Staffing cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) are under scrutiny after deadly flooding in Texas, with at least 80 fatalities highlighting concerns about reduced forecasts and weather warnings.
The National Weather Service has come under intense criticism following numerous deaths resulting from torrential rains and flash flooding in the Texas Hill Country. Local officials voiced dissatisfaction with the weather forecasts provided, although comments largely stopped short of directly linking the perceived inadequacies to cuts in staffing imposed under President Donald Trump’s administration.
In the wake of the disaster, which reportedly claimed the lives of over two dozen girls and counselors at a Guadalupe River summer camp, Democrats have not hesitated to connect the staffing reductions at the NWS to the tragic events. Despite this critique, current and former NWS officials defended the agency’s actions, citing urgent flash flood warnings dispatched early Friday morning before the river’s abrupt rise.
Brian LaMarre, former meteorologist-in-charge at the NWS forecast office in Tampa, Florida, noted, “This was an exceptional service to come out first with the catastrophic flash flood warning and this shows the awareness of the meteorologists on shift at the NWS office.” LaMarre emphasized the significant urgency reflected in the early warnings issued by the service.
Nevertheless, concerns have arisen regarding the level of coordination and communication between the NWS and local officials during the incident. The Trump administration’s cuts have resulted in down-sizing by at least 20% at nearly half of the 122 NWS field offices across the country and a reduction in round-the-clock staffing at several offices. Furthermore, early retirements were encouraged among experienced forecasters and senior managers, leading to gaps in crucial positions.
The budget for the NWS’s parent agency has also been targeted, with proposals to slash funding by 27% and eliminate federal research centers devoted to weather, climate, and oceanic studies.
The situation is particularly concerning at the NWS office responsible for the afflicted area, Austin/San Antonio. Six out of 27 positions there remain vacant. These include a key managerial role essential for issuing weather warnings and coordinating with emergency management officials, left unfilled following an early retirement after 17 years of service.
As the situation continues to unfold, Senator Chuck Schumer and other Democrats have pressed for a detailed inquiry into the potential impact of staffing shortages on the tragic loss of life during the floods in Texas.
President Trump has countered claims that these job eliminations hampered the NWS’s ability to forecast weather accurately, stating, “The raging waters were a thing that happened in seconds. No one expected it. Nobody saw it.”
Source: Original article