VSU StormReady Supporter

Sue Mitchell Fuciarelli, VSU’s vice president of Finance and Administration; Ashley Tye, director of Lowndes County Emergency Management; Bob DeLong, director of VSU’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Safety; Jeff Evans, meteorologist with NOAA, Tallahassee, Fla.; and VSU President William McKinney gather on university's front lawn for the presentation of the StormReady Supporter certificate to DeLong on Thursday, Aug. 15.

VALDOSTA – Ashley Tye, director of Lowndes County Emergency Management, recognized Valdosta State University as a National Weather Service (NWS) StormReady Supporter. Valdosta State is the first public institution in Georgia to receive this distinction.

The NWS StormReady Supporter recognition acknowledges the university's efforts toward planning, training and awareness aspects associated with storm preparation. The StormReady Supporter certification helps communities develop and improve communication and safety skills needed to prevent deaths and injuries and reduce damage to property in the event of severe weather.

According to the NWS website to earn the designation, a community or campus 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;
• Create a system that monitors local weather conditions;
• Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars; and
• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan that includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

For more information on VSU’s emergency preparedness, visit the Emergency Information website at http://www.valdosta.edu/student/emergency/welcome.php

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities.

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals:

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Goal 5: Develop and enhance Valdosta State’s human and physical resources.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.