Storm Ready is a nationwide program which began in the summer of 2000. It is a voluntary program designed to help counties and communities take a proactive approach to the kinds of severe weather that affect their areas by improving local hazardous weather operations and heightening public awareness. At present, their are 268 sites that have worked with the National Weather Service, Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the media to become Storm Ready. By participating in this program, local agencies can earn recognition for their jurisdiction by meeting the guidelines established by the National Weather Service in partnership with federal, state, and local emergency management professionals. Schertz is one of 122 communities in the State of Texas that are certified StormReady!!!

Some of the things the Storm Ready program is intended to do are:

• Improve the timelines of effectiveness of hazardous weather warnings for the public.
• Provide detailed and clear recommendations by which local emergency managers may establish and improve effective hazardous weather operations. 
• Help local emergency managers justify costs and purchases related to supporting their hazardous weather-related program. 
• Reward local hazardous weather mitigation programs that have achieved a desired performance level. 
• Provide a means of acquiring additional Community Rating System points assigned by the Insurance Services Organization. 
• Provide an "Image incentive" to communities that can identify themselves as being Storm Ready.