Name: Cat Taylor
Title: Miss Prairie Rose
Weather Ready Nation
The F5 tornado that ripped through Andover, Kansas in 1991 changed my life forever. Seeing the
devastation that occurred near my hometown and the lives that were lost, I immediately knew my duty
was to educate and alert people to respond appropriately in severe weather. That day I became fascinated
with weather. In 2009, I was accepted to the number one severe weather research school in the world,
where I began storm chasing to supplement my education. Twenty years after the Andover tornado, I was
chasing an EF3 tornado, which tore through the populated area of Tushka, OK. I was driving the storm
chase van and after the tornado hit, I had to make the executive decision to stop chasing the storm. My
eight team members and I became the first-responders at the scene. I delivered first aid and rescue,
because emergency personnel had not yet arrived. That day’s events are burned into my memory and have
solidified my resolve to keep Americans safe from violent weather.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Weather-Ready Nation has a goal to
build community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events. Recordbreaking snowfall, cold temperatures, extended drought, high heat, severe flooding, violent tornadoes, and
massive hurricanes have all combined to reach the greatest number of multi-billion dollar weather
disasters in the nation’s history. Due to the changing climate, severe weather is prone to happen with
increased frequency and can occur in every state including Alaska and Hawaii.
Along with injuries and fatalities, severe weather can devastate large populated areas, cripple economies,
and create long-term fear and conversely for those not impacted, a false sense of invincibility. Mother
Nature is uncontrollable, but my goal as Miss Kansas 2012 is to mitigate these problems by educating and
advocating weather safety. I will partner with NOAA’s Weather Ready Nation in four ways:
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Promote the use of NOAA weather radios and explain their importance;
Promote the public’s constant awareness of the weather around them through targeted school and
community presentations;
Encourage people to assist their community’s elderly and disabled during severe weather;
Help families, communities, and institutions create a Weather Ready Plan.
By partnering with NOAA and the National Weather Service I will seek to create legislation for the
establishment of public storm shelters in mobile home parks, apartment complexes and public venues.
School presentations across Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas have proven my platform has an
audience that wants this message. Also accepting the fundraising chair position for the Joplin Christmas
Dinner and creating my program “Tiaras for Tornado Safety” have provided me with exciting
opportunities to make a difference with my platform. These experiences will help me implement weather
safety programs, educate people of all ages, and advocate legislation for weather initiatives as well as
fulfill the duties of Miss Kansas.
My ultimate goal is to be crowned Miss America 2013. I believe that a crown has power to speak into the
lives of the youth of America. I have seen the power of a title in action. This responsibility will give me
the opportunity to impact, and ultimately, change lives. I would like to leave a legacy as Miss America to
incorporate a scholarship for Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) for young women
competing in the Miss America Organization. I would like to motivate young women to become
mathematicians and scientists. Miss America is the perfect role model to empower young women to
become such an instrumental part of today’s society. I believe that my personal skill set leaves me ready
to step into the shoes of Miss Kansas. I am ready for the year of service, and the ability to change, impact
and save people’s lives. I want the challenge to take on the title of Miss Kansas 2012.