Storm official under fire

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published July 4, 2007

MIAMI - Three senior forecasters at the National Hurricane Center called Tuesday for the ouster of recently appointed director Bill Proenza, saying he has damaged public confidence in their forecasts, fractured morale and lost their support.

"I don't think that Bill can continue here, " said James Franklin, one of five senior forecasters at the center. "I don't think he can be an effective leader."

Two others - Richard Pasch and Rick Knabb - told the Miami Herald that they concur.

"We need a change of leadership here at the Hurricane Center, " Pasch said. "It's pretty much as simple as that."

The open rebellion flared as an "assessment team" dispatched by Proenza's superiors in Washington spent a second day at the Hurricane Center in west Miami-Dade County. The team is trying to determine if forecasters can fulfill their mission under the outspoken director.

Some forces expressed support for Proenza, but with pressure intensifying from within and without, Proenza's grip on the $150, 000-a-year job he accepted just six months ago seemed increasingly at risk.

He said late Tuesday that he will not resign and blamed the center's morale problems on "Washington harassment, " a reference to a letter of reprimand he received last month and the unannounced inspection by five federal officials.

"It is my intention to continue to be the director of the National Hurricane Center and not in any way hesitate to do what I need to do, " said Proenza, 62, a weather service forecaster and manager for more than 40 years.

Since taking the job, Proenza repeatedly has criticized his bosses at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, saying they have not provided the center with adequate research funds and failed to plan for the eventual demise of an important weather satellite.

The tensions and distractions come at an inopportune time.

The hurricane season began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. It has been relatively tame so far, but forecasters said the tropics were likely to heat up later this month or in August.

Craig Fugate, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management, originally supported Proenza, but said Tuesday he is growing concerned.

"It certainly is disconcerting that we are now dealing with these issues in the middle of the hurricane season, " Fugate said.

At the same time, everyone on both sides of the battle insisted that the Hurricane Center is fully prepared to meet its obligations.

"The public has to know that the staff of the National Hurricane Center is still intact and it is a superb staff and their forecasts will be as good as ever, " said former director Max Mayfield.

Staff members who support Proenza said they believed the rebellious forecasters were overreacting to recent events and were upset by Proenza's management style and operational changes he has requested, including alterations to some forecast maps.

"I bring new ideas, " Proenza said. "I come in from outside and look at things with a fresher view."

The forecasters rejected that explanation.

"I don't consider any of this to be an issue of style, " Knabb said. "I consider this to be an issue of substance."

[Last modified July 3, 2007, 23:43:38]