Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium Recognized by the National Weather Service as StormReady®

The Zoo is the first in Pennsylvania to Receive Designation

March 14, 2025

National Weather Service officials have recognized the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium as a StormReady® community. The StormReady program helps community leaders and residents better prepare for hazardous weather and flooding and has made a strong commitment to implement the infrastructure and systems needed to save lives and protect property when severe weather strikes.

“By becoming the fourth StormReady zoo community in the country, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium staff has exhibited detailed preparedness plans and further developed weather monitoring that will ensure proper weather hazard responses to protect on-site staff, visitors, and animals,” said Jason Frazier, meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) Pittsburgh Office.

Keeping animals, guests, and staff safe is the top priority at the Zoo, which has robust emergency operation plans that made it a natural candidate to join the program. “Multiple severe weather plans were already in place addressing situations such as extreme heat and cold, lightning, high wind, snow, and flooding,” says Pittsburgh Zoo President & CEO Dr. Jeremy Goodman. “By partnering with the NWS, the Zoo now has refined these plans and updated emergency weather monitoring and messaging equipment to align with national best practices.” (article continues below ⇓)

StormReady, the nationwide community preparedness program founded in 1999, is a grassroots approach to preparing for natural hazards. Today, more than 2,200 U.S. communities are better prepared for severe weather through the program.

To be recognized as StormReady, a community must maintain a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one way to receive National Weather Service warnings and to alert the public; be able to monitor local weather and flood conditions; conduct community preparedness programs; and ensure  hazardous weather and flooding are addressed in formal emergency management plans, which include training SKYWARN® weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

Zoo staff routinely perform drills for a variety of emergency conditions and are prepared to react to severe weather. This came into action on May 18, 2024, when an EF0 tornado with damaging 85 mph winds passed through the Zoo. The Zoo experienced downed trees and fences, debris strewn throughout the park, and a power outage. Thankfully, all staff and animals remained safe due to quick action.

While the Zoo remains a rain or shine venue, if weather is projected to be notably unpleasant or unsafe for guests or animals, the partnership will allow it to make appropriate adjustments to events and activities.