Bill Proenza, the head of the National Hurricane Center, said that the federal government is spending millions of dollars on publicity when the money would be better used to cover the budget shortfalls that are a major concern of hurricane forecasters.  Proenza noted that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is spending up to $4 million on publicity for the celebration of its 200th anniversary while reducing the funding for hurricane research by $700,000.

“No question about it, it is not justified,” Proenza said in a phone interview while attending the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale last week. “It is using appropriated funds for self promotion.” Anson Franklin, a spokesman for NOAA, said that the planned spending on the publicity campaign was approximately $1.5 million over a two year period and emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness of its role in weather forecasting.

One day after Proenza’s remarks, the head of the National Weather Service and his deputy announced they will retire next month. David Johnson, the director, and John Jones, the deputy director, plan to bow out at the end of June.

Hurricane Chief: NOAA Wasted Millions (USA Today 5/18/07)

May 22, 2007