2018 National Weatherperson of the Year Nominations Now Open

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)^® announced a call for nominations for the 2018 National Weatherperson of the Year Award, an annual honor recognizing an outstanding weatherperson for leadership in promoting disaster safety and resilience.

The 2018 award will be announced in advance of National Weatherperson's Day on February 5. Past winners include Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel, former National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield, Chief Meteorologist KABB Alex Garcia, and Hurricane Expert & Tropical Program Manager, The Weather Channel Dr. Richard Knabb.

FLASH originated the National Weatherperson of the Year award to coincide with the celebration of National Weatherperson's Day on February 5, the birthday of the pioneering weather observer John Jeffries. After a decade of research on the ground, Jeffries piloted a hot air balloon in 1774 to test weather conditions and advance the science of meteorology. His work paved the way for many aspects of meteorology today.

"The leaders we honor through this award are truly exceptional with a proven record of protecting the public from severe weather," stated FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. "They serve an essential role in increasing safety and driving resilience through communication of best practices like model building codes and beyond-code construction practices. During this unprecedented year of disasters, they have helped raise awareness of how we can bounce back after a disaster if we prepare and plan beforehand."

Eligibility:
Qualified nominees must include either practicing or former meteorologists or weatherpersons. Nominators should highlight how the nominee has leveraged his/her expertise and role to help save lives and protect property through accurate disaster safety messaging, targeted programs, or other public outreach initiatives.

Nomination Details:
Nominations should be submitted on Facebook no later than Friday, January 5. The award will be announced prior to the February 5 celebration of National Weatherperson's Day. For more information, visit the FLASH Facebook page or www.flash.org/nationalweatherpersonsday.

About FLASH
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The FLASH partnership includes more than 100 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disaster-resilient nation including: BASF Corporation, FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot, Huber Engineered Woods, International Code Council, Kohler, Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and USAA. In 2008, FLASH, and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and access free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221- SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter, Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

Related Links

http://www.flash.org