Western Cooperative Electric (WCE) has awarded a $2,500 Sharing Success Community Grant to STEM Harvest in support of the Hays Community Radar Project, an initiative that will strengthen severe weather detection and improve public safety across western Kansas.
The grant will help fund the purchase and installation of a Furuno WR2120 Doppler weather radar system in the Hays area. The radar will provide enhanced weather monitoring for Ellis, Trego, Rooks, Russell and Rush counties, helping address a significant gap in weather radar coverage caused by the distance to the nearest National Weather Service radar.
The new community-based radar will deliver real-time weather data to emergency responders, school districts, city and county governments, regional airports, utility providers, the National Weather Service and local media outlets, while also allowing the public to access radar information directly from smartphones and computers.
"At Western Cooperative Electric, safety is one of our core values," said Nolan Numrich, CEO/General Manager of WCE. "Accurate, localized weather information is essential for protecting lives, restoring power safely after storms, and helping communities prepare before severe weather strikes. We're proud to support a project that will benefit not only our members but communities across the region."
WCE serves many of the counties that will directly benefit from the project, where severe weather is a frequent concern and timely weather information is critical for schools, emergency management, first responders, agricultural producers, businesses and utility operations.
STEM Harvest developed the Hays Community Radar Project as an extension of its mission to provide Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education while bringing innovative technology to western Kansas. The organization is leading the collaborative effort to acquire, install and operate the radar system while providing public access to the data and educational opportunities surrounding weather science.
Community leaders throughout the region have voiced strong support for the project, emphasizing the importance of improving weather awareness and emergency preparedness. The enhanced radar coverage is expected to improve decision-making during severe weather events, ultimately helping protect lives, property and critical infrastructure throughout the area.
Western Cooperative Electric's **Sharing Success Community Grant Program** provides financial assistance to projects that improve the quality of life within the cooperative's service territory. Grants support initiatives that promote community development, education, public safety, health and projects that create lasting benefits for rural Kansas.
For more information about Western Cooperative Electric's Sharing Success Community Grant Program, visit www.westerncoop.com/sharing-success-community-grants.