A RV campground owner credits a 10-minute warning for saving lives as meteorologists raise concerns over potential staffing cuts impacting National Weather Service forecasts.
A tornado destroyed about a dozen campers Monday at a Hillsdale , Kansas , RV campground, prompting discussions about National Weather Service warnings and potential staffing cuts. Aaron Bien runs Shady Acres, a long-term RV campground in Hillsdale .
He said everyone made it into the storm shelter and credited the local sirens for helping prevent serious injuries.'We had plenty of warning. We had about 10 minutes of the sirens going off,' Bien said. While the National Weather Service issued timely warnings before the tornado, the agency usually flags the possibility of severe activity even sooner. Residents felt like they weren't properly notified about the possibility of tornadoes earlier in the day. RELATED STORY | NWS gave uneven warnings, faced communication gaps in deadly Texas flood, watchdog findsRetired meteorologists shared concerns with NBC News. They wonder if possible staffing cuts from President Donald Trump's DOGE initiative impacted when offices release weather balloons that can help develop forecasts.U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, toured Hillsdale on Friday.“I want to make sure the warning was something that was of value, and the best science and meteorology was used to make sure can protect people the best we can,' Moran said of the purpose of his trip.Moran is the primary appropriator for the National Weather Service. Last year, Moran introduced a bill protecting weather offices from cuts. He said he is open to hearing more about what might have happened Monday.'We pay attention to this because it matters,' Moran said. 'Everybody has theories about how things should be done and we ought to explore if there's something that's missing or could be done better.'National Weather Service spokesperson Erica Grow Cei said its offices 'have all the tools necessary to carry out their mission,' adding that of its sites with balloons, 'nearly all are operating on their normal schedule.'RELATED STORY | Commerce Department to 'audit' NWS staffing after Texas floodingBien said it is not his job to second-guess the National Weather Service.This article was originally published by Charlie Keegan for the Scripps News Group station in Kansas City.
Charlie Keegan DOGE Hillsdale Jackson County Jerry Moran Kansas Kansas City Missouri NOAA
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Team Penske, Wood Brothers Conduct Jack Man Swap Ahead Of KansasTeam Penske will swap jack men for Ryan Blaney's No. 12 and Josh Berry's No. 21 pit crews ahead of Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
Read more »
Houston weather: Warm, breezy weather on the way for FridayFriday looks to be another warm day before rain moves back into the forecast for Saturday.
Read more »
Seventh Kansas Player of the Offseason Enters the Transfer PortalRedshirt freshman guard Corbin Allen became the seventh and final possible Kansas player to enter the transfer portal this offseason.
Read more »
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees - Live ScoreWacha (2-0, 0.43) and Schlittler (2-1, 2.49) toe the rubber as Royals travel to face Yankees in first game of 3-game set
Read more »
Brace for high winds and another round of wet weather as next storm approachesToday's Alaska weather forecast from Alaska's Weather Source.
Read more »
Kansas-Based Restaurant Group Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy801 Restaurant Group LLC, which operates numerous steak and seafood restaurants across several U.S. states, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The company stated that the filing is to restructure obligations and will not impact the operations of its remaining successful locations.
Read more »