Re: 2017 Hurricane Season Starts with Nobody in Charge at NOAA or FEMA
Posted by Chris in Tampa on 6/2/2017, 9:09 pm
In terms of NOAA, it might be a good thing. Many of the people picked to head these various departments are actively trying to destroy them. The disorganization might actually be good.

Meanwhile, as for the people who currently work there, this report about the NWS isn't good:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/06/02/report-nws-meteorologists-are-fatigued-and-demoralized-due-to-understaffing/

"The employees of the National Weather Service are demoralized, according to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office. They are understaffed and spread thin, covering shifts and positions beyond what they were hired to fill. The weather never sleeps, and apparently neither does the Weather Service.

Between 2014 and 2016, the number of vacant staff meteorologist positions increased 57 percent. In the same time, management vacancies decreased by 29 percent.

The mission of the Weather Service - to protect lives and property - is critical, so the employees are completing the tasks. But it comes at a cost. The GAO used some pretty gloomy language to describe the employees' current state of mind (emphasis mine):

'. . . operational unit managers and staff experienced stress, fatigue, and reduced morale resulting from their efforts to cover for vacancies.'
'. . . but the long-term result has been that employees are fatigued and morale is low.'
'. . . staff are getting worn down covering extra forecasting shifts.'
'One operational unit manager we interviewed said staff in his unit were demoralized because they had continued to cover the workload for multiple vacancies.'
'. . . staff are concerned that the agency may be intentionally leaving vacant positions open to downsize.'
'NWS headquarters officials acknowledged that vacancies had created challenges and stress'"
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2017 Hurricane Season Starts with Nobody in Charge at NOAA or FEMA - Gianmarc, 6/2/2017, 5:32 pm
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