More than 100 confirmed dead with nearly twice that many still missing — many of them children — after flash floods tore through Central Texas on July 4. Camp Mystic alone lost 27 campers and counselors. This is one of the worst flood disasters in modern U.S. history, and this will certainly not be the last weather-related emergency which hits the United States.

At the same time, federal officials are threatening to gut weather research and prediction ability.

In the days and hours leading up to the flood, multiple warnings were issued by the National Weather Service. But critical things were missing: the people and the infrastructure.

Both the San Angelo and San Antonio NWS offices — covering the hardest-hit areas — were missing key staff due to federal hiring freezes, retirements, and buyouts ordered. The positions left vacant included warning coordination meteorologists— the very people responsible for helping emergency officials interpret and act on forecasts. The same is happening at other facilities across our country.

Additionally, spotty cellular services left those in the impact area unaware of the immediate threat facing them, along with critical services such as sirens to awaken people during the nighttime hours when the flooding occurred.

The same has happened across the nation in areas impacted by a variety of weather-related disasters.

With more than 600 scientists and forecasters laid off this year alone, our national capacity to prepare for extreme weather is unraveling, with more frequent and more deadly disasters reported on what feels like a weekly basis.

Meanwhile, FEMA — the agency tasked with disaster response — is on the chopping block. Officials have signaled plans to phase it out by the end of hurricane season with much of the burden placed on states to mitigate relief efforts instead.

This is not “streamlining government.” It’s gambling with lives.

We demand that Congress and the White House:

• Immediately reverse federal staffing cuts and restore full funding to the National Weather Service and do a thorough, proper review of services provided and staffing needs available to provide support and proper research.
• Preserve and protect FEMA as a critical federal agency — not dismantle it.
• Invest in disaster science, communication tools, needed infrastructure too costly for rural and lower income areas, and emergency coordination for areas of need across the country, not cut them.
• Protect the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory and other essential facilities from any cuts.
• Work with state and local emergency management services to aid with critical areas of need.
• Investigate what went wrong in Texas to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

This is a national emergency for every American community facing tornadoes, wildfire, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters. We cannot fight extreme weather with hollowed-out agencies, missing experts or antiquated/unreliable infrastructure.

Please sign and share if you believe Americans deserve fully staffed, fully funded protection from natural disasters.