Weatherman and television personality Al Roker was born in Queens, NY. He studied communications at State University of New York at Oswego, where he got his first shot at weather forecasting. He reported in Ohio and D.C. before returning to New York in 1983. There, Roker gradually made his way up the ranks from back-up weatherman to chief meteorologist for various networks, eventually landing the job he is best known for, on NBC's Today show, in 1996.
In addition to his post at the Today show, the nine-time Emmy winner has produced several programs for PBS, MSNBC and CNBC. He has also recently gained popularity for his Food Network series Roker on the Road. In 2005, he launched Al Roker Productions, Inc., a multimedia production company responsible for the critically acclaimed PBS weather special, Savage Skies, as well as the highly rated travel series Going Places.
In his recently published The Storm of the Century: Tragedy, Heroism, Survival, and the Epic True Story of America's Deadliest Natural Disaster: The Great Gulf Hurricane of 1900, Roker vividly examines the deadliest natural disaster in American history—a haunting and inspiring tale of tragedy, heroism, and resilience that is full of lessons for today’s new age of extreme weather.
On the afternoon of September 8, 1900, 200-mph winds and 15-foot waves slammed into Galveston, the booming port city on Texas’s Gulf Coast. By dawn the next day, the city that hours earlier had stood as a symbol of America’s growth and expansion was now gone. Shattered, grief-stricken survivors emerged to witness a level of destruction never before seen.
Blending an unforgettable cast of characters, accessible weather science, and deep historical research into a sweeping and dramatic narrative, The Storm of the Century brings this legendary hurricane and its aftermath into fresh focus. Exploring the impact of the tragedy on a rising country’s confidence—the trauma of the loss and the determination of the response—Al Roker illuminates the United States’ character at the dawn of the “American Century,” while also underlining the fact that no matter how mighty they may become, all nations must respect the ferocious potential of our natural environment.
Al Roker's 'Storm of the Century' Recounts 1900 Galveston Hurricane
“[A] vivid and absorbing account of the infamous Great Galveston Hurricane... Spellbinding and informative.” — Booklist
“[A] compelling work... Focusing on the human experience of the storm, Roker follows survivors before, during, and after the hurricane in order to elucidate what people on Galveston Island encountered as the storm raged through the city.” — Library Journal
The weather forecast for Sunday is 77° and sunny — as of today. We'll write once more at the end of the week with last-minute details you may need to know and possible construction updates. See you in a few days!
Liz Boyd
The Friends' Director of Special Events
P.S. The Delta Air Lines raffle tickets are selling fast. Don't miss out! Get yours today by calling 651-366-6490 or liz@thefriends.org.
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