Funding Cuts, Then Loss Of Life In Texas - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights the tragic consequences of funding and staffing cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). Despite a warning letter from all five living former NWS leaders cautioning that such reductions could lead to "needless loss of life," these cuts proceeded. Shortly after the warning, a severe disaster occurred in Kerr County, Texas, resulting in fatalities that the experts had feared. The article suggests that the decision-makers acted with "depraved indifference," ignoring expert advice and failing to adequately protect public safety. The piece also connects these funding cuts to broader challenges posed by climate change, noting that extreme weather events—such as unprecedented rainfall, tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes—are becoming more frequent and severe. Reduced NOAA and NWS capacity undermines the ability to forecast and respond to these disasters effectively. The author calls for thorough investigations into the disaster’s causes, including the impact of staffing reductions, and warns