Officials from the National Weather Service (NWS) recognized WVU Hospitals (WVUH) for achieving StormReady certification, which underscores WVUH’s commitment to safety through robust emergency planning, comprehensive staff training, and advanced disaster readiness protocols.

According to the NWS, some 98 percent of all presidentially declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage. The StormReady program helps arm America’s communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property – before, during, and after the event. StormReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs.

StormReady communities, counties, Indian nations, universities and colleges, military bases, government sites, commercial enterprises, and other groups are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced planning, education, and awareness. No community is storm proof, but StormReady can help communities save lives.

StormReady uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle all types of extreme weather — from tornadoes to winter storms. The program encourages communities to take a new, proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations by providing emergency managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.

“Earning the StormReady certification reflects our commitment to ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and our facilities during severe weather events,” Joshua Cook, director of WVUH Emergency Management, said.

By earning the StormReady certification, WVUH, which includes WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, WVU Medicine Children’s, Fairmont Medical Center, and their affiliated outpatient clinics, joins a select group of healthcare facilities nationwide recognized for their leadership in weather preparedness and safety.