U.S. Representative Mark Alford questions future of National Weather agencies

After massive layoffs at the National Weather Service and with a devastating spring storm season in Missouri, Western Missouri Congressman Mark Alford has questions about the future of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as NOAA. He’s also concerned about the National Weather Service’s office located in nearby Pleasant Hill.

Alford received this response from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during a hearing in Washington D.C. this week: “If we have twenty-one hundred meteorologists, I promise you we can cover the United States of America , 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And we can have better technology. I think there will be many centers that will stay and will augment and be bigger and stronger and more powerful.”

The National Weather Service is seeking to hire 126 people, including at least some meteorologists following massive layoffs at the agency. Those layoffs have left several offices understaffed.