Normally, the news coming from the U.S. National Hurricane Center this time of year would focus on the Miami-based facility’s primary responsibility.

The center tracks and predicts the likely behavior of tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. However, it has been the behavior of the center’s staff members that has drawn the most publicity since the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1.

The specifics concerning an ongoing feud between center Director Bill Proenza and staff members are still cloudy. Since replacing longtime Director Max Mayfield in January, Proenza has been vocal about the need to replace the aging QuikScat satellite used by hurricane forecasters. Staff members insisted that Proenza’s comments undermined confidence in their hurricane predictions and have called for his removal.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, whose home state of Louisiana was devastated two years ago by Hurricane Katrina, echoed U.S. Rep. Ron Klein’s concerns about the timing of this turmoil. Losing the head of the National Hurricane Center in the middle of hurricane season will detract from the center disseminating information about dangerous storms brewing in the Atlantic. As Landrieu said, sounding the alarm on QuikScat is not justification for removing Proenza.

Deputy Director Ed Rappaport is replacing his boss on an interim basis while Proenza takes a leave of absence. We hope that whatever internal problems are at work in the center will be dealt with before a storm appears on the horizon. The formation of Subtropical Storm Andrea on May 9 marked an earlier beginning to this year’s hurricane season, so it’s a safe bet that the National Hurricane Center’s work will continue to be critical to our region.

The Valdosta (Ga.) Daily Times