“`html
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 to Nov. 30, intensifying attention on these perilous storms.
Faculty from Florida State University are global experts in hurricane studies and strategies to reduce their effects. Available to address inquiries and provide insights for news articles throughout the hurricane season and beyond, they stand ready to assist.
Additionally, four faculty members contributed to a virtual media briefing regarding this year’s hurricane season.
FORECASTING, FORMATION AND TRACKING
Mark Bourassa, professor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, and associate director of the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
[email protected], (850) 644-6923
Bourassa utilizes both on-site and remote (aircraft and satellite) observations along with meteorological models to explore air-sea interactions and satellite measurements of Earth’s surface activities. He is a specialist in the global meteorological and oceanographic observation network that supports forecasts and identifying tropical disturbances, potential precursors to tropical cyclones. Bourassa also leads the NASA Ocean Vector Wind Science Team.
Bradford D. Johnson, assistant professor, Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
[email protected]
Johnson’s specialization includes tropical cyclone forecasting, hazard interpretation, and science communication. His research merges geospatial analytics, numerical weather prediction, and artificial intelligence to evaluate the atmospheric and societal effects of extreme weather events, particularly focusing on urban settings and land use changes. He spearheads projects investigating public reactions to hurricane forecast visuals and seeks to enhance risk communication using simple language tailored for a variety of stakeholders, encompassing policymakers, emergency managers, and the public. His interdisciplinary expertise and leadership in federal programs make him a vital asset for understanding tropical cyclone hazards and their wider implications.
David Zierden, state climatologist; associate in research, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
[email protected], (850) 644-3417
Zierden’s research concentrates on climate variability in Florida, the determinants of seasonal hurricane forecasts, and the large-scale environmental elements influencing the hurricane season, such as the El Niño/La Niña phenomena. He examines how forecasting can be leveraged in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and water resource management.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Pedro L. Fernández-Cabán, assistant professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center
[email protected], (850) 410-6251
Fernández-Cabán’s research integrates laboratory and field studies to evaluate the structural integrity of civil infrastructure during windstorm events. His recent endeavors focus on creating advanced machine learning models to anticipate hurricane wind patterns and their interactions with coastal environments. Fernández-Cabán’s research employs ground-level anemometric data collected during hurricanes making landfall, along with sophisticated wind tunnel methodologies, to accurately model the effects of coastal storms on civil infrastructure.
Katie Kehoe, assistant professor, College of Fine Arts
[email protected]
Kehoe specializes in performance and site-specific installations, focusing on natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes. She led a 2024 initiative that celebrated the resilience of the rural Florida community of Steinhatchee following hurricanes Idalia and Debby. The project, titled “Learning from Local Experience to Strengthen Disaster Resilience,” formed part of a pilot research effort examining how rural communities recover from significant weather events including hurricanes.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
David Merrick, director of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program; director of the Center for Disaster Risk Policy
[email protected], Office: (850) 644-9961, Cell: (850) 980-7098
Merrick has over 21 years of experience in state emergency management, participating in roles encompassing planning, external affairs, and aerial operations. He established and oversees the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program’s Disaster Incident Research Team, which is deployed to disaster-stricken areas to conduct field studies on emergency management and disaster responses. This team has been dispatched to numerous disasters, including hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Michael, Ian, and Helene, to assist federal, state, and local agencies. His research interests cover emergency management planning and policy, remote sensing, unmanned aircraft systems, and utilizing information technology in emergency management.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Shi-Ling Hsu, D’Alemberte Professor, College of Law
[email protected], (850) 644-0726
Hsu specializes in environmental and natural resource law, economics, and property. He has contributed to various legal publications, co-authored the casebook Ocean and Coastal Resources Law, and has been featured on the American Public Media radio show “Marketplace.” Prior to his academic career, he served as a senior attorney and economist with the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C.
Erin Ryan, Elizabeth C. and Clyde W. Atkinson Professor and associate dean for Environmental Programs, College of Law
[email protected], (850) 645-0072
Ryan’s focus is on environmental governance and various areas of law including environmental, water, property, and land use. She oversees the Center for Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law at the FSU College of Law and has been quoted in sources such as the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Foreign Policy, Huffington Post, London Financial Times, National Public Radio, Thomson-Reuters Beijing, and local NBC and CBS News broadcasts.
EVACUATION
Eren Ozguven, associate professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, director of the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center
[email protected], (850) 410-6146
Ozguven leads the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center, aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Florida and the Southeast by identifying disaster vulnerabilities, improving infrastructure, and exploring methods to mitigate the adverse effects of natural disasters. His research areas include transportation accessibility, modeling emergency evacuation processes, artificial intelligence, and simulating transportation networks.
“`
Recent academia emphasizes the connections between various infrastructure systems in Florida and how they enhance disaster readiness.
Maxim A. Dulebenets, associate professor and director of graduate programs, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
[email protected], (850) 410-6621
Dulebenets’ investigations primarily concentrate on operations and optimization strategies. His research team has crafted effective algorithms to manage large-scale evacuations in anticipation of significant natural disasters. His models reflect realistic aspects of emergency evacuation strategies, including the possible effects of evacuation circumstances on those being evacuated. His recent work introduces innovative optimization frameworks and solution algorithms for emergency evacuation logistics during pandemics, taking into account a heightened risk of viral transmission in overcrowded emergency shelters.
RISK AND INSURANCE
Patricia Born, Payne H. & Charlotte Hodges Midyette Eminent Scholar in Risk Management & Insurance, College of Business
[email protected], (850) 644-7884
Born examines the structure and functionality of insurance markets, professional liability, health insurance, and the management of catastrophic risks, including hurricanes and other natural calamities. She has served as the past president of the American Risk and Insurance Association and the Risk Theory Society.
Charles Nyce, Dr. William T. Hold Professor of Risk Management and Insurance and head of the Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate & Legal Studies Department, College of Business
[email protected], (850) 645-8392
Nyce’s research is centered on financing catastrophic risks. He has published numerous articles on topics related to risk management and insurance, including title insurance, enterprise risk management, predictive analytics, and natural hazards.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Chris Uejio, professor, Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
[email protected]
Uejio investigates how the physical surroundings affect human health and wellness. His latest research encompasses studies on tropical cyclones, extreme temperatures, and health outcomes. Uejio has been cited in various publications including the Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, Wall Street Journal, Science Friday, and other media regarding public health matters, such as heatwaves and hurricanes.
URBAN PLANNING
Dennis Smith, planner in residence, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
[email protected]
Smith heads the Mark & Marianne Barnebey Planning & Development Lab, which leverages the academic and professional assets of Florida State University to collaborate with public and private entities for innovative and sustainable planning aimed at the enduring growth and viability of Florida communities. His work has concentrated on risks to the built environment, including initiatives for resilience, transportation modeling, evacuation strategies for high-risk regions, and vulnerability assessments. He possesses extensive experience in managing state and federal programs, alongside a comprehensive understanding of regulations pertaining to land use, transportation, and disaster recovery.
The post Florida State University experts available to comment for 2025 hurricane season appeared first on Florida State University News.