Upper Midwest — Will staff at the Sioux Falls office of the National Weather Service — the office that forecasts weather and issues warnings for our area — be cut too in the wake of the Trump federal overhaul?
Six employees at the National Weather Service office in the Quad Cities have been dismissed as part of the Trump administration’s overhaul of the agency, which has seen the recent firing of hundreds of workers nationwide. Ray Wolf, a retired meteorologist with the Quad Cities branch of the NWS, says staffing shortages have been a chronic issue.
The NWS provides weather forecasts and warnings, and employs roughly 12-thousand people across the country. Wolf says they’ve faced hiring shortages, and the hiring freeze and dismissals will affect numerous day-to-day operations.
Illinois Congressman Eric Sorenson, who represents the Quad Cities, said in a statement the decision was reckless and will do irreparable harm. There is no confirmation about the extent of layoffs from the weather service office in metro Des Moines, or in Omaha, Sioux Falls, and La Crosse, which also provide forecasts for parts of Iowa. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say they’re not discussing internal personnel and management matters.
(James Kelley, Iowa Public Radio)
