Hurricane Chief Ousted

Federal Agency Reshuffles As Heart Of Storm Season Approaches Bill Proenza was ousted as the director of the National Hurricane Center, in a move designed to bolster public confidence in the agency's ability to forecast hurricanes. Proenza prompted a staff revolt when he suggested a funding shortfall for one satellite threatened the staff's ability to accurately forecast hurricanes. His people said it wasn't so, and the firestorm that erupted quickly led t o Proenza's ouster after just six months on the job. He didn't see the first hurricane of the season, which his staff predicts will be particularly active. The heart of the storm season sets in August, and typically lasts through September and into October.