Public Safety

Walla Walla County Earns Storm Ready Designation

Monday, August 10, 2026

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Walla Walla County has been designated as 'Storm Ready' by the National Weather Service, making it the first county in the Pendleton Weather Service coverage area within Washington State to achieve this status. The designation requires counties to establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, maintain multiple methods for receiving severe weather information, monitor local weather conditions, and have a formal hazardous weather plan. County Emergency Management Director T. Chris Lee noted the significant effort required to obtain this recognition, which aims to improve public safety during severe weather events. Residents are encouraged to purchase NOAA weather radios, which cost $30-60 and can alert them to approaching severe weather through audio messages. The county's emergency alert system can now send notifications to cell phones, home phones, email, text, and other devices.

📄 Source: Local Government — https://www.wwcowa.gov/residents/emergency_management/index.php

Source receipts14 of 17 claims supported · 82%

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Walla Walla County has been designated as 'Storm Ready'“STORM READY Walla Walla County is the first county in the Pendleton Weather Service coverage area within the State of Washington to receive this designation.”
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The National Weather Service designated Walla Walla County as 'Storm Ready'“STORM READY Walla Walla County is the first county in the Pendleton Weather Service coverage area within the State of Washington to receive this designation.”
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Walla Walla County is the first county in the Pendleton Weather Service coverage area within Washington State to achieve 'Storm Ready' status“STORM READY Walla Walla County is the first county in the Pendleton Weather Service coverage area within the State of Washington to receive this designation.”
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The designation requires counties to establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center“Eligibility requirements include establishment of a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, having more than one method of receiving severe weather information and alerting the public, creating a system that monitors local weather conditions and developing a formal hazardous weather plan.”
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The designation requires counties to maintain multiple methods for receiving severe weather information“having more than one method of receiving severe weather information and alerting the public, creating a system that monitors local weather conditions and developing a formal hazardous weather plan.”
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The designation requires counties to monitor local weather conditions“developing a formal hazardous weather plan.”
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The designation requires counties to have a formal hazardous weather plan“Eligibility requirements include establishment of a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, having more than one method of receiving severe weather information and alerting the public, creating a system that monitors local weather conditions and developing a formal hazardous weather plan.”
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County Emergency Management Director T. Chris Lee noted the significant effort required to obtain this recognitionNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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The recognition aims to improve public safety during severe weather eventsNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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Residents are encouraged to purchase NOAA weather radios“Residents are encouraged to purchase a NOAA weather radio.”
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NOAA weather radios cost $30-60“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration broadcasts weather information on several frequencies in our area. The signals may be received by a weather radio, which can be purchased at most electronics stores for $30-60.”
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NOAA weather radios can alert residents to approaching severe weather through audio messages“When severe weather approaches, the radio will sound an alarm and activate an audio message about the weather.”
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The county's emergency alert system can now send notifications to cell phones“Residents may also self-register their cell phone, VOIP phone, email, text message device, fax, TDD, and pager.”
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The county's emergency alert system can now send notifications to home phones“County Residents listed in the County’s white pages landline phone database are automatically subscribed to emergency alerts by phone.”
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The county's emergency alert system can now send notifications to email“Residents may also self-register their cell phone, VOIP phone, email, text message device, fax, TDD, and pager.”
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The county's emergency alert system can now send notifications to text“Messages can be sent to residents on any communication path desired – cell phone, home phone, email, text messaging, fax, pager, PDA and more – ensuring that residents receive life-saving emergency information and important public service announcements in minutes.”
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The county's emergency alert system can now send notifications to other devicesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.