NOAA Forecasts “Above Average” Hurricane Season, Trump’s Cuts Have Left Us Unprepared
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Washington, D.C. — Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasted an “above average” hurricane season, with 13-19 predicted named storms, 6-10 predicted hurricanes, and 3-5 predicted major hurricanes. Trump has gutted our extreme weather response – weakening our forecasting abilities, cutting programs that help communities prepare, and slashing federal disaster relief – making us extremely unprepared for hurricane season.
Climate Power communications director Alex Glass issued the following statement:
“We’re ten days away from hurricane season, and Trump’s reckless cuts have left us woefully unprepared. Trump has slashed the programs we rely on for lifesaving alerts during extreme weather and gutted the resources that support communities in rebuilding after a storm. With more hurricanes expected than normal this year, Trump’s cuts will put people’s lives and livelihoods in more peril.”
Trump’s cuts have left us unprepared for hurricane season:
- Trump gutted NOAA and the National Weather Service, leaving nearly half of the weather forecast offices critically understaffed and 30 of the 122 (24.5%) offices lacking a meteorologist-in-charge.
- Trump fired and planned to cut about 2,300 workers at NOAA, including hurricane hunters and researchers at the National Severe Storm Laboratory.
- Because of Trump’s massive cuts, NWS eliminated or reduced vital weather balloon launches, which degraded forecasts during previous storms.
- According to an internal agency review, FEMA “is not ready” ahead of hurricane season and was months behind schedule in its preparations. The agency also reduced emergency training for state and local emergency managers just before the start of hurricane season.
- Trump eliminated door-to-door canvassing in disaster areas by federal relief workers.
- Trump gutted disaster relief, cutting roughly 20% of the staff responsible for preventing and responding to disasters like hurricanes.
- Trump wants to make it harder for communities to receive federal disaster aid.
- Trump gutted federal aid for communities to prepare for disasters.
- Trump ended the tracking of the most costly extreme weather events – those that cause over $1 billion in damage.