News & Public Affairs

Tampa Bay residents urged to plan ahead for tornadoes and active hurricane season listen

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Tags: tornado, hurricane, weather, NOAA, Moore, Oklahoma

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is predicting a hyperactive hurricane season with between 7 and 11 hurricanes with 3-6 severe storms. And with the nation still reeling from the catastrophic tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma this week, people are taking severe weather seriously.

Charlie Paxton is a science and operations officer for the National Weather Service in Ruskin. He says summer-time tornadoes can present a huge threat to Floridians.

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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor doubts Tropical Storm Isaac will hinder RNC plans in Tampa listen

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Tags: Isaac, RNC, Republican National Convention, Kathy Castor, hurricane

Wind and storm surge from Tropical Storm Isaac could wreak havoc on the Republican National Convention next week even if it doesn’t score a direct hit on Tampa. But at an event in St. Pete Beach Thursday morning, member of Congress Kathy Castor said the show will likely still go on.

“I seriously doubt the convention’s going to be called off.”

In an interview with CNN yesterday, Mayor Bob Buckhorn raised the specter of the convention being call...

Experts discuss sea level rise and storm surge protection listen

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Tags: Climate Change, hurricane, sea level rise, storm surge, natural disaster

Regional planning organizations met yesterday at USF to collaborate on issues involving sea level rise and storm surge dangers to the area. The Resilient Tampa Bay conference touched on threats the experts described as imminent.

Climate change has become something of a controversy locally, nationally and even globally. The topic has even sneaked its way into politics. But Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council’s Jim Beever said despite the speculation, climate change has already im...