Naming of Hurricanes

The Associated Press recently ran a story about the names of hurricanes. What is left out of the story is the role that Miami feminist Roxcy Bolton (pictured below) played in changing the policy. Prior to her activism, hurricanes were ALWAYS named for women. She got tired of reading headlines about hurricanes with women’s names destroying communities. Instead, she suggested that hurricanes be named for senators – since they like to name things after themselves.

By 1979, the policy was changed to alternate women and men’s names when it came to naming hurricanes. Here is a story that provides some background.

Roxcy was a friend of Miami Herald women’s page editor Marie Anderson.

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