Bill Karins, Meteorologist

Hurricane Katrina’s impact on our country has vaulted the importance of the NHC (National Hurricane Center) into the forefront of the American consciousness. Since Katrina struck, FEMA has been restructured and retooled at a very high cost and now the NHC wants their upgrade. The battle is between the NHC and NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration). Here’s a link to the story from the Miami Herald.

http://www.miamiherald.com/548/story/141782.html

This is government politics at its best. We have arguably the most important weather agency within our government asking for more money and resources on the heels of the worst weather disaster in our nation’s history. Don’t be fooled for a second that Bill Proenza, new director of the NHC, doesn’t fully understand the power of public opinion. He has been and still is harshly critical of the way his bosses at NOAA are spending your tax dollars. He feels the NHC needs much more and that NOAA needs to stop wasting money on frivolous programs.

As expected, his bosses at NOAA aren’t happy with their disgruntled employee. They warned him verbally at least once and recently gave him a formal letter of reprimand. It certainly sounds like the start of a paper trail to unemployment to me, but this has unfazed Proenza. Here’s his quote after getting the latest slap on the wrist: "I'm not going to be silenced. I know my responsibilities and I know what I have to do.''

Now the ball is in NOAA’s court and the political drama is building. Do they dare fire him, knowing full well that the media backlash will be 10 times worse? The headlines on tv and in the newspapers will read something like this. “Outspoken Director of the National Center is axed after asking for more money to protect innocent Americans after Katrina disaster.” Sounds like a PR nightmare to me for NOAA.

Making things even more interesting is that numerous members of Congress are speaking out in support of the NHC director. When it comes to supporting and protecting their voters this is an obvious “hop on the wagon” issue for elected coastal representatives from Maine to Texas.

Watch Bill Karins's interview with hurricane expert Jim Lushine below

So what’s next? I can’t see how NOAA could fire the boss of the NHC just weeks before the peak of the hurricane season and I also don’t see how any new influx of money is coming to the NHC this year. I imagine that a few closed door meetings will take place and that promises of more money to come in future budgets will be made in return for critical silence from Director Proenza. I guess the forecast for political weather theater is the same as everyday weather forcasting: wait, see and enjoy. -BK