Utah Valley University (UVU) was formally recognized today as the first public institution of higher education in Utah to receive the National Weather Service’s “StormReady” identification. This designation is awarded to communities, counties, and universities that have reached a high level of preparedness for severe weather conditions. 

“It’s a significant accomplishment,” said Kevin Barjenbruch, warning coordination meteorologist from the National Weather Service. “In the end, it really benefits the community at large. We are talking about the protection of lives and livelihoods. It’s really, really important. So, that dedication and the effort involved is truly helpful.”

The application process is extensive and requires documented ways to get weather information, an established warning point and emergency operations center, safety training, and a hazardous weather operations plan.

“I just wanted every tool available to me that I could get in order to be prepared to give people good information so they can make decisions,” said UVU Director of Emergency Management and Safety Robin Ebmeyer.

The StormReady designation allows Ebmeyer to contact the National Weather Service help desk at any time.

“It’s better than any weather app or watching the news because it is focused on the UVU campus,” she said. “They can really give this surgical forecast of what the weather will be over the next two, four, or six hours. That helps us a lot to make decisions about whether to keep the campus open because it’s going to get better in a few hours or close it because it’s not going to get better. Whatever they say is going to happen happens.”

The tools provided by the National Weather Service have already been put to good use for large outdoor events at UVU and will be very useful in the winter months ahead.