Tom Fahy, the Legislative Director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, highlights that there is a severe staffing shortage in Miami and Key West, which has led to a lack of around-the-clock coverage.
RUSKIN, Fla. — The recent deadly weather events across the nation this month have sparked concerns over staffing deficiencies at the National Weather Service (NWS). Notably, the absence of a warning coordinator for the office dedicated to the Texas Hill Country is troubling, particularly after a July 4th flash flood tragically claimed over a hundred lives.
10 Tampa Bay obtained vacancy data for Florida’s weather offices, revealing that more than twelve positions statewide remain unfilled, just as the hurricane season gains momentum.
- Key West — 5 vacancies, 22 total positions
- Jacksonville — 3 vacancies out of 23 total positions
- Tampa — 7 vacancies out of 25 total positions
- Tallahassee — 3 vacancies out of 24 total positions
- Melbourne — 4 vacancies out of 22 total positions
- Miami — 6 vacancies out of 23 total positions
Tom Fahy, Legislative Director of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, compiled the numbers as he lobbies Congress for protections for future cuts and the hiring for vacant positions.
Fahy says Tampa is also down a hydrologist, who helps make sure the office is ready to issue timely flood warnings. Jacksonville is down 3 manager positions, including its warning coordination meteorologist, and Key West and Miami have so many vacancies, Tampa forecasters are filling in.
“In addition, in the Tampa office, they’re missing the managerial role of the meteorologist-in-charge,” Fahy says. “That’s the single individual who’s basically the No. 1 person in the office who runs the offices from a management standpoint on behalf of the National Weather Service.”
He says Miami and Key West are down so many positions they both currently don’t have staffing for 24/7. Meteorologists in Melbourne and Tampa Bay are stepping up to make sure there are no gaps in coverage, he says, adding that staffers are working 14-hour days and are battling fatigue.
“But there’s no replacement for the local meteorologist who knows the community,” he adds. “Because every community is more or less like a microclimate, a micro environment.”
The update comes the same day President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead NOAA assured senators at a confirmation hearing that he wants to fill the 100+ positions Trump authorized a month ago but no job postings are up yet.
“If confirmed, I will ensure that staffing the weather service offices is a top priority,” said the nominee, Dr. Neil Jacobs. “It’s not a very quick process, but it’s my understanding that the NWS has direct hiring authority, which could expedite that and also the potential to relocate people.”
Dr. Jacobs also showed enthusiasm for bills working their way through Congress that would designate the NWS as a public safety agency, as deadly weather events are increasing.
“Because if you’re a public safety agency like Customs and Border Patrol, they’re not subject to the federal hiring freeze,” Fahy says.
Overall, Fahy thinks Florida is in decent shape staffing-wise and that the scientists he represents have an “all for one, one for all” approach to their role in keeping the public safe.
“They adhere to the mission statement, which is the protection and saving of life and property,” he says. “And they get they all get it and they all believe in it. It’s a privilege to represent all of these individuals.”
