Neil Frank, former hurricane center chief who improved public outreach on storms, has died

Key Highlights

• “A perfect forecast is no good if people don’t take immediate action.”Frank’s son, Ron Frank, said in a Facebook post that his father died at home a few days after going into hospice care. KHOU-TV in Houston, where Frank spent two decades as chief meteorologist after leaving the hurricane center, first reported his death.
• The station referred an Associated Press call for comment to CBS, whose spokeswoman declined comment but directed the AP to Ron Frank’s post. When Frank started at the National Hurricane Center, advances with weather satellites were helping forecasters to better predict the location and direction of a storm.
• Frank worked to make that information more accessible to residents in hurricane-vulnerable areas, said Mayfield.
• He also regularly appeared on television to give updates on storms and advice on staying safe.9-year-old Melodee Buzzard fatally shot during road trip, mom arrested: SheriffDec 23, 6:16 PMWoman fatally stabbed at Barnes & Noble store in apparently unprovoked attack: PoliceDec 24, 11:50 AMRob Reiner's son arrested for murder in stabbing death of famed director, wifeDec 15, 6:39 PM“He was so passionate and you could just feel his enthusiasm but also sense of warning — that he wanted people to take action,” Mayfield said.
• “He was very animated, spoke with his hands a lot.