The union representing National Weather Service forecasters tells NBC 5 Investigates that on the night of a deadly storm in Central Texas, there was adequate staffing at the Texas offices that issued critical flood warnings. However, the union said federal budget cuts have left other NWS offices severely understaffed, raising questions about whether we’re prepared for the next storm.
The catastrophic flooding that swept through the Texas Hill Country on July 4 highlights the critical role of National Weather Service forecasters who are called on to issue alerts when every minute counts.
As NBC 5 Investigates reported on Sunday, NWS records show forecasters warned of flooding 12 hours before the storm began and issued more urgent warnings in the early morning before the Guadalupe River reached flood stage…