StormFest, June 18, 2011

The National Weather Service (NWS) in conjunction with the City of Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Wake County Emergency Services will hold the second annual StormFest, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday June 18 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street. Stormfest 2011 will focus on hurricanes and their past and future impact on our state and will offer educational activities for all ages.

Stormfest includes two “Ask the Expert” sessions at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the museum auditorium, featuring chief meteorologists Greg Fishel of WRAL 5, Chris Hohman of ABC 11, Wes Hohenstein of NBC 17 and Gary Stephenson of News 14. Ask the Expert sessions allow visitors to interact with the meteorologists and learn about weather in our community.

Hands-on exhibits will be provided by:

• City of Raleigh Emergency Management Office;

• State of North Carolina Division of Air Quality;

• State Climate Office of North Carolina;

• Community Emergency Response Team-City of Raleigh Emergency Management;

• North Carolina Baptist Men;

• WakeMed;

• Rex Healthcare;

• State Medical Assistance Team;

• Urban and Swift Water Rescue;

• State Veterinary Office;

• North Carolina State Highway Patrol;

• North Carolina National Guard; and,

• City of Raleigh Fire Department.

Stormfest will feature many of the rescue and support vehicles used by emergency services during times of disaster. Jones Street in front the museum will be closed in order to display the larger response and rescue vehicles seldom seen up close by the public.

For more information, join and follow StormFest 2011 on Facebook or contact Marc Duncan of Emergency Management at 919-996-3070 or Jeff Orrock of the National Weather Service at 919-515-8209 ext. 223.