The National Weather Service faces criticism because flash floods in Texas resulted in the deaths of at least 80 people who included many children and counselors at a summer camp in the Hill Country. The disaster has brought back attention to the staffing reductions made by President Trump’s administration.
The NWS office which monitored the region operated with its standard five staff members during the storm yet former officials claim the reduced personnel numbers have diminished the agency’s capacity to produce accurate forecasts when under stress.
The administration’s cost-cutting measures received direct blame from Democrats for the deadly mistakes but most Republicans chose to avoid political responsibility. The flood occurred during early Friday morning when heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rapidly overflow its banks while many residents received pre-dawn warning alerts.
The agency received support from both present and former NWS personnel who pointed out that the alerts were sent out before the water reached its peak. Some emergency officials state that the forecasts did not provide sufficient detail or sense of urgency which made it harder for local authorities to prepare.
The tragic event has sparked new discussions about funding for climate resilience programs and weather infrastructure development. The increasing number of severe weather events has led critics to argue that reducing the NWS workforce makes the country less prepared for disasters. The high number of human casualties from the storm has led to demands for reviewing federal spending on forecasting systems.
