July 23, 2025
NWS Director confirms 44% vacancy rate endangers hurricane forecasting
Skeleton crews face hurricane peak as 500 rural counties lose radar technicians
🌪️Disaster Management🛡️National Security📋Public Policy
National Weather Service Director Ken Graham confirmed July 23, 2025, that forecast offices still face 44% vacancy rates one month after inadequate warnings contributed to 27 deaths in Texas flooding. With 12 offices closing overnight and 500 rural counties lacking radar technicians, meteorologists warn the approaching hurricane peak threatens catastrophic failures.
National Weather Service faces 44% vacancy rate as of July 23, 2025
Inadequate warnings contributed to 27 deaths in Texas flooding
12 forecast offices closing overnight during severe weather hours
500 rural counties lost all weather radar technicians since February
Budget cuts force 8pm-6am closures when tornadoes most deadly
Hurricane season approaching with skeleton crews unable to track storms
Katrina killed 1,833 with full staffing—casualties higher with current gaps
🌪️Disaster Management🛡️National Security📋Public Policy
People, bills, and sources
Ken Graham
National Weather Service Director
What You Can Do
1
Contact Congress.gov demanding emergency weather service funding
2
Call representatives before hurricane season peak in 6 weeks
3
Sign up for multiple weather alert sources as backup
4
Support local emergency management preparations
5
Monitor weather independently during overnight hours
6
Advocate for 24/7 forecast office operations