WFO Miami MIC Rusty Pfost (right) conducts tour of the forecast office for Secretary Gutierrez (2nd from right) and his staff as NHC Deputy Dir. Ed Rappaport (3rd from right) looks on (Photo: NOAA/NWS)
(Sept. 17, 2008) -- U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez visited the National Hurricane Center and co-located National Weather Service forecast office in Miami. Following a brief discussion of Hurricane Ike's track and storm surge with specialists in the center, the Secretary toured the Weather Forecast Office with Meteorologist-in-Charge Rusty Pfost.
They discussed Tropical Storm Fay's incredible rainfall totals across Florida, including the unprecedented (since 1931) rise of Lake Okeechobee from mid August to early September. Pfost then explained how Terminal Doppler Weather Radar, now available through a cooperative agreement with the FAA, enabled the forecast office to issue a Tornado Warning with a 30 minute lead time for Palm Beach County. That tornado was also associated with the outer bands of Tropical Storm Fay.
Following the tour, Secretary Gutierrez held a news conference commending the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center for their excellent forecasts and warnings which resulted in saving countless lives. He also said that the U.S. Government is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Cuba within 36 hours, without pre-conditions and wherever Cuban officials determined it is needed. He added that he was frustrated because the Cuban government has refused the help. He also spoke briefly about aide to Haiti.
Carlos M. Gutierrez was sworn in as the 35th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce three years ago. Prior to joining President Bush’s administration, he was the President and CEO of the Kellogg Company.
