Putnam County is 'StormReady'

Friday, December 26, 2025 at 7:28 AM

By Paul Gable

When emergencies hit, time is of the essence.

And, over the years, Emergency Management directors in Putnam County have completely understood that.

As a result of that understanding and hard work, the Putnam County Emergency Management Operations Center recently earned StormReady status from the National Weather Service. With the distinction, Putnam County becomes the first county in District 7 to earn such status. District 7 is comprised of Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Owen, Sullivan, Putnam and Greene counties. The certification recognizes Putnam County's commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness and communication capabilities related to hazardous weather.

"This certification is not only a recognition of the hard work of local agencies and partners, but it also carries substantial value for the future of public safety in our community. StormReady status enhances our eligibility for certain emergency management and mitigation grant opportunities and demonstrates that Putnam County meets or exceeds NWS standards for readiness, communication, and operational capability during severe weather events. These improvements
directly contribute to saving lives, protecting infrastructure, and ensuring that our response network is as strong and effective as possible. We are proud of this accomplishment and look forward to continuing to strengthen public safety
across Putnam County," said Sarah Owen, Putnam County Emergency Management Director.

In order to reach StormReady status, a community must do the following:

• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operation center

• Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts to alert the public

• Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally

• Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars

• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.