NWS Awarded Silver Anchor

NWS Louisville Awarded Silver Anchor

During a September 14 reception held aboard the Belle of Louisville, the staff of the NWS office in Louisville was presented with a 2017 Silver Anchor Award by Louisville's Friends of the Waterfront for their outstanding support to Waterfront Park. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joe Sullivan and Forecaster Erin Rau represented the staff at the ceremony, and thanked those in attendance for the honor. A second Silver Anchor was presented to Matt Thornton, Chairman of the Waterfront Development Corporation (WDC).

A media release announcing the award stated that the National Weather Service was "...recognized for outstanding commitment to the safety of patrons at Waterfront Park Events. Over the years, the NWS team in Louisville has gone above and beyond to support the Waterfront Development Corporation (a component unit of Metro Government) with advice and insight which has ensured the safety of hundreds of thousands of patrons to Waterfront Park events. NWS has guided WDC through dozens of serious situations over the years. NWS support has helped WDC Staff to evacuate when necessary (and with great precision), and has provided confidence to proceed with events whenever possible."

In presenting the award to Sullivan and Rau, Ashley Smith of the WDC recalled numerous times the NWS Louisville staff had provided critical assistance on timing and intensity of thunderstorms affecting the Waterfront during the many popular activities along the Ohio River, especially during the free summer concerts drawing tens of thousands of patrons to park. The NWS staff also provides on-site support to Thunder over Louisville, the annual air show and fireworks display that draws over 600,000 people to the Waterfront to kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival each April.

NWS Louisville Meteorologists Joe Sullivan and Erin Rau with WDC's Ashley Smith

NWS Louisville WCM Joe Sullivan and Forecaster Erin Rau display Silver Anchor Award with WDC's Ashley Smith

Silver Anchor Award Ceremony

Waterfront Development Corporation members with 2017 Silver Anchor Award winners. (L-R: Olivia Pedolzky, Jacob Mercier, Matt Thornton, Erin Rau, Joe Sullivan, Joshua Watkins, Kelly Lewis, Nicole Walton)