In his plan to reduce the size of federal government, President Donald Trump wants to cut the National Weather Service budget by 50%. We must first consider how the NWS serves us.
History presents a lesson. In the 1950s, the Cold War between America and the Soviet Union daily consumed us in fear. Surface tests of atomic bombs and larger hydrogen bombs presented images of destruction. Intercontinental ballistic missiles in silos could reach America in less than 30 minutes.
In response, we developed a civil defense of radars, aircraft and troops to detect missile attacks so we could take cover and save our lives. The Cold War is over, but a civil defense still exists now as the National Weather Service.
Consider the similarities. NWS meteorologists are the troops who survey daily weather and warn us of life-threatening events descending from the skies, using radars and aircraft to measure them. They warn us of Category 5 hurricanes and tornadoes which can destroy cities as completely as multimegaton bombs.
They develop technology to analyze atmospheres quickly to warn us of impending torrential rain and lethal floods. They do the same for winter blizzards and freezing rain which destroy power grids and compromise our safety.
The NWS itself must never be compromised so drastically. Its mission to protect us is as compelling as military missions.
James Andrus
Cortez
