Could NOAA Be More Clueless?

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This just came in my email:

Why aren't "all hands" working on Hurricane Sandy?

Combined with the terrible decision not to issue hurricane warnings for the hurricane, this indicates to me that there is a lack of focus in NOAA about what is really important, a lack of situational awareness, or both.

To this taxpayer: Completely unacceptable.

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 29, 2012 at 2:47 PM

    This is yet again further evidence that private enterprise is needed in the Weather industry. Did they not all learn from Katrina? Their ignorance is sinful...
    I can see it now... Post storm congressional hearings asking the same questions that were asked after Katrina. What is that saying? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome...
    This is so frustrating. Thanks Mike for taking a stance. You're the best!

    ReplyDelete
  2. BrianOctober 29, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    I'm going to disagree with you here Mike. It seems like the relevant NWS offices and the NHC have been extremely active during this storm. Indeed, they have been sounding the alarm for almost 5 days now! How many more "hands" do YOU need on this storm to be satisfied?

    NWS is an office within NOAA.

    Yes, perhaps for PR purposes they didn't need to send an email out TODAY. Then again, a large part of the US is unaffected by Sandy, and life goes on.

    The congressional hearing is going to be about global warming and climate change causing Sandy. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 29, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    I'm not 100% sure what you want human resources staff to do to help in this situation, particularly those based in the Mid-West or on the West Coast.

    I'm sure, at this moment in time, the NWS has all the resources they need.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mike SmithOctober 29, 2012 at 8:50 PM

    Brian and Unknown: How about answering phones? It is extremely difficult to get an actual person on the phone at the NWS during the best of times. How about those HR people doing something useful today?

    I could go on and on but it is absurd to think that, given the catastrophe, the "highest and best use" of NOAA people was sending out a global warming ad.

    ReplyDelete

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