Did Trump's DOGE gut the weather service and removed key personnel that could have issued warnings/alerts that might have mitigated the natural disaster?
The answer: Maybe, but we honestly don't know.
No, we do know. The NWS Union head said vacancies didn't impact the NWS warning system in Texas.
Per NBC in Dallas/Fort Worth:
NWS Meteorologist Jason Runyen said the National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, had extra staff on duty during the storms. Where the office would typically have two forecasters on duty during clear weather, they had up to five on staff.
“There were extra people in here that night, and that's typical in every weather service office — you staff up for an event and bring people in on overtime and hold people over,” Runyen said.
And, let's face it, the DOGE cuts are sure to have some impact on the early warning system.
Why? This is simply a more is better argument. The NWS went from two forecasters to five during the storms. Perhaps you think ten forecasters would have saved lives. I don't think so.
The NWS warnings were sent throughout the night. Here in the U.S. most of the focus now seems to be on the local response and rightly so.
The best analysis I heard was that people get jaded by flash flood warnings. This might be so when even previously some people in a broader community or region have been impacted but most have not. As I stated earlier, if I am sleeping next to a river I am not taking any chances when the flash flood warnings show up on my cellphone.
What more can an early "Federal" warning system do? I would encourage to read objective reporting. Start with the list of numerous warnings issued on this article.
CBS News analysis shows there were 22 warnings sent by the National Weather Service for Kerr County and the Kerrville area, but many residents say they didn't get alerts.
www.cbsnews.com
www.campmystic.com
economictimes.indiatimes.com
youtube.com
