Shelby house after storm

A tree smashed into a house in Shelby in April 2019 during a tornado that tested the Richland County Emergency Management Agency. (File photo)

MANSFIELD — Richland County has been awarded a three-year renewal of its “Storm Ready” recognition from the National Weather Service.

Emergency Management Agency Director Rick Evans said the renewal process application detailed the county’s community information; NWS reception equipment; local weather and water monitoring equipment; local warning dissemination; community preparedness and administrative tools/record keeping.

Evans said the NWS did a site visit to the local EMA office to observe and confirm the county’s emergency operations center, 911 communications center and amateur radio operations, including Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service and Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

Local EMA officials were also required to make a site visit of the NWS office in Cleveland to observe the operation and learn how the agency and NWS can assist one another during severe weather.