County recognized for being ‘StormReady’
By Alyssa Schafer North Dakotans understand better than most how dangerous severe weather can be. But McLean County residents can rest a bit easier knowing the county has been recognized as "StormReady" by the National Weather Service. "Every person in the United States is affected by severe weather, and the residents of McLean County are no exception," said John Paul Martin, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Bismarck. "StormReady" is a program designed by the National Weather Service to help communities and counties implement procedures to reduce the likelihood of disastrous weather-related consequences. "The United States is really the most severe weather prone country on the earth," Martin said. "We suffer about 10,000 thunderstorms each year, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes and 10 hurricanes." McLean County is no stranger to severe weather considering the high wind, hail damage, winter storm damage and tornadoes the county has experienced in recent years, Martin said.
