Posted on 07/09/2007 1:53:07 PM PDT by varina davis
Hurricane Center Chief Reassigned From Associated Press July 09, 2007 3:14 PM EDT MIAMI - The director of the National Hurricane Center was temporarily reassigned Monday, four days after many of the center's employees called for his removal.
More than 20 of Bill Proenza's nearly 50 employees signed a letter Thursday urging federal officials to dismiss him. They claimed he had damaged the public's confidence in their forecasts by repeatedly and publicly criticizing the federal government for not providing enough money, particularly to replace an aging weather satellite.
The staff members said Proenza misrepresented the problem with the satellite, and they were worried the consequences would hurt their forecasting abilities.
Proenza was to be replaced by Deputy Director Ed Rappaport, center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said.
Rappaport declined to comment on his appointment. A spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the center, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Proenza assumed the job in January, replacing longtime director Max Mayfield.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
MIAMI (AP) - The director of the National Hurricane Center was temporarily reassigned Monday, four days after many of the center's employees called for his removal.
Bill Proenza had replaced longtime director Max Mayfield in January. More than 20 of Proenza's nearly 50 employees had urged federal officials to dismiss him last week, claiming he damaged the public's confidence in their forecasts by repeatedly and publicly criticizing the federal government for not providing enough funding, particularly to replace an aging weather satellite.
Well considering that 9 out of 10 weather guessers in that office didn’t like him in the first place...
I’m not surprised...
But at least we get a new “Head Weather Guesser” out of this!!!
Woo Hoo!!!
I feel so much safer...
He’s done a very bad job of generating hurricanes lately. :)
Have there been any hurricanes of which to warn us?
That’s the problem, they’re all bored.
Seems like global warming isn’t doing its job. I want a refund, AlGore!
Maybe this one can get the hurricane generator going again.
I waiting on the clown Bastardi to comment before I decide what to think...
/sarc
I saw this guy a couple of times...and thought you’ve got to be kidding...this is the new director ... oh geezzz
wow - the long lost hurricane ping! LOL
Who heads the NHC might not seem like momentous news, but just wait until the next “Katrina” threatens and everyone will see how important it is.
My personal favorites were Bob Sheets and I think Max Mayfield did a good job, too.
The whole thing is really stupid. Maybe he went about it wrong, then his forecasters followed suit, but I think his idea was a good one. He wanted to see things that were failing fixed and/or replaced.. apparently he forgot the government moves like a snail.
Max evidently saw all this staff commotion at the NHC and decided to retire. Now that's what I call accurate forecasting...
Thanks for the ping. I hope this years Hurricane Ping List has not much to talk about - like in no to very few Hurricanes that threaten our shores.
Although September is the bad month for the Cape Fear Region of the Carolina’s.
Keep the emergency supplies well stocked and rotated, fresh batteries in the radio and the ping list handy.
Proenza was a media whore forwarding all the NOAA/NHC dirty laundry to the Miami Herald. Publicly dissing his supervisors and his staff left him with no internal support. He’s a dolt as a manager of people. Besides, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Good riddance to Proenza.
I'd like to request no storms for Florida from mid to late August as I will be on vacation and won't be home to batton down the hatches.
Thanks for the ping...the whole thing is just plain weird.
I wonder if Rappaport is hired permanently, or is just in as acting director.
Proenza was sent back to Texas, whence he came.
Thanks for the ping, Nauti. Please keep me on the list.
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