(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - April 14, 2017) - - - Columbia State Community College was recently recognized as a StormReady supporter by the National Weather Service.

"StormReady recognition indicates that the college has done everything possible to improve preparedness in the event of a natural disaster," said Krissy Hurley, NWS Nashville warning coordination meteorologist.

The StormReady designation is given to an institution that promotes the principles and guidelines of the StormReady program in its severe weather safety and awareness plans.

"Many people at the college put in a lot of hard work for this designation to be possible," said Tim Hallmark, Columbia State facilities services and safety director. "By participating in this program, we have increased our ability to respond to emergencies that involve severe weather."

The supporter designation will remain active on all five campuses for five years. Emergency preparedness plans and designated safe areas will need to be reevaluated at the end of the five years to renew the StormReady supporter status.

"On behalf of the Maury County mayor and Maury County Office of Emergency Management, we wanted to be here and celebrate this accomplishment," said Mark Blackwood, Maury County OEM director. "We want to thank Columbia State for the work that has been done. It is a sigh of relief to know that the college is better protected than it was and that it is doing everything within reason to minimize a potential threat."

Photo Caption: (back row, pictured left to right): Bobby Anderson, Maury County Office of Emergency Management exercise coordinator and Maury County school safety consultant; Pat Woodmansee, Maury County OEM assistant director; Tim Hallmark, Columbia State facilities services and safety director; Mark Blackwood, Maury County OEM director; Duane Winningham, Maury County OEM operations chief; (front row, pictured left to right): Krissy Hurley, NWS Nashville warning coordination meteorologist and Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.

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