000
NOUS44 KBMX 212246
PNSBMX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
545 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS DAY...WEDNESSDAY..SEPT 28...1 PM - 6 PM...
STORMREADY SUPPORTER RECOGNITION CEREMONY...QUINTARD MALL...OXFORD...ALABAMA...

QUINTARD MALL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM WILL
BE HOSTING THE FIRST ANNUAL SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS DAY ON WEDNESDAY..SEPTEMBER
28 FROM 1PM TO 6 PM AT QUINTARD MALL IN OXFORD, ALABAMA.

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS DAY IS DESIGNED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ON WAYS TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY ARE AT HOME...WORK...SHOPPING...OR ON THE WATER DURING
A SEVERE WEATHER INCIDENT.  THE NWS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGING QUINTARD MALL'S 
CONTINUED EFFORTS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE DURING SEVERE WEATHER BY RECOGNIZING
QUINTARD MALL AS A STORMREADY SUPPORTER.  QUINTARD MALL IS ONE OF ONLY A
HANDFUL OF STORMREADY SUPPORTERS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE NWS ACROSS
THE USA.  TO BECOME A STORMREADY SUPPORTER...QUINTARD MALL WENT THROUGH A
THOROUGH APPLICATION AND SITE INSPECTION PROCESS.  

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS DAY WILL GIVE BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR SERVICES DURING OR AFTER SEVERE WEATHER.  LOCAL UTILITY
COMPANIES...STORM SHELTER BUILDERS...INSURANCES AGENCIES...NON-PROFIT 
ORGANIZATIONS...LOCAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA...AND MANY MORE WILL BE ON HAND
TO DISCUSS WITH THE PUBLIC THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.  INTERACTIVE
DISPLAYS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BROWSE.  HAVE YOU EVER
WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY? IF SO, THE NWS WILL CONDUCT
TWO ONE HOUR SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY PRESENTATIONS AT 2:30 PM AND 4PM
RESPECTIVELY.  

KIDS CAN ENJOY THE EVENT AS WELL. KIDS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE SEVERE WEATHER
AWARENESS DAY POSTER CONTEST. ANY STUDENT IN FIFTH OR SIXTH GRADE DURING
THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR...AND RESIDING IN CALHOUN...CLEBURNE...TALLADEGA
...CHEROKEE...CLAY...ETOWAH...OR RANDOLPH COUNTY CAN ENTER.  POSTERS SHOULD
REFLECT A WEATHER TOPIC SUCH AS TORNADOS...LIGHTNING...HAIL...STRONG WINDS
...FLASH FLOODING...ETC.  THE 1ST PLACE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A $50 QUINTARD
MALL GIFT CARD. 2ND AND 3RD PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE A $25 QUINTARD MALL
GIFT CARD.  THE 1ST PLACE WINNER SCIENCE TEACHER WILL RECEIVE A $200 CASH
PRIZE TO BE USED FOR PURCHASING SCIENCE RELATED SCHOOL SUPPLIES.  FOR
DETAILS ON HOW TO ENTER CALL 256-831-4180X53.

JOIN QUINTARD MALL AND THE NWS FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS DAY!  THE ENTIRE
EVENT INCLUDING BROWSING ALL HANDS ON DISPLAYS AND EXPERIENCING INTERACTIVE
SIMULATORS IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC! FOR MORE INFORMATION...PLEASE CONTACT
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST JASON B. WRIGHT AT (205) 664-7954 OR
EMAIL HIM AT JASON.B.WRIGHT@NOAA.GOV.  
$$
JBW