Who was the best Director of the NHC?
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Matt-hurricanewatcher
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Huckster
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Here is a picture of the past and current directors of the National Hurricane Center at the recent Hurricane Conference in New Orleans, LA. From left, Brian Jarvinen, Max Mayfield (Director, 2000-present), Jerry Jarrell (Director, 1998-2000), Billy Wagner, Robert Burpee (Director, 1996-1997), Robert Sheets (Director, 1987-1995), Neil Frank (Director, 1973-1987), Robert Simpson (Director, 1967-1973), and Herbert Saffir. The only Director not pictured is Gordon Dunn (Director, 1965-1967, MIC of WBO Miami 1954-1965), who is deceased.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mia/newpage/history.html
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george_r_1961
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Well I think all of them did a fine job but Bob Sheets was my favorite. His style handling the media was superb as was his explanations of storm forecasts. Jerry Jarrell is remembered by me for his sense of humor; during one pesky storm ( cant remember the name) he said it was making him lose all his hair 
Of course Max Mayfield, and his staff, have proven themselves several times over the years,
Of course Max Mayfield, and his staff, have proven themselves several times over the years,
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Matt-hurricanewatcher
1# Dr. Neil Frank (1973-1987)
2# Dr. Robert (Bob) Sheets (1987-1995)...He had Andrew on his hands.
3# Dr. Robert Simpson (1967-1973) (He helped make the hurricane scale)
4# Jerry Jarrell (1998-2000)....Hurricane Mitch
5# Gordon Dunn (1965-1967) The first...
6# Max Mayfield (2000-Present)...Charley,Alex,Ivan,Hati tropical system???
No I'm not going to put Max Mayfield ahead of Neil franks or Robert Simspons that made the scale.
2# Dr. Robert (Bob) Sheets (1987-1995)...He had Andrew on his hands.
3# Dr. Robert Simpson (1967-1973) (He helped make the hurricane scale)
4# Jerry Jarrell (1998-2000)....Hurricane Mitch
5# Gordon Dunn (1965-1967) The first...
6# Max Mayfield (2000-Present)...Charley,Alex,Ivan,Hati tropical system???
No I'm not going to put Max Mayfield ahead of Neil franks or Robert Simspons that made the scale.
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BayouVenteux
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WindRunner
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That's a great photo - thanks, you Huckster!
Frank
P.S. I worked for 5 of 'em - all good eggs (gee, Brian sure has aged - so have I!).
P.P.S. By the way, Brian Jarvinen, Billy Wagner, and Herbert Saffir were not NHC Directors. Brian was very instrumental in creating the SLOSH strom-surge model still used today, Billy Wagner has been and still is the Monroe County (Florida Keys) Senior Emergency Management Director, and of course Herbert Saffir is co-author of the Saffir/Simpson hurricane intensity scale.
Frank
P.S. I worked for 5 of 'em - all good eggs (gee, Brian sure has aged - so have I!).
P.P.S. By the way, Brian Jarvinen, Billy Wagner, and Herbert Saffir were not NHC Directors. Brian was very instrumental in creating the SLOSH strom-surge model still used today, Billy Wagner has been and still is the Monroe County (Florida Keys) Senior Emergency Management Director, and of course Herbert Saffir is co-author of the Saffir/Simpson hurricane intensity scale.
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jasons2k
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Frank2 wrote:That's a great photo - thanks, you Huckster!
Frank
P.S. I worked for 5 of 'em - all good eggs (gee, Brian sure has aged - so have I!).
P.P.S. By the way, Brian Jarvinen, Billy Wagner, and Herbert Saffir were not NHC Directors. Brian was very instrumental in creating the SLOSH strom-surge model still used today, Billy Wagner has been and still is the Monroe County (Florida Keys) Senior Emergency Management Director, and of course Herbert Saffir is co-author of the Saffir/Simpson hurricane intensity scale.
Frank, thanks for clarifying that for the others. When I did my research I found that photo but didn't post it fearing the caption would confuse people. But a great photo indeed, definately some legends there.
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You're welcome - by the way, here are some old photographs of the NHC when it was still housed at the University of Miami computer building (and I was attending middle school just two miles west of them) - click on http://ibistro.dos.state.fl.us/uhtbin/c ... er#skipnav
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jasons2k
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One thing I noticed, if you go back and look at the NHC archives of storm reports, the official post-storm reports didn't begin until 1973, the year Dr. Frank took over. (the reports before that are from the famous Simpson book and other sources) IMO that's pretty indicative that he mandated some new procedures and really turned it into much of what the NHC is today.
I also found a lot of other firsts during Dr. Frank's tenure, a lot of which we take for granted, such as the issuance of strike probabilites, which were first issued in 1983 with Alicia.
It seems like every year they tried to make it that much better, much like today (I have to give Max Mayfield a lot of credit too, I think the NHC is under his direction is really making strides).
I also found a lot of other firsts during Dr. Frank's tenure, a lot of which we take for granted, such as the issuance of strike probabilites, which were first issued in 1983 with Alicia.
It seems like every year they tried to make it that much better, much like today (I have to give Max Mayfield a lot of credit too, I think the NHC is under his direction is really making strides).
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Yes, some of the old material at the NHC (especially prior to the formation of NOAA in 1970) were from personal archives, though some were also kept per U.S. Weather Bureau record-keeping policies.
In the very old days of the Miami U.S. Weather Bureau office, there were several individuals who kept detailed pen and ink weather records, and it made for interesting reading (especially during the off-season).
Click on http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/history.html to view the history of the Miami NWSFO/NHC.
Frank
In the very old days of the Miami U.S. Weather Bureau office, there were several individuals who kept detailed pen and ink weather records, and it made for interesting reading (especially during the off-season).
Click on http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/history.html to view the history of the Miami NWSFO/NHC.
Frank
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Huh?
Bob Sheets retired because he met retirement criteria, and because his family was hoping that he'd take the opportunity to slow down a bit (the NHC Director's position requires at least 200 travel days per year). It had nothing to do with the outcome of Hurricane Andrew, with the exception that his family felt that it was a good idea that he'd retire before another similar situation presented itself. In fact, a year or so later he commented on camera that indeed it was their idea - he probably wouldn't have retired at that time, had the decision been left to him alone.
As far as I know, the NHC staff were given credit for remaining at their duty stations during the height of the hurricane, and delivering an accurate forecast beforehand, often ignoring their own needs to prepare for it, and afterwards, remaining on duty, despite the fact that the building the NHC was housed in was damaged (including a loss of the NWS radar).
In addition, a number of cars belonging to NHC employees were overturned or damaged in the downstairs parking lot, and, most of all, remaining on duty, even though many of the staff had lost their own homes, with some being unable to locate family members.
Frank
Bob Sheets retired because he met retirement criteria, and because his family was hoping that he'd take the opportunity to slow down a bit (the NHC Director's position requires at least 200 travel days per year). It had nothing to do with the outcome of Hurricane Andrew, with the exception that his family felt that it was a good idea that he'd retire before another similar situation presented itself. In fact, a year or so later he commented on camera that indeed it was their idea - he probably wouldn't have retired at that time, had the decision been left to him alone.
As far as I know, the NHC staff were given credit for remaining at their duty stations during the height of the hurricane, and delivering an accurate forecast beforehand, often ignoring their own needs to prepare for it, and afterwards, remaining on duty, despite the fact that the building the NHC was housed in was damaged (including a loss of the NWS radar).
In addition, a number of cars belonging to NHC employees were overturned or damaged in the downstairs parking lot, and, most of all, remaining on duty, even though many of the staff had lost their own homes, with some being unable to locate family members.
Frank
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