Head of US hurricane agency ousted in storm of controversy

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Head of US hurricane agency ousted in storm of controversy
AFP
Published: Monday July 9, 2007


The head of the high-profile US National Hurricane Center (NHC) was ousted on Monday following a storm of controversy over his harsh criticism of his employers and a near-mutiny by forecasters.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the center's parent agency, on Monday announced the appointment of a new NHC director to replace the controversial Bill Proenza, who had only been named to the job six months ago.

Ed Rappaport was named acting director.

The decision aimed at settling the turbulent uproar that emerged at the Miami-based NHC at a critical time for forecasters trying to determine when and where the next potentially deadly storm may slam ashore.

Proenza had made national headlines recently when he accused his superiors at NOAA of squandering millions of dollars to mark the agency's "bogus" 200th anniversary, while a wind-measuring satellite used by forecasters is falling in disrepair.

But staff at the center said that while the QuikScat satellite was important, its failure would not significantly impact hurricane prediction.


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