Donald Trump Grilled About NWS Cuts After Deadly Texas Floods
President Donald Trump was questioned about the National Weather Service (NWS) Cups after fatal floods in Texas left at least 80 people.
Addressing journalists, the president rejected the concerns that there was an additional staff to the meteorological service and said that the floods were an unexpected event “once in 100 years”.
The NWS said Nowsweek that the warnings of the flash floods were issued on the night of Thursday, July 3 and early on Friday, July 4
Why it matters
Sudden floods in the land of the hills of Texas, Who started on Friday, killed at least 80 people while others remain disappeared or moved, after the Guadalupe river jumped more than 20 feet in 90 minutes.
The NWS, which issues forecasts and weather warnings, lost around 560 workers earlier this year in the midst of Trump’s desire to rationalize government services and save money. The floods have raised questions about these cuts and the extent to which there is a preparation for disasters in Texas and other states in the United States
AP photo / Jacquelyn Martin
What to know
On Sunday, a journalist from New Jersey asked Trump: “In the light of the floods, do you think that the federal government must hire one of the meteorologists who were dismissed …?”
“I don’t think so,” he said. “It was something that happened in a few seconds. No one expected.
Trump approved on Sunday, a major statement in the event of a disaster “for Kerr County, unlocking federal aid for rescue and recovery operations.
Tom Fahy, legislative director of the union representing NWS workers, said the organization of national Weather Service employees, The New York Times SATURDAY That the San Angelo office lacked a principal hydrologist, a staff forecastist and a meteorologist. The office is responsible for certain areas that have been struck by sudden floods
The chief of the emergency management of Texas, W. Nim Kidd, told journalists at a Friday press conference that the NWS did not precisely predict the amount of rain that Texas saw, claiming that “the amount of rain that fell in this specific place has been in any of the [initial forecasts on Wednesday]. “”
However, the NWS offices in Texas have issued warnings before the floods and the Associated Press, citing a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office, said the NWS had additional staff in service during the storm.
In early June, a spokesperson for the meteorological service, said Erica Grow Cei Nowsweek that the agency planned to hire additional staff to “stabilize” the department.
What people say
The National Weather Service in a declaration at Newsweek: “”The National Weather Service has the heart broken by the tragic loss of life in the county of Kerr. On July 3, the NWS office in Austin / San Antonio, TX, carried out forecast briefings for emergency management in the morning and issued flood surveillance in the early afternoon. Flash flood warnings were issued on the night of July 3 and early in the morning of July 4, giving preliminary deadlines of more than three hours before the satisfaction of the warning criteria. “”
He added: “The National Weather Service remains attached to our mission to serve the American public through our forecasts and decision -making services.”
Social message of truth from President Donald Trump on Saturday: “The Trump administration works with state and local authorities on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic floods that took place yesterday. Our interior security secretary, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly. Melania and I pray for all the families affected by this horrible tragedy. Our brave respondents are on the spot doing what they do best. “”
What happens next
Rescue operations will continue. Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday afternoon that there were 41 missing people who are not counted because of the floods. More rain is planned in central Texas, which means that the risk of flooding remains high.
