Fully staff National Weather Service for timely warnings

Urgent action is needed to restore full staffing and 24/7 operations at National Weather Service (NWS) offices across the country. The recent tragic events in Missouri and Kentucky, where delayed tornado warnings due to reduced overnight staffing cost precious lives, underscore the critical importance of having adequate forecasting personnel on duty at all times. An investigative report by the New York Times had warned just a day earlier about the dangers posed by staffing cuts, specifically highlighting vacancies at the NWS office in Jackson, Kentucky. With an above-normal hurricane season approaching in two weeks, the consequences of compromising weather forecasting capabilities could be catastrophic. Severe weather events do not follow a predictable schedule – they can strike at any hour, putting communities at risk when staffing is inadequate. Restoring full 24/7 staffing at NWS offices is essential to ensure timely warnings reach people, giving them those critical minutes to seek shelter and potentially saving lives. Public safety must take precedence over cost-cutting measures that endanger citizens. I urge you to take immediate action to fully staff our nation's weather forecasting operations around the clock.