On July 22, at 7:00pm in the Discovery Theater at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, Andy Patrick, Meteorologist in Charge at the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, will present an interesting and informative program on Hurricanes. Eye opening slides will be presented so that local residents can better understand hurricanes and be prepared for the upcoming season. This presentation is designed for families and will end with a question and answer session. Call 409.670.9799 to RSVP for this limited seating event.
Meteorologist Andy Patrick was appointed meteorologist-in-charge of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service Forecast Office in Brownsville, Texas, one of 122 National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices in the nation and one of 32 in the National Weather Service Southern Region.
As meteorologist-in-charge, Patrick will be responsible for ensuring that the citizens and marine community in South Texas receive timely and accurate weather warnings, forecasts and climate information. His responsibilities also include maintaining close working relationships with National Weather Service partners including the emergency management community and the media and providing severe weather awareness, preparedness and safety education for the public. Patrick replaces Shawn Bennett, who was appointed meteorologist-in-charge for Tampa, Florida.
Patrick launched his National Weather Service career as a meteorologist intern at WFO Tampa in 1987. Three years later, he became a forecaster at the WFO in Tulsa, Okla., and was promoted to senior forecaster in 1994. He transferred to the Corpus Christi office in 1995 to serve as the science and operations officer.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in meteorology at Pennsylvania State University in 1985. He is a member of the American Meteorology Society, the National Weather Association and the South Texas Amateur Radio Association. He is the author of numerous American Meteorology Society publications and has led several collaborative projects in association with Texas A & M University.
The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.
Shangri La is located at 2111 W. Park Avenue in Orange, Texas. For additional information, visit shangrilagardens.org or call 409.670.9113.
About Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center
Nestled within 252 acres in the heart of Orange, Texas, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private foundation whose mission is to improve and enrich the quality of life in Southeast Texas and encourage and assist education. The unique ecosystem of Shangri La presents an ideal opportunity to further that mission as well as carry on the vision of H.J. Lutcher Stark, the man who originally developed the gardens more than 60 years ago.
Amid nature's pristine ecosystems, the formal gardens at Shangri La reflect a use of more than 300 plant species to paint beautiful landscapes among a series of theme-based garden rooms. Around every corner a new vista awaits the visitor with exquisite sculptures, a great lawn, serene waterscapes reflecting beautiful colors and a Cypress Gate framing blooming plants and soaring birds. The Nature Center includes Adams Bayou boat excursions to educational outposts, a 15-acre Beaver Pond, a state-of-the-art bird blind, a bat house, and more up-close encounters with nature.
Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is the first project in Texas and the 50th project in the world to earn the U.S. Green Building Council's Platinum Certification for LEED®-NC, which verifies that the design and construction of Shangri La reached the highest green building and performance measures. Shangri La was also named by the American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment as one of the top 10 green projects throughout the world.
Shangri La offers a glimpse of how people can live in harmony with nature, as it strives in its mission to Mentor Children of All Ages to Be Kind to Their World.
Other programs of the Stark Foundation include the Stark Museum of Art, The W.H. Stark House and the Frances Ann Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts.