Weather Heroes

Brigadier General Benjamin J. “Joe” Spraggins – Professional Profile In this episode of the Weather Heroes series, The Katrina Chronicles, we meet the man who oversaw the Harrison County, MS response and recovery efforts following Katrina’s devastating impact.  Brigadier General Benjamin J. “Joe” Spraggins (Ret.) is a distinguished military and public service leader with over 34 years in the U.S....

In this episode of our ongoing Katrina Chronicles, we discuss the recovery of coastal Mississippi schools in the aftermath of that devastating hurricane. The massive destruction of school buildings, the loss of facilities, faculty and staff presented unprecedented challenges. Almost everyone – teachers, parents and pupils were unhoused and had evacuated to places across the southeastern US.  Today...

When Hurricane Katrina tore through the Mississippi Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, Gulfport Police Sergeant Andy Ratcliffe found himself at the heart of one of America’s most devastating natural disasters. A native Mississippian with an infectious enthusiasm for life, he helped maintain order and lead rescue efforts in the storm’s immediate aftermath. As a military pilot, he also took to the skies...

In this next episode we meet Ferrell Alman . When Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury on Gulfport, Mississippi, it left behind a city in ruins - landmarks erased, homes shattered, lives forever altered. Among those caught in the storm’s path was Mr. Alman, a local business owner whose own home and family were affected. But Ferrell didn’t retreat from the devastation. He stepped forward. We'l...

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast, chaos reigned and communication was critical. At the heart of the storm’s coverage was Dave Vincent , a seasoned broadcaster and station manager of WLOX-TV, He delivered life-saving information to a community in crisis. As the disaster unfolded, Dave and his team provided award-winning coverage that kept residents informed, connected, and h...

As part of our ongoing Katrina Chronicles, today we meet Fire Chief Billy Kelley. When Hurricane Katrina slammed into Gulfport, Mississippi, it left behind a trail of destruction that reshaped the city - and the lives within it. Billy was on the front lines, firefighter extraordinaire. He faced the storm’s fury not only as a first responder, but as someone whose own home was ravaged. Now the depar...

August 2005—when Mississippi met its moment of truth. In this episode, we meet Billy Hewes, a lifelong Gulfport resident whose home was left battered by Hurricane Katrina. But Hewes was more than a survivor—he was a driving force in the recovery. Serving as a state congressional leader while also working as an insurance and real estate agent, he brought a rare, multifaceted perspective to the cris...

Welcome to another powerful installment of the Katrina Chronicles , our continuing series marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. While most of the public focus after Katrina was on New Orleans due to the devastating levy breaks, this killer storm wrecked the coast of Mississippi in ways still being studied today. The citizens of Mississippi responded with heart, grit, and a steadfast b...

I was super fortunate to get a chance to speak with Mike Boylan, the creator of Mike’s Weather Page. Many a time have I and my co-workers used the information there to help fine tune response plans.  Found at spaghettimodels.com, Mike’s Weather Page offers a comprehensive collection of tools and data to track weather events. Mike’s Weather Hero journey is truly inspiring. What started as a side pr...

In the first of our Katrina Chronicles series, we have the privilege of speaking with EG Warren, a veteran insurance agent boasting over fifty years of invaluable experience. EG reflects on his early days in the insurance industry on the Mississippi coast and candidly shares the personal and professional hurdles he encountered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His story is a powerful testamen...

Welcome to the introduction to Season Two of the Weather Heroes podcast. We’re starting a little late, but we are also starting off with a bang! This season we begin focusing on Hurricane Katrina, while still on the lookout for Weather Heroes, no matter where they might be.  This August marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina—a storm of unparalleled devastation. As we approach this signifi...

 Insurance policies help manage the costs of damage. This can be  from severe weather events, wildfires, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and so many other perils. Still, there are situations where insurance may not cover a loss or only part of it. Consider: Deductibles: A portion of the loss is paid by the policyholder. Underinsured losses: Losses where there is insufficient coverage. Uninsurable...

Weather Heroes explores the world of planning for and responding to disasters. We visit with key weather players from a wide range of backgrounds and today, we have the pleasure of meeting Raya Maday, a dedicated meteorologist and a key figure in organizing emergency responses to natural disasters.  Growing up in Florida, Raya’s fascination with weather and disasters began in 2004 when Hurricane C...

 Every day, businesses and organizations face the potential for reputational damage. Severe weather events and other catastrophes can create a sudden onslaught of challenges that can significantly increase the likelihood of something going wrong. In addition to a disaster plan, potential threats to a business’s reputation and brand should be included in their business continuity plan.  After a cat...

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jamie Rhome. He’s the Deputy Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Jamie plays a crucial role in developing long-term strategies as well as coordinating the organization’s planning and day-to-day operations.   The NHC, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is essential in keeping us safe during hur...

In this episode, we delve into the high-stakes world of emergency management with Anna McRay. As the Assistant Director of Emergency Management for New Hanover County, Anna shoulders the responsibility of safeguarding lives and property during crises. Located in North Carolina, New Hanover’s coastal territory presents many challenges - experiencing hurricanes and floods over the years, and over 1,...

Hurricanes, heavy storms , tornadoes, floods, and similar disasters can lead to problems with a variety of insects and other creepy crawlies. With two broods of cicadas emerging and bugs in the news we talk with Paul Bello -entomologist extraordinaire. Paul has been battling bugs and creepy crawlies for decades. As the rains and flood waters abate, these pests become unwelcome guests in and around...

Samaritan’s Purse is an international, nondenominational, evangelical Christian disaster relief organization. Founded in 1970, it provides aid to people in need across the globe. Following the example of the Good Samaritan as found in the Bible, the organization provides assistance in crisis areas throughout the world. After a disaster they help with immediate needs as well as long-term recovery a...

As we enter the 2024 hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts an above-average year for named storms—somewhere between 17 and 25. Effective planning is crucial for successful disaster response, especially considering the likelihood of a named storm hitting the US coastline this year. One key partner in this process is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We recentl...

I've been on a bit of a hiatus camping out, communing with nature. There was a lot of rain and mud involved! The good news is I did catch (and release) a couple of speckled king snakes! I try to get episodes out roughly every two weeks, so I’m a little behind…  but, no need to fear, there are several exciting episodes coming up in the next few weeks.  We’ll be having a bug fest when we interv...

The episode starts with the trailer of the exciting 1996 film “Twister,” featuring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. It sets the stage for our interview today with Mark Fox. As the Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Norman, Oklahoma—a notorious tornado hot-spot – Mark’s mission is the preservation of lives and property. As a seasoned tornado expert, he is the righ...

Each type of disaster presents unique challenges and in these critical moments, logistics plays a pivotal role.  Today we talk with Angela Ruth Corbett. She has extensive experience in disaster response logistics and can shed light on the many challenges involved in setting up and supplying disaster sites. She is widely recognized as a leader and innovator. I met Angela while she worked at a major...

Did you know that the National Weather Service has a SWAT Team? Well, not quite SWAT, but pretty close! Today we talk with Robert Rickey who is an IMET – an Incident Meteorologist. They are a group of about 100 forecasters who go to where the danger is, in harm’s way.  They primarily get deployed to wildfire events, but have worked at floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and even oil spills. Their main...

There have been many hurricanes before, but not like Andrew. It changed many things, not just for Miami, but across the US: how everyone prepares for hurricanes, building codes, insurance practices, mitigation efforts, the list is long.  Andrew also ignited my passion for the excitement and reward of giving back to the community in times of disaster. That feeling carried me through decades of work...

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas. They play an indispensable role in the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy by empowering us to prepare for and respond effectively to adverse weather conditions.  As one of the cornerstones of...