Memphis/Shelby County EOC receives prestigious Community Hero Award

[harlequin]

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=meg&storyid=71266&source=0

The Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Operations Center Staff has been approved to receive the prestigious NOAA StormReady Community Hero Award for their life saving actions during the historic 2011 Lower Mississippi River Flood.

This is the first time the NWS's national advisory board has approved the receipt of this award since 2006, and only the fifth time it has been approved since the award's inception about ten years ago!

A recognition ceremony is in its planning stages.  Congratulations to the Memphis/Shelby County EOC!

That's great for them! Way to go!

[Kevin]

I wonder what it takes to nominate a person/community/organization...etc...other than being designated StormReady. Seems there were plenty of events in the last 5 years in "StormReady" areas that people probably could have gotten this award.

Not trying to take away from Shelby County EOC in what was a very good job in dealing with this year's floods...but just curious in whether a WFO must nominate beforehand...and many simply just don't do it after something happens. The reason I say this...Number 4 on the list...the last time this was rewarded...was also in the MEG CWA...for the Caruthersville, MO police chief during the April 2, 2006 tornado....and the other three belong to two other WFO CWAs. So three WFOs involved total over ten years and five awards. Just wonder if MEG is willing to nominate people when others aren't and haven't been over the years...

[StormNine]

Wasn't there a reward of some type given for that January 2008 tornado that hit the Elementary School in Caledonia MS. I forgot what all went on, but I remember someone got on the intercom and told everyone to take cover in an orderly fashion.  No fatalities resulted due to this person's actions.  I forgot whether it was a principal or another school worker that did this, but didn't that person get honored.

[harlequin]

I think I remember something like that, StormNine.

I'm guessing WFOs just aren't aware of the award or something, Kevin. I'm sure there are other Storm Ready communities that did excellent jobs during high impact events.

I hope James Spann gets some sort of award for his coverage on April 27. I recently watched all of it Youtube (or the coverage from the Cullman tornado touchdown onward). Man, that was excellent coverage. Outstanding.

[toastido]

I think I remember something like that, StormNine.

I'm guessing WFOs just aren't aware of the award or something, Kevin. I'm sure there are other Storm Ready communities that did excellent jobs during high impact events.

I hope James Spann gets some sort of award for his coverage on April 27. I recently watched all of it Youtube (or the coverage from the Cullman tornado touchdown onward). Man, that was excellent coverage. Outstanding.

Huntsville/Madison Co. AL is a Certified StormReady community as well.  Although I was in the EOC here for the entire event, the TV coverage was evident from the situational awareness monitors around the EOC floor.  Not sure if NWS HUN  knows about the award/nominations either...   

[Kevin]

I also wonder if perhaps the impacts of events like 4/27 may prevent awards being handed out there versus like in Caruthersville in 4/2/06 and the Memphis area flooding...which cost zero lives because of the specific actions of the recipient(s). Despite folks like HUN/EOC...etc undoubtedly saving lives on 4/27...still hundreds of people dying may not be good "press" to give an award like that.

In the NWS...they have the DOC Medals that are handed out to organizations within the dept (including the NWS) that show excellent performance in big events. One of the recent cases where WFOs were up for this...Super Tuesday...the WFOs involved (including MEG) were only given a "bronze" medal of recognition. DOC reasoned that because of the high death toll they could not justify giving a "gold" to WFOs because it wouldn't come off as sensitive as those who still lost their life that day despite great work by MEG and the others.