Kentucky NWS Faced Staff Cuts Before Deadly Tornado Hit
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NWS, tornado and Laurel County
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A multi-day severe weather event continued on Tuesday as tornado warnings were issued in at least five states.
1hon MSN
The agency’s office in Jackson, Kentucky, had begun closing nightly as deep cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency began hitting. But the weather service kept staffers on overtime Friday night to stay on top of the deadly storms, which killed nearly 20 people in the Jackson office’s forecast area.
As a storm system approached Jackson, in Southeastern Kentucky, on May 16, a few individuals agreed to work double shifts to make sure timely warnings continued during the overnight hours, said Tom Fahy, legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization.
As Chairman of the (subcommittee) that funds the National Weather Service, I will work to ensure that our weather offices have the funding and staff necessary to keep our people safe,” Rep. Hal Rogers wrote in a statement.
Louisville metro residents won't be able to use their weather radios through May 21 due to a pre-planned computer systems update.
The National Weather Service in Louisville is predicting possible severe weather for areas of the state on May 20, following deadly tornadoes that struck parts of Kentucky in recent days. Multiple rounds of storms are possible, with the strongest storms to fall during the evening hours.
The National Weather Service has completed the tornado assessment in Laurel County, Kentucky. The preliminary data showed high end EF3 damage, with low end EF4 indicators, mainly in the Sunshine Hills area of London,