TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® today named Ada Monzón as 2018 National Weatherperson of the Year. Chosen for the award by the FLASH Board of Directors, Ada was selected for her contributions to the disaster safety movement and dedicated service to her community. Ada is the Chief Meteorologist at WIPR-TV, Noticias 24/7, and Univision Radio (WKAQ 580 AM).
Ada is the first female American Meteorological Society (AMS) Fellow and Certified Broadcast Meteorologist in Puerto Rico. Her standout service during 2017 provided invaluable reassurance as the commonwealth prepared for the most devastating disaster in the island’s modern history. She closely followed Irma as it passed through the Caribbean and then helped the population prepare and remain calm throughout Hurricane Maria—one of the deadliest and costliest natural disasters on record.
She recently recounted her experience during Hurricane Maria with a presentation at the 2017 AMS Annual Meeting. Her presentation inspired a standing ovation. (Watch video here.)
“Ada is a strong advocate of hurricane preparedness and mitigation and has dedicated her career to public education, awareness, and safety,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “Her commitment during Hurricanes Irma and Maria brought not only essential weather information, but much-needed calm as Puerto Rico braced for the worst. We are honored to name her as 2018 National Weatherperson of the Year.”
The award includes an all-expense trip to speak at the 2018 National Disaster Resilience Conference in Clearwater Beach, FL.
After earning her master’s in meteorology at Florida State University, Ada joined the U.S. National Weather Service Forecast Office in San Juan in 1989 as Forecaster and Warning and Preparedness Meteorologist. From 1997 to 2002, she was the Weather Anchor for WIPR-TV, and from 2003 to 2014, she was the Chief Meteorologist of Univision P. R. (WLII-TV).
She is the only professional meteorologist with a Master’s degree in Tropical Meteorology in the news media of Puerto Rico.
Ada is a board member of the Caribbean Regional Association for Coastal Ocean Observing Systems, an affiliate member of the PR NASA Space Grant Consortium, and member of the American Alliance of Museums, National Science Teacher Association, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Ada is the recipient of many awards in her nearly 30 years as a professional meteorologist, including the AMS Award for Excellence in Science Reporting by a Broadcast Meteorologist, the AMS Joanne Simpson Mentorship Award, the Silver Medal of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Distinguished Alumni of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico.
About FLASH
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The FLASH partnership includes more than 100 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disaster-resilient nation including: BASF Corporation, FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot, Huber Engineered Woods, International Code Council, Kohler Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and USAA. In 2008, FLASH, and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and access free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221- SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter, Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.
SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)
