On January 27, the City of Los Angeles was recognized by NOAA’s National Weather Service as StormReady® and the largest city in the nation to become TsunamiReady™.

The nationwide voluntary community preparedness programs use a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to prepare and warn citizens about severe weather, flooding and tsunami threats. To become StormReady and TsunamiReady, the city of Los Angeles met stringent criteria focusing on both internal and external communication, alert systems, reception and understanding of hazardous weather alerts, community outreach, and a comprehensive natural disaster plan.

Mark Jackson, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service forecast office in Oxnard, presented city officials with recognition letters and StormReady and TsunamiReady signs at a ceremony on January 27 during the Los Angeles City Council meeting.

"As a City that faces the potential wrath of Mother Nature on a number of fronts, Los Angeles is proud to have earned the National Weather Service's distinctive "TsunamiReady" and "StormReady" recognition," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Our City is committed to the highest level of emergency preparedness so that our residents can be best equipped to deal with any sort of disaster."

“Like all areas along the West Coast, a tsunami could strike Los Angeles,” said Jackson. “Preparing for disaster is everyone's responsibility. Develop your own emergency response plan, keep a disaster supply kit on hand and learn the tsunami warning signs.”

The StormReady and TsunamiReady programs are a part of NOAA National Weather Service's working partnership with the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Emergency Management Association and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. The StormReady and TsunamiReady designation must be renewed after three years. More information on how your family can be prepared for a tsunami or other natural disaster is available online.