UTEP Named Weather-Ready Ambassador by National Weather Service
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Santa Teresa has announced that The University of Texas at El Paso has joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador™ initiative.
UTEP is the first University in the region served by NWS Santa Teresa to earn this designation, according to NOAA. The initiative formally recognizes NOAA partners that are improving the nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events.
As a WRN Ambassador, UTEP has committed to working with NOAA and other ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather.
Ricardo Gonzalez, assistant director for UTEP's Environmental Health & Safety Office (EH&S), said that UTEP collaborates with the NWS Santa Teresa field office regularly as part of their safety management. "The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador designation solidifies our preparedness and makes our campus a safer place by helping UTEP minimize the impacts of weather-related events," he said.
UTEP works with the NWS staff during multiple large-scale events throughout the year, including football games, Minerpalooza, and major events at Sun Bowl Stadium. Additionally, UTEP EH&S and the NWS routinely partner in training, exercises and Emergency Operation Center activations to ensure that officials have the most up-to-date, weather-related information.
As part of this initiative, UTEP EH&S has agreed to promote WRN messages and themes to the UTEP student population; engage with NOAA and NWS personnel on potential collaboration opportunities; share success stories of preparedness and resiliency; and serve as an example by educating employees and students on local weather preparedness.
For more information on WRN Ambassadors, visit the following link: weather.gov/wrn/ambassadors.
Last Updated on May 25, 2023 at 12:00 AM | Originally published May 25, 2023
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
