JEFFERSON PARISH – The National Weather Service (NWS) has recognized Jefferson Parish as a “Storm Ready” community stating the Parish Administration, Fire Department, various law enforcement agencies, and Emergency Management passed every aspect of the compliance process. Storm Ready communities receive recognition after passing a series of protocols that will allow first responders and citizens to be adequately prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
Emergency Management Director Joe Valiente said, “It’s quite the honor to receive this recognition. The Parish had to demonstrate a certain level of compliance and preparedness for monitoring current weather conditions as well as being able to issue the appropriate warnings of inclement weather to the public. This is something we take very seriously and it couldn’t be done without the cooperative help of everyone involved.”
President Michael S. Yenni said, “The Parish is more prepared than before to deal with a major event. During this past Hurricane season, we always encouraged residents to prepare and use safety measures in the event a storm could potentially threaten the Parish. I want to commend all the various agencies involved in order for this to happen and you can always rest assured this administration will make sure all pumping stations are fully operational and staffed. We will make sure all communications equipment is working properly and our Emergency Management team, which has decades of experience, will always be on top of any dangerous weather situation.”
This certification will last for three years and the Parish will have to reapply in 2019. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of resources including our mobile app which will provide real-time data and the JP Alert system to stay informed. Visit www.JeffParish.net for information on how to sign up.