PennWest University has been awarded the prestigious StormReady designation from the National Weather Service (NWS). The recognition acknowledges the university's commitment to weather safety and preparedness across the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses.

The 3-year distinction, approved by the StormReady Committee of the NWS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, became official January 23.

"StormReady reflects our dedication to the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” said Jim Dahle, PennWest’s director of Safety and Risk Management. “By maintaining top-notch weather preparedness measures, we can better protect our campus communities in the face of severe weather events."

While the California and Edinboro campuses previously held individual StormReady designations, this marks the first time PennWest has received the recognition on a university-wide level.

To earn StormReady designation – which was established in 1999, communities and universities 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 weather-monitoring system, promote public readiness and develop a formal hazardous-weather plan.

PennWest University offers the PennWest Shield safety app and emergency notification system, which allows the university to deliver time-sensitive messages and emergency procedures wherever students and employees are during severe weather or other critical situations.