Thanks Max

[Buccaneer]

Max Mayfield, the director of the Hurricane Center is retiring.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/08/2....ap/index.html

Last year about this time, Max had - from Friday night to Saturday night - been trying to get a hold of Mayor Nagin but Nagin's staff cronies did not want Max to bother the Mayor. All day on Saturday, while Max while trying to warn everyone of the pending disaster, Nagin was holed up with his lawyers trying to determine the legal and political ramifications of calling for a mandatory evacuation (as Max was urging anyone who would listen). All day on Saturday, Nagin was mostly worried about the city being sued by the hotel corporations. After much persistence, Max was able to talk directly to Nagin on Saturday night and persuaded him that everyone needed to leave and leave now. As soon as he got off the phone, Nagin ordered the evacuation - a day late. Thanks Max, you did your best.

Source: Doug Brinkley's The Great Deluge

[Craptacular]

From what I've heard, Max has always been fantastically open to the media and general public, giving everyone an honest opinion and an inside look into the NHC's brain. Hopefully his replacement will continue the tradition.