𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐃𝐀 𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Elmore County Economic Development Authority (ECEDA) has helped the Elmore County Commission’s EMA office coordinate a countywide network of state-of-the-art weather stations designed to improve safety, planning, and community life.

ECEDA Chairman Art Faulkner stated, “Partnering with municipalities, the school systems, and state agencies, the weather systems will provide a uniform way to provide critical data to the citizens of the county and visitors alike.”

Perry Weather stations deliver real-time monitoring, lightning alerts, and heat-index warnings via the Perry Weather app, while also gathering data for schools, parks, and event organizers. These units are solar-powered and operate through cellular communication, allowing them to be installed throughout the county without additional infrastructure.

Superintendent Richard Dennis said the project addresses challenges the school system has faced in keeping students safe during extreme weather.

“We actually had an issue a while back with a heat advisory,” said Dennis. “We were trying to track the weather ourselves and having to send alerts to everyone manually, so these systems will be a great help. We can customize our messages, and the system will automatically send them out.”

Funded through the county’s infrastructure and economic development budgets, Commissioners see the investment as a win for the entire community.

“We are very happy that these Perry Weather Stations are being installed at our outdoor venues throughout the county and beginning to be operational,” commented Keith Barnett, Elmore County EMA Director. “This effort benefits schools, residents, and visitors alike. Whether it’s a ballgame, a community event, or a severe weather day, fast and reliable weather alerts help keep people safe, and a safe community is a community where people want to live, work, and invest.”

With 22 already being installed and the rest arriving shortly, there are going to be a total of 33 stations across the county.

The locations of the first installation of units are: Crenshaw Park, Coosada Elementary School, Eclectic Elementary School, Redland Elementary School, Wetumpka Stadium, Wetumpka Middle School, Airport Road Intermediate School, Millbrook Middle School, Wetumpka Sports Complex – Diamond A, Wetumpka Sports Complex – Diamond B, Gold Star Park, 17 Springs, Holtville Middle School, Stanhope Elmore High School, Wetumpka Farmers Market, Wetumpka Soccer Complex – Hohenberg, Elmore County High School, Eclectic Middle School, Wetumpka High School, Holtville High School, Redland Middle School, and Wetumpka Elementary School.

The locations of the second round of installations currently being planned are: Cooters Pond, Village Green Park, Aaron Park, State Boat Ramp – Titus, Bonners Point, Tallassee High School, Tallassee Elementary School, Tallassee Community Center, Southside Middle School, Mill Creek Park, and Kowaliga Boat Ramp.

In assisting with the Perry Weather station project, ECEDA reinforces its mission to improve quality of life in Elmore County, not just by supporting economic development, but by helping create safer, smarter, and more connected communities.​​​