to severe weather-related events.

The comprehensive process for earning accreditation involves every key part of emergency planning for severe weather. In order to qualify the city must:

• Have a formal hazardous weather operations plan
• Have an established 24-hour warning point
• Have an established Emergency Operations Center
• Have multiple layers of information reception equipment
• Have local weather and water monitoring equipment
• Have multiple layers of local warning dissemination methods
• Conduct annual safety talks and community preparedness activities

Obtaining and maintaining the StormReady accreditation would not have been possible without the partnerships between Federal Way Public Works, Federal Way Police Department, Federal Way Public Schools, Lakehaven Utility District, St. Francis Hospital, South King Fire and Rescue and the Community Emergency Response Team volunteers.

For questions, concerns or more information on disaster preparedness please contact Federal Way Emergency Manager Ray Gross at 253-835-2712.