North Florida AMS/NWA student volunteer Michael Navarro explains to students what to do when severe weather arises. (Photo: WFO Tallahassee)
(May 7, 2012) - More than 1,200 visitors turned out for the first hurricane preparedness day hosted by the National Weather Service forecast office in Tallahassee. Held at the Tallahassee Regional Airport, the event focused on community hurricane preparedness and response and featured displays from local, state and federal agencies -- as well as local volunteer organizations.
Students and the general public spent the day exploring emergency response vehicles, search and rescue planes and helicopters. Other activities included demonstrations of a weather balloon launch, a weather event simulation of 2004's Hurricane Ivan, a flood inundation model and a weather experiments table where students could interact and learn about various weather hazards. The event also taught budding meteorologists how storms form and how to track and predict hurricanes.
"This event was an excellent way to spread the word in the community about preparedness for hurricane season," said Todd Laricos, acting meteorologist-in-charge of the Tallahassee office. "It also spotlighted the role the National Weather Service plays in predicting these dangerous storms."
More than 1,000 students from a dozen schools and homeschool groups from Florida and southern Georgia participated in the event.
Some of the National Weather Service participating partners included FEMA - Region IV, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Tallahassee and Leon County Emergency Management Federal Alliance for Save Homes, American Red Cross and the Civil Air Patrol.
"These partners all share our conviction that preparedness before dangerous storms strike our area is key to saving lives," added Lericos.
WFO Tallahassee staffers (L - R) Jim Bolden, Katie Moore and Elizabeth Vickery conduct weather balloon demonstration (Photo: WFO Tallahassee)
