NWS Southern Region Director Bill Proenza (right) recently joined Florida Governor Jeb Bush in Tallahassee to support the work of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) and the group's CEO Leslie Chapman Henderson. Proclaiming the week of May 24th as seventh annual "Federal Alliance for Safe Homes Week", the Governor praised FLASH for raising homeowner awareness of free, available disaster information and for providing a referral service to consumers. FLASH and the NWS Southern Region have partnered on numerous public safety projects, the most recent of which is the NWS Turn Around, Down DrownT flood safety awareness campaign.

Barbara Watson, Meteorologist-In-Charge, WFO Binghamton, NY, (left) presents the General Albert J. Meyer Award to Marguerite Wilson (center) and her great grandson Tyler, who will be assuming her duties as a Cooperative Observer in Thurston, NY. Wilson, 92, was recognized for 65 years of service as a Cooperative Weather Observer at a Steuben County, NY, Legislature Meeting. She began collecting weather data in 1939 when Franklin Roosevelt was President, before World War II. Watson shared WFO Binghamton's sincere thanks to Wilson and her family for their continued dedication to Cooperative Observer program.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tanja Fransen writes that the Glasgow, ID, Weather Forecast Office recently shifted into a biologist mode when Lead Forecaster Ted Jamba noticed a baby robin had fallen out of it's Nest outside the WFO. The baby had been on the ground for over an hour, and the mother was not around. The WFO staff decided not to touch the bird, so Jamba found some gloves, and a ladder, and helped the little fellow back into it's nest. As soon as Jamba picked up the bird it was opening its mouth waiting to be feed. And when he placed it back in the nest with the other babies, they all poked their heads up waiting to be fed as well. Photo by Lead Forecaster Greg Forrester, WFO Glasgow.

WFO Bismarck Warning Coordination Meteorologist John Paul Martin watches as Annie, a student in his Storm Chasers and Severe Weather Camp, tries to reach severe thunderstorm wind criteria with a hand held anemometer on June 25, 2004.

This is the fourth year that Martin has taught the week-long class that is held each June at Bismarck State College. The class has 20 students ages 9 to 13. They learn about general weather, forecasting, severe storms, Doppler RADAR principles, and safety.

Martin said that over his 14 year NWS career he has noticed a significant increase in the knowledge of children with respect to how to protect themselves from hazardous weather. Based on his experience the average 10 year old child today is more knowledgeable about how to protect themselves from hazardous weather than the average 40 or 50 year old. He attributes this in part to school curriculum, teaching weather at an earlier elementary level, more children being intrigued by weather, and classes like Storm Chasers. Martin said he has also noticed more youngsters attending SKYWARN training and this may be due in part to their interest in HAM radio. Martin tells children that they need to educate their parents and grandparents about weather hazards and safety.

Take a look at other NWS news, as submitted for the NOAA Weekly Report.