1. United States
2. Nev.
3. Letter

The Trump administration halted a crucial NOAA program that was nearly complete, one designed to help communities prepare for the growing threat of extreme rainfall and flooding. The project, known as Atlas 15 Volume 2, was meant to forecast how rainfall patterns would change in the future due to climate change. It would have provided local governments, engineers, and planners with a nationally standardized dataset showing how intense storms are expected to evolve. But this spring, the Commerce Department indefinitely suspended the project following a review ordered by the administration. This matters because the rainfall data currently in use is dangerously outdated. Most of the country still relies on figures from decades ago, some going back to the 1970s or earlier. The now-canceled Atlas 15 Volume 2 was going to change that by offering forward-looking, climate-adjusted predictions. Without it, cities are left guessing. Meanwhile, floods are becoming more frequent and deadly. But critical infrastructure like stormwater systems, roads, and bridges is still being built based on outdated assumptions about rainfall. That gap between reality and planning leads to dangerous and costly failures. The NOAA tool was not an expensive endeavor, and it was close to completion. NOAA data is deeply embedded in building codes, zoning laws, and FEMA flood maps. Removing this authoritative public resource doesn’t just create confusion. It leaves communities vulnerable. This decision isn’t just shortsighted. It’s a threat to public safety! Please fight for funding to be reinstated.