DA Achieves "StormReady" Certification

Davidson Academy has just been awarded StormReady certification by the National Weather Service.

DA is the first private school in the state to achieve this status and joins just 13 other districts in the entire state of Tennessee to have it.

Led by technology director Craig Browning and the campus crisis team, the certification process ensures:

* Support personnel are familiar with weather hazards in Middle Tennessee and have a plan for mitigating and recovering from all weather hazards:

* Proper sheltering plans are in place;

* Notifications are received by the NWS from several different methods (weather radio, media, phone, other government access methods).

After NWS looked over DA's campus emergency operations plans pertaining to weather-related response and activities, officials performed site surveys of the campus. NWS certified the school's evacuation and/or sheltering policies, offering a few minor adjustments that are now being put into effect.

A ceremony will be held at school at a later date when NWS officials in Nashville present the school with official signage indicating that the school has achieved certification.

"The process took a couple of months," said Browning. "DA is dedicated to the safety of all its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Being a NWS recognized

school drives that home.

"We now also have access to weather radar systems not available to the public to ensure faculty and staff are always on top of the changing weather conditions," he added.

Davidson Academy is grateful to Mr. Browning and his team for leading in this important effort.