Florida Gov. Tours National Hurricane Center
Dennis Feltgen
NOAA NHC Communications
September 16, 2009 — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist made a well-timed visit to both the National Hurricane Center and the co-located Miami National Weather Service forecast office on Sept. 4. Bill Read, director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center, guided the governor during his 45-minute visit, which included a press event.
Speaking to the media shortly after his arrival, the governor reminded Florida residents that the peak of the hurricane season is here and, despite a quiet season for the state so far, they must remain prepared.
Bill Read, National Hurricane Center director, explains to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (in blue) how emergency managers are briefed during a land-falling hurricane event. The center’s FEMA liaison Matt Green (left) listens in. Photo credit: Dennis Feltgen, NOAA NHC.
Gov. Crist was briefed on the demise of Tropical Storm Erika, the only active storm in the Atlantic basin for Labor Day weekend. He toured the renovated FEMA briefing room, where he learned how state and federal emergency managers are briefed when a hurricane threatens the coastal United States. The governor also learned how the group positions NOAA and U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft to collect the best data in a storm.
The tour also included a stop at the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch unit of the Hurricane Center, where he was briefed about their mission and responsibility keeping ships safe on the open ocean. The governor’s tour concluded at the Miami National Weather Service Forecast Office, where he heard the Labor Day weekend weather outlook, which delivered on its promise of scattered thunderstorms.
Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch meteorologist Martin Nelson discusses the current Atlantic basin weather pattern with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (in blue) as National Hurricane Center director Bill Read looks on. Photo credit: Dennis Feltgen, NOAA NHC.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (in blue) discusses Labor Day weekend weather with Rusty Pfost, meteorologist in charge, and staff from the Miami National Weather Service Forecast Office. Photo credit: Dennis Feltgen, NOAA NHC.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist speaks with the media during his visit to the National Hurricane Center, as Bill Read, National Hurricane Center director, looks on. Photo credit: Dennis Feltgen, NOAA NHC.