Isaac M. Cline award recipients (L - R) Keith DeArmas, Dan Collis and Larry Tennison pose with NWS Southern Region Acting Director Steven Cooper (Photo: NWS Peachtree City)
(Aug. 14, 2007) - NOAA National Weather Service Maintenance Specialists Larry Tennison and Barry Brodnax and Facility Engineer Technicians Keith DeArmas and Dan Collis have been honored with a national Isaac M. Cline Award. The award was presented by NWS Southern Region Acting Director Steven Cooper in a special ceremony at the forecast office in Peachtree City, Ga.
The Isaac M. Cline Award honors individual and team employees for operational excellence in the delivery of products and services in support of the National Weather Service mission. The team is being recognized for outstanding support for National Weather Service facilities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
"While Tennison and DeArmas normally work for the Slidell office and Brodnax and Collis serve in the Atlanta forecast office - they came together during that trying time to form a dedicated, experienced and efficient team," said Cooper. "Their efforts will not be forgotten by the staffers affected by that horrendous hurricane season."
Using their combined technical expertise and creativity, the team members pulled off an outstanding recovery effort. Despite power outages and communication difficulties, they handled numerous equipment restoration projects following the storms. Key projects for the offices in Slidell and Lake Charles, La. and Mobile, Ala. facilities, included restoration of radar systems, Automated Surface Observing Systems and NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitters.
Team members also repaired and replaced generators to provide the facilities with emergency backup power. Working closely with electric and telephone companies and other area vendors, they helped re-establish permanent power, communications and other critical services to the afflicted offices. Utilizing limited resources, they installed camera systems, made roofing repairs and hooked up washers, dryers and showers.
They also set up a trailer park for employees in need of living accommodations. During periods of fuel shortages, a fuel trailer and distribution service was setup to keep government vehicles rolling. After many commercial outlets were closed in the wake of Katrina and Rita, they developed excellent relationships with area vendors so they would continue to service the needs of the offices. For most NWS employees, the 2005 hurricane season ended November 30, 2005. For those directly affected by the storms -- the clean up, repair, restoration and recovery continued well into the 2006 hurricane season.
