Kansas senator addresses National Weather Service concerns after tornado

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Scripps News

Posted 3:16 PM, Apr 18, 2026


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.

Retired 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.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/weather/kansas-senator-addresses-national-weather-service-concerns-after-tornado

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REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143651677

[Deuxcents]

1. No wondering about it..TSF as closed and fired weather related tech and personnel

[modrepub]

2. Just What I've Heard

Staff reductions encouraged by DOGE have caused NWS forecasters to be juggled between stations. NWS staffing levels have always been light and the workload can be difficult at times. Severe weather probably taxes workers even at full staff. Add issues with helium shortages that have been happening since the pandemic and I wouldn’t be surprised if forecasts are degraded.

[lonely bird]

3. So...

Did Sen. Moran support the Moron-In-Chief and the DOGE cuts?

[Bengus81]

4. Jerry Moron doesn't give a shit,he just wants to pretend he does

and kiss Trumps abundant ASS at the same time. Him and that POS Roger Marshall are peas in a fucking pod. They get elected only with an R by their name in Kansas.

[Rebl2]

6. Absolutely correct

Why didn’t he speak up last year when those cuts were made? Pretty sure they had some tornadoes in KS last year and he said nothing. Is he up for reelection this year?

[Bengus81]

7. Nope...Roger Marshall is

[Rebl2]

8. Actually

both are, along with Hawley and Schmitt of MO.

[ultralite001]

5. For what it's worth...

Hurricane season is fast approaching…

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15th through November 30th…

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th…

The National Hurricane Center is being pressed to use AI forecast models…

https://www.weather.gov/news/261102-AI-Hurricane-Forecasting

AI cannot replace the skills + experience acquired by America’s meteorologists + climate experts… weather forecasting is so much more than simple pattern matching… Gutting these agencies will cost lives + leave America less safe…