The Big “I” has announced a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Weather-Ready Nation™ (WRN) in support of the federal agency’s disaster preparedness education program.

WRN seeks to educate the public on readiness and response to extreme weather, water and climate hazards through a series of interactive online tutorials that present age-appropriate information. One of the safety modules is customized for children ages 10-12 and another targets ages 13 and older. Participants can select modules for a variety of disasters and geographical areas, and they receive a certificate upon completion of each set of modules.

Big “I” members are encouraged to use the safety modules at their own agencies for their clients and employees. Some may want to even consider providing incentives for customers who complete the appropriate modules for their geographic region and age group. In addition, Big “I” agencies can also apply to become official WRN ambassadors on their own.

“The Big ‘I’ is proud to partner with NOAA and so many private and public sector stakeholders on such an important initiative to ensure families and businesses are as prepared as possible in the event of a natural disaster,” says Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “We are happy to offer this important resource to our members, and we look forward to maximizing the outreach of this partnership.”

As a WRN Ambassador™, the Big “I” is committed to working with NOAA and other ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather. For example, just yesterday, WRN launched its winter safety campaign to provide National Weather Service forecasts, winter traveling tips and other facts that help people survive and enjoy the winter months.

The WRN Ambassador initiative helps unify efforts across government, nonprofits, academia and the private industry toward making the country more ready, responsive and resilient against natural disasters. The Big “I” has long held that education and preparedness are keys to reducing the financial and collateral damage when disasters strike.

"Ambassadors are critical to building a Weather-Ready Nation," said Louis Uccellini, Ph.D., NOAA National Weather Service director. "We welcome the Big ‘I’ as a new ambassador that is committed to empowering its members with lifesaving information about extreme weather events."

Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.

Margarita Tapia is Big “I” director of public affairs. Sue Nester is Big “I” director of broadcast media.