Weather Heroes

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 project in 2004 has grown into a trust...

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 testament to the resilience and fortitude o...

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 significant milestone, we will be dedicatin...

 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 and/or unidentifiable risks: Think...

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 Charley swept over her home...

 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 catastrophe, the potential pitfalls fr...

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 hurricane season, June through November...

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 1,600 tornadoes since 1950. We explor...

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 our homes and disrupt the response ...

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 assistance. This humble and dedicate...

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 recently had an insightful conversation wi...

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 interview an entomologist on the challenges...

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 right person in the right place, puttin...

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 insurance company. Today she is wo...

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 goal is to provide weather informat...

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 working in the catastrophe business. I’v...

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 American safety they are a key Weat...

In 1983, the DynaTAC 8000X cellular telephone, affectionately known as “the brick,” entered the market. Those of us of a certain age, certainly remember it! Since then, cell phones have seamlessly woven themselves into our daily lives. These pocket-sized devices grant us access to seemingly endless information and provide countless ways to communicate with family, friends, and the world at large. In fact, many individuals have aban...

Welcome to Weather Heroes.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 1980, the U.S. has sustained over two and a half trillion dollars in weather related damage.  The cost of weather disasters can have a significant impact on the economy, environment, and people’s lives.

 Weather Heroes explores the world of planning for and responding to disasters. We visit with key “weather” players from a wide r...