A Weather World feature written and produced by Dr. Jon Nese and Marisa Ferger of the Penn State Meteorology Department has been nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  The goal of these regional awards is to recognize outstanding achievements in television and provide incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence for those working in the television industry, as well as to focus public attention on outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements in television. 

Nese’s Emmy nomination is in the category, Weather – News, Single Story or Series for his segment, “St. Patrick's Day 1936 - A Taxing Flood,” which aired on the WeatherWhys portion of Weather World on March 17, 2010 on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) and WPSU-TV. 

In the segment, Nese talks about public apathy regarding the dangers of flooding and unveils interesting statistics about the 1936 Johnstown flood and the impact it had on local and national history. For instance, viewers may be surprised to learn that after the flood, a 10% tax was assessed on all alcohol sold in Pennsylvania to help rebuild the town.  This “Johnstown Flood Tax” was never repealed and now stands at 18%, generating approximately 270 million dollars per year for the state.  Nese also reports that later in 1936 Congress authorized federal funds, for the first time ever, to promote flood control as a result of the devastation in Johnstown.

The Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, now in their 28th year, recognize excellence in programming and individual achievement in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Sept. 25 at the Philadelphia Loews Hotel.