AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS TO RECEIVE NOAA ENVIRONMENTAL HERO AWARD

Amateur radio operators Paul Toth of Seminole, Fla.; Robert Stanhope of Valrico, Fla.; and Sean Fleeman of New Port Richey, Fla., have been selected to receive the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Environmental Hero Award. The award will be presented during the annual Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference in Tampa during the week of May 9.

Toth, Stanhope and Fleeman are all members of the NOAA National Weather Service SKYWARN storm spotter network, serving the Weather Forecast Office in Ruskin (Tampa Bay area). They are being recognized for their contributions to saving lives and property in the WFO's County Warning Area during hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne. Working as volunteer net control operators, they spent more than 125 hours on the SKYWARN radio network, gathering real-time reports and helping the NWS forecasters provide life saving, up-to-the-minute weather information in west central and southwest Florida

Established in 1996, the Environmental Hero Award honors individuals and organizations that volunteer their time and energy to help NOAA carry out its mission.

“NOAA and the nation are fortunate to have such dedicated people volunteer so much of their time,” said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “They set a perfect example for others to follow in their communities. America needs more environmental heroes like them.”

NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov