Ahead Of Hurricane Season, Rubio Visits National Hurricane Center In Miami

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today met with officials at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, to underscore the importance of being prepared for the upcoming hurricane season and to discuss improvements in the tracking and forecasting of storms, as well as storm surges.

"With the 2016 hurricane season fast approaching, it's important to remind Floridians about the importance of getting their home, business and insurance records in order and their contingency plans ready, just in case," said bio in the admin hallway with Jannette Perez, Dr. Rick Knabb, Chris Burr, NHC Communications Officer Dennis Feltgen. "Keeping our families safe and prepared in the event of a storm is paramount. From a policy standpoint, I've introduced legislation to improve hurricane forecasting that will continue to save lives and dollars. It's unfortunate this common sense legislation has been needlessly tied up by politics as usual, but I remain committed to finding a way forward and getting it passed this year."

Last year, Rubio introduced the "Hurricane Forecast Improvement Act of 2015" to improve guidance for hurricane tracking, intensity and storm surge forecasts. This legislation, which has been adopted in a larger bill working its way through the Senate's commerce committee, would codify the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project, which aims to reduce the loss of life, injury and damage to the economy by reducing errors of tracking and intensity forecasts. Rubio is expected to chair a commerce committee hearing on hurricane preparedness later this month.

Below are photos taken from Rubio's visit to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. All photos can be credited to the office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.

Rubio meets with Dr. Rick Knabb, Director of the National Hurricane Center:

Rubio in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) liaison room with Dr. Rick Knabb and Tiffany Hersey:

Rubio in NHC's hurricane operations area with NHC Communications Officer Dennis Feltgen and Dr. Rick Knabb:

Rubio in National Weather Service (NWS) forecast office with Dr. Rick Knabb and Science & Operations Officer Kevin Scharfenberg:

Rubio in NHC's Storm Surge room with Storm Surge Unit Officials William Booth and Jamie Rhome:

Rubio in NHC Forecast operation area with Branch Chief James Franklin, Jack Beven, Dr. Rick Knabb, Lixion Avila:

Rubio in the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) operations area with Chief Hugh Cobb, Gladys Rubio and Dr. Rick Knabb:

Rubio and Mission Specialist Warren Madden in Chief Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes (CARCAH):

Rubio in the admin hallway with Jannette Perez, Dr. Rick Knabb, Chris Burr, NHC Communications Officer Dennis Feltgen:

Read this original document at: http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=00220523-801C-4129-A5A3-7F8289E58EFD