How NOAA cuts will impact Oregon's natural disaster response
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Recent federal workforce cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including in Oregon, are raising concerns about future emergency preparedness in the event of extreme weather.
Why it matters: The climate and weather agency provides essential services, including detailed forecasts for industries like shipping, ski resorts and water supply management. It also issues warnings to protect life and property during natural disasters.
Driving the news: Last week, roughly 800 probationary employees at NOAA, and its various divisions including the National Weather Service, were laid off.
- Following the announcement, some offices said they would need to cut back on services, such as public communications and daily weather balloon launches, due to staffing shortages.
- In an email, a spokesperson for NOAA told Axios the agency does not discuss internal personnel matters.
Zoom in: Across Oregon's four NWS offices, roughly 25% to 60% of staff were cut from each, state climatologist Larry O'Neill told the Oregonian.
- "These cuts seem to be permanent and there seems to be no plan to mitigate them," he said, adding that several people who specialize in forecasting river levels and managing the state's flood and drought risk have been let go.
- Last month, the NWS closely monitored a powerful atmospheric river that caused hazardous flooding and multiple tornado warnings in the Portland metro area.
The intrigue: One employee tasked with improving budget and strategic planning at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Newport, which collects data and monitors commercial and recreational fisheries, was also let go, the Oregonian reported.
Threat level: When a wildfire breaks out, NWS works closely with on-the-ground firefighters to provide real-time, localized information on temperature, wind conditions, humidity and lightning potential.
- "We can expect that people who are fighting the wildfires will not have as much timely or accurate information to help make decisions," O'Neill told OPB.
- Air quality and smoke forecasting alerts may also be impacted.
Friction point: The cuts infuriated the tight-knit weather and climate community. It depends on NOAA for raw data, forecast guidance, computer modeling, hurricane research flights and watch and warning information.
- Many meteorologists took to social media to vent their frustrations. Some warned the cuts could cost lives as severe weather season approaches.
- "We're asking an already short-staffed agency to deal with increasing extremes with less people. Burnout will be real," Tom Di Liberto, who was laid off from his role in NOAA Communications, told Axios.