Brownsville MIC Nezette Rydell and Forecaster Buddy Martin answer questions from a young visitor at "Boo at the Zoo" (photo: WFO Brownsville)
(Oct. 31, 2007) - Staff and family members from the National Weather Service forecast office in Brownsville manned an information booth and treat station at the annual Gladys Porter Zoo's "Boo at the Zoo".
This marks the seventh year the Brownsville office has participated. An estimated 12,000 parents and children, from across the Lower Rio Grande Valley, typically attend the Halloween-themed event.
National Weather Service volunteers and their families were on hand for four hours each night to answer questions and promote weather safety to visitors. Hurricane and rip current information proved most popular with the adults, while Owlie Skywarn's Coloring Book and National Weather Service (temporary) tattoos were favorites with the younger spooksters.
Also volunteering at the event are local police, firemen, news media outlets and community groups. Once again, Brownsville staffers made many new contacts and renewed old ones with local teachers, community organizers and volunteers -- resulting in additional requests for educational and weather preparedness outreach visits.
Always a favorite with the Brownsville staff, the annual "Boo at the Zoo" event brings them into face-to-face contact with a broad cross-section of the community that uses the office's weather information on a daily basis.
(L to R) Bryan and Lucy Ramos, Jim Campbell, Joseph Bogorad and James Raley visit with "Boo at the Zoo" visitors at the NWS booth (Photo: WFO Brownsville)
