Southern Region Director Acclaims NWS Field Offices
to the President

NWS Southern Region Director Bill Proenza welcomes President Bush to the WFO portion of his visit as NHC Director Max Mayfield looks on. (Photo: Courtesy of the White House)

Half way through what would prove to be one of Florida's most difficult and devastating hurricane seasons, President George W. Bush paid an unprecedented visit the afternoon of September 8, 2004 to the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) facility that is home to both the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Miami. NHC Director Max Mayfield and NWS Southern Region Director Bill Proenza were the first two "dignitaries" to greet and chat with the President as he entered the facility.

Mayfield then took the President into the NHC to brief him on the latest hurricane information and walk him through the Center. In the picture above, the President had just left the NHC and entered the WFO where he talked again with Southern Region Director Proenza. Proenza mentioned to the President the critical, life-saving roles played by the National Weather Service's 122 Weather Forecast Offices and 13 River Forecast Centers that provide the forecasts and warnings to protect the American people from severe weather across the nation.

Proenza said he was quite pleased to hear President Bush respond, "Bill, I know it's the National Weather Service that delivers the mission." In keeping with the President's policy, Proenza has frequently touted the National Weather Service field office network as epitomizing the concept that "Government closest to the people - serves best."

President Bush's visit took place after Hurricanes Charley and Frances and before Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne impacted Florida's coasts. It was only the second time in more than 130 years of record keeping that four hurricanes made landfall in the same state during a single hurricane season. The first time was during the hurricane season of 1886 when four hurricanes struck the Texas coast.