The National Weather Service (NWS) on Tuesday officially recognized Greene County as a "StormReady" county.

During a press conference at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Tim Troutman, NWS warning coordination meterologist in Morristown, presented a framed recognition letter and two signs indicative of the "StormReady" designation to county officials.

Greene County is the 40th Tennessee county among 95 counties to earn the StormReady designation.

The county is also the 13th county between Chattanooga and Wise County, Va., to earn the StormReady designation, according to Troutman.

Representing Greene County were Bill Brown, director of the Greeneville-Greene County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles.

Brown said his agency spent the last three years working toward achieving StormReady status.

Brown's agency, using federal grants, has acquired weather radios for all Greeneville and Greene County Schools, Greeneville Town Hall, the Greene County Courthouse Annex and the offices of Greeneville and Greene County directors of schools.

Brown thanked Heather Sipe, operations officer of the Greeneville-Greene County Office of Emergency Management, and Diana Duff, his administrative assistant for their efforts in achieving StormReady status.

Brown also singled out GPD Captain Teddy Lawing, who also is deputy EMA director, for his work on the project.

Mayor Broyles thanked the Emergency Management Agency staff for its work. Broyles said his primary concern remains the protection of Greene County residents.

"Through a partnership between the National Weather Service and emergency management, the StormReady program encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations and public awareness," Troutman said.

The nationwide community preparedness program uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle local severe weather and flooding threats, according to Troutman.

The program is voluntary and provides communities with clear-cut advice from their local National Weather Service forecast office and state and local emergency managers.

To be recognized as StormReady, a community must establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings and to alert the public, Troutman said.

Other requirements include creating a system that monitors local weather conditions; promoting 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.

"Disaster preparedness is everyone's responsibility," Troutman said. "Educating yourself and your family on environmental hazards, maintaining a disaster supply kit, and having an emergency plan in place, are all proactive ways you can be better prepared."