NWS certifies Grand Forks AFB as StormReady

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. recently became one of a handful of military installations in the northern part of the Midwest to be certified as "StormReady" by the National Weather Service.

The StormReady program began in 1999 in Tulsa, Okla. The program is designed to help arm communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property before and during a severe weather event. StormReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs through advanced planning, education and awareness.

"The StormReady certification is a 'no cost' program aimed to better prepare our base for severe weather events and potentially save lives," said 1st Lt. Andrew Anderson, readiness officer for the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron's Readiness and Emergency Management Flight, more commonly known as the 319th CEX.

Grand Forks is one of 39 U.S. military installations to earn the certification and the only military site to be categorized as StormyReady in the state of North Dakota.

The base officially began working on becoming StormReady on July 18, 2012. The 319th CEX worked closely with personnel from the base's command post, weather, fire protection, security forces, and safety office for approximately two months in order to meet certification objectives, such as placement of StormReady radios in key facilities and implementation of an AdHoc system, which is a type of wireless network that does not rely on a preexisting infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points. The base agencies also worked with Grand Forks County Emergency Management and the NWS to verify and enhance their checklists.

Although the StormReady certification was a collaborative effort from several on-and off-base agencies, Anderson commended the work of two Warriors of the North: Master Sgt. John Grollimund, 319th CEX flight superintendent, and Tech. Sgt. Ben Hall, the NCO in-charge of operational readiness for the 319th Air Base Wing Inspector General's Office.

"Both of these individuals did the majority of legwork and coordination with all of the military and civilian organizations needed for implementation and verification of the StormReady requirements," said Anderson.

Anderson said the legwork of Grollimund and Hall along with dedicated and team-minded efforts of various people from both military and civilian agencies have done more than make Grand Forks AFB one of only three Air Mobility Command installations to be StormReady certified.

"Other units will become aware that Grand Forks Air Force Base is better prepared for severe weather events," said Anderson. "That news will spread to other parts of our base and local communities, which will give our residents, coworkers and families great peace of mind. And that is something anyone would love to have no matter where they may be."