Posted on 07/06/2025 12:05:58 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Some experts say staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate responses with local emergency management officials.
Crucial positions at the local offices of the National Weather Service were unfilled as severe rainfall inundated parts of Central Texas on Friday morning, prompting some experts to question whether staffing shortages made it harder for the forecasting agency to coordinate with local emergency managers as floodwaters rose.
Texas officials appeared to blame the Weather Service for issuing forecasts on Wednesday that underestimated how much rain was coming. But former Weather Service officials said the forecasts were as good as could be expected, given the enormous levels of rainfall and the storm’s unusually abrupt escalation.
The staffing shortages suggested a separate problem, those former officials said — the loss of experienced people who would typically have helped communicate with local authorities in the hours after flash flood warnings were issued overnight.
The shortages are among the factors likely to be scrutinized as the death toll climbs from the floods. Separate questions have emerged about the preparedness of local communities, including Kerr County’s apparent lack of a local flood warning system. The county, roughly 50 miles northwest of San Antonio, is where many of the deaths occurred.
In an interview, Rob Kelly, the Kerr County judge and its most senior elected official, said the county did not have a warning system because such systems are expensive, and local residents are resistant to new spending.
“Taxpayers won’t pay for it,” Mr. Kelly said. Asked if people might reconsider in light of the catastrophe, he said, “I don’t know.”
The National Weather Service’s San Angelo office, which is responsible for some of the areas hit hardest by Friday’s flooding, was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist in charge, according to Tom Fahy, the legislative...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
There were plenty of warnings issued.
Flash floods happen fast.
In Texas Flooding, the Most Urgent Alerts Came in the Middle of the Night
This story won’t last too long as they won’t be able to pin it on Ken Paxton (the person they REALLY FEAR) and Governor Abbott is invincible if he runs for re-election.
Who else, what else but Trump?
The staff were most likely on holidays.
(they are evil)
You knew it was coming....TRUMPS CUTS KILLED THOSE LITTLE GIRLS.
“Some experts” = Leftist propagandists
What is definitely needed are more Democrat staff (it takes at least three to do the work of one person) and certainly a LOT more money. Personal responsibilty is not needed, I guess.
Good Ole New York Times. Giant SPIT.
Amazing they once again somehow found a convoluted way to blame flood deaths on Trump.
Sick.
And Evil.
They were not on holiday. If you read the article it says those staff positions were “unfilled” that means either those people retired or resigned (DRP) and because of the Federal hiring freeze the agency could not hire replacements.
And that could well be part of it.
Was there only a skeleton crew in the office over a holiday weekend?
Maybe somewhat off topic, but I sure hate to see the blame game being played. They are still hoping to find survivors.
When a river rises 26 feet in 45 minutes in the middle of the night there is not a lot you can do.
If Biden had taken apart the weather service and then this happened, these same people would want him tried for murder.
There’s a reason why they are called flash floods. Growing up in southern Arizona, I’ve seen quite a few of them. The water looks like it appears suddenly out of nowhere.
That is true.
Ahhh......I get it now. It’s President Trumps fault.
“those former officials”??? There relying on people who were not there to report on what happened????
How many skeletons does it take to send out warning message?
The bigger problem was the wee hours of the morning when some of the identifiable warning evidence became available - people about to be affected were still asleep and not likely to have gotten warnings.
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