Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke with Bill Proenza, the regional director of the National Weather Service, about Hurricane Katrina. Huckabee addressed the Arkansas Emergency Management Association's annual meeting in Little Rock.

(September 8, 2005) Four days after Hurricane Katrina devastated portions of the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana coasts; both Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and National Weather Service Southern Region Director Bill Proenza addressed the Arkansas Emergency Management Association's (AEMA) annual meeting (Sept.2) in Little Rock.

Arkansas' assistance in the relief efforts during Katrina's aftermath set the stage for discussion of the government's weather forecasting and warning services as well as support to emergency response efforts. Proenza discussed the critical roles played by the National Weather Service's network of Weather Forecast Offices and River Forecast Centers in providing timely 24x7 life-saving weather forecasts and warnings as well as all-hazards alerts and local weather support.

Discussions on this very point had Governor Huckabee volunteering unqualified support for the NWS performance with not only tropical storms but also severe local storms. A timely endorsement from the Governor that heads the National Governor's Association.

The most beneficial mission delivery is from the local NWS office. Proenza has frequently touted the National Weather Service field office network epitomizes the concept that "Government closest to the people - serves best."

This concept was most evident 24 hours prior to Katrina's landfall - when the local NWS Forecast Office in Slidell, La., (warning area includes New Orleans) issued its dire but prophetic "Inland Hurricane Warning".

It warned of "water shortages (that) will make human suffering incredible by modern standards." It warned that "much of the area will be uninhabitable." It warned of "roof and wall failure" for at least half of the "well-constructed homes" in the region. Sadly, all of those warnings proved true.