As a part of the Florida International University (FIU) Extreme Events Institute (EEI), the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC), located in Miami, is a multi-disciplinary research and education organization focused on a single mission: to reduce hurricane damage and loss of life through more effective mitigation. The IHRC conducts studies involved with storm surge modeling, coastal vulnerability, economic loss modeling and wind engineering research using the Wall of Wind (WOW), which is a NSF designated national Experimental Facility (EF) within the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) program.
What has your organization done to promote a Weather Ready Nation? (i.e. what did your WFO recognize you for?)
Participated in the 2016 NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour (HAT) and shared hurricane mitigation and preparedness information with media, school students and the public.
Hosted educational STEM tours at the Wall of Wind NHERI-EF for professional groups and school students.
Facilitated the “Eye of the Storm” community hurricane safety and mitigation event at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science, along with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Broward County Emergency Management, Fort Lauderdale Emergency Management, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory-Hurricane Research Division (AOML-HRD), NOAA’s local National Weather Service (NWS) Miami Office, and many other local agencies and organizations.
Developed a hands-on, interactive Wall of Wind exhibit at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science, with support from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Presented hurricane wind mitigation education at the CBS4 S.T.E.A.M. Day at Marlins Park, along with NOAA’s local National Weather Service (NWS) Miami Office.
Conducted numerous media interviews highlighting hurricane mitigation and preparedness and wind engineering research tours of the Wall of Wind NHERI-EF.
What does being an Ambassador mean to you?
It’s rewarding for FIU-IHRC to be a part of the WRN Ambassador Team and help educate local residents on the weather hazards affecting our community. It’s a pleasure to partner with NOAA (NHC, AOML-HRD, NWS), the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and local emergency management, organizations and agencies on the various weather education/safety activities, projects and community events contributing to a more Weather-Ready Nation.
What are your goals for the next year concerning preparedness?
Our goals in 2017 are to continue to promote hurricane mitigation and preparedness, advance the science of wind engineering research, enhance building codes and foster resilient communities. We will accomplish this by showcasing the Wall of Wind, developing a new Hurricane Andrew – 25th Anniversary exhibit at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science, enlarging the “Eye of the Storm” event, participating with the NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour and expanding the Spanish language hurricane website with NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. To ensure success, FIU-IHRC looks forward to working together again with our federal, state, and local partners, including NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC), NOAA’s local National Weather Service (NWS) Miami Office, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory-Hurricane Research Division (AOML-HRD), NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
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