Morey’s Given Storm Ready Certification

WILDWOOD — The National Weather Service and the New Jersey StormReady Advisory Board have awarded Morey’s Piers a StormReady Commercial Site Certification, according to a release.
“The designation, good for three years, certifies that Morey’s Piers has fulfilled a set of criteria that ensures everything reasonable has been done to provide for the safety of its guests and employees during adverse weather conditions, including thunderstorms and extreme heat,” said Gary S. Szatkowski, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly.
“The process took several months to complete,” says Mike Wampler, pier operations manager, who completed the application process on behalf of Morey’s. “NWS officers visited Morey’s Piers, inspected all the equipment, and toured all facilities as part of the certification procedure,” he stated.
Wampler also toured the NWS site in Mount Holly and learned how the NWS operations affect those it reports to on weather conditions.
The weather service looks at six categories: communications; NWS information reception; weather and water monitoring systems; local warning dissemination; community preparedness; and administrative tools/record keeping.
“Certification addresses the need for a higher level of community awareness in order to minimize the loss of life and property from episodes of extreme weather,” Szatkowski says.
“StormReady encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations and public awareness. While no community can ever be storm proof, the StormReady program improves communication and safety skills necessary to save lives and property – before and during the event,” Szatkowski says.
“The certification is only the beginning,” Wampler says. “Morey’s Piers will continue communications with the National Weather Service, as well as commit to attend future classes and seminars conducted by the NWS.”