The University of Wisconsin-Superior has been officially designated as StormReady by the National Weather Service (NWS), making it the only university in the region to receive this recognition.

“As a federal agency, people often assume we’re nameless, faceless, or too busy to engage with local communities,” said Joe Moore, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the NWS. “But we’re here to support communities like yours. This designation reflects exactly what we aim to do – help campuses like UW-Superior stay prepared for severe weather and keep their people safe.”

The StormReady designation underscores UW-Superior’s commitment to safety, particularly when hosting large events such as athletic competitions, concerts, theatre performances, and commencement ceremonies.

“When major events are happening – like commencement – Joe Eickman, Chief of the University Police Department, works with us to request weather support,” Moore added. “We then actively monitor the event to ensure safety in real time.”

The StormReady program helps community leaders and emergency managers enhance local safety protocols by promoting proactive preparation for extreme weather, including tornadoes and winter storms. It offers clear guidelines for improving hazardous weather operations using a grassroots, community-based approach.

To earn the StormReady designation, UW-Superior:

• Established a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
• Implemented multiple methods for receiving and disseminating severe weather alerts
• Created a system to locally monitor weather conditions
• Promotes public preparedness through community seminars
• Developed a formal hazardous weather response plan

This achievement highlights UW-Superior’s ongoing efforts to prioritize safety and emergency preparedness across campus and in the broader community.