I sure miss the real hurricane expert Max Mayfield

[NNN0LHI]

UP CLOSE: MAX MAYFIELD
OUTGOING NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER DIRECTOR DISCUSSES NOAA'S HURRICANE PROGRAM AND ADVICE FOR HIS SUCCESSOR

December 7, 2006 — Max Mayfield will retire as director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., on Jan. 3, 2007 — after having served 34 years with NOAA.

The NOAA National Hurricane Center, part of the NOAA National Weather Service, has been the focal point of the nation's hurricane forecast and warning program for 50 years. Its mission is to save lives, mitigate property loss and improve economic efficiency by issuing the best watches, warnings and forecasts of hazardous tropical weather, and by increasing the public’s understanding of these hazards. Mayfield has overseen the talented team of hurricane specialists, technicians and support scientists at the center since 2000, and together they have endured several highly active Atlantic hurricane seasons.

Starting as a satellite meteorologist with NOAA in 1972, Mayfield quickly rose through the ranks to become not only a well respected hurricane expert, but a nationally recognized advocate for hurricane awareness/preparedness, reminding the 50 million people who live in U.S. coastal counties from Maine to Texas that they are all in the path of a future storm. Mayfield also is the current chairman of the World Meteorological Organization’s Regional Association-IV Hurricane Committee, which supports 26 members from Atlantic and eastern Pacific countries. snip

Q: Any advice for the next director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center?

A: I asked former NHC Director Bob Sheets for advice years ago. Bob said to maintain a strong relationship with the emergency management community and the media. That was good advice and I will pass that along to the next director. I would add that the battle against the hurricane is won outside the hurricane season. And the message needs to stay consistent. We want every individual, every family, every business and every community to have a hurricane plan in place and be able to execute that plan before the next hurricane season.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hurricane3jan03,0,3253020.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Hurricane center chief issues final warning

A departing Max Mayfield is convinced that the Southeast is inviting disaster

By Carol J. Williams, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

January 3, 2007

MIAMI -- Frustrated with people and politicians who refuse to listen or learn, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield ends his 34-year government career today in search of a new platform for getting out his unwelcome message: Hurricane Katrina was nothing compared with the big one yet to come.

Mayfield, 58, leaves his high-profile job with the National Weather Service more convinced than ever that U.S. residents of the Southeast are risking unprecedented tragedy by continuing to build vulnerable homes in the tropical storm zone and failing to plan escape routes.

He pointed to southern Florida's 7 million coastal residents.

"We're eventually going to get a strong enough storm in a densely populated area to have a major disaster," he said. "I know people don't want to hear this, and I'm generally a very positive person, but we're setting ourselves up for this major disaster."

More than 1,300 deaths across the Gulf Coast were attributed to Hurricane Katrina, the worst human toll from a weather event in the United States since the 1920s.

But Mayfield warns that 10 times as many fatalities could occur in what he sees as an inevitable strike by a huge storm during the current highly active hurricane cycle, which is expected to last another 10 to 20 years.

[nickyt]

1. Totally. He was our "rock"! Thanks for acknowledging him today.

You know, maybe things will change ('round about Jan. '09) and he will come back to us?

[Beartracks]

2. Max, why do you hate America?

"U.S. residents of the Southeast are risking unprecedented tragedy by continuing to build vulnerable homes in the tropical storm zone and failing to plan escape routes... 'I know people don't want to hear this, and I'm generally a very positive person, but we're setting ourselves up for this major disaster.'"


I'm confused. I thought that criticizing our Way of Life meant that you hate America...
:sarcasm:

Anyway, I didn't realize Max Mayfield had retired! I hope he continues to influence disaster preparedness policy in some way.