1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

The fierce storms that swept across the Midwest caused catastrophic damage and tragically claimed at least 21 lives. Missouri was hit particularly hard, with seven fatalities reported in St. Louis alone after a powerful tornado ripped through the area. The tornado tore roofs off buildings, blew out windows, and brought down trees and power lines, leaving over 100,000 customers without electricity. This devastation underscores the vital importance of robust weather forecasting and emergency preparedness capabilities. Ensuring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has sufficient funding and resources to accurately predict severe weather events can truly be a matter of life and death for communities. A well-funded and fully staffed NOAA is crucial to providing the advanced warning systems that allow people to take shelter and safeguard themselves during dangerous storms. Protecting and bolstering NOAA's budget is an investment that can prevent further loss of life and staggering property damage when Mother Nature unleashes her fury. This terrible tragedy reveals how essential it is to maintain a strong NOAA positioned to fulfill its lifesaving mission.