What U.S. Weather Agency Cuts Mean for P&C

NOAA Lost a Vital Storm Tracker Just in Time for Hurricane Season

You might not have known it, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, has been using Saildrones in recent years to collect real-time data that helps scientists forecast the paths of hurricanes and their intensity, and all with incredible accuracy. Saildrones are pretty much exactly what they sound like: driverless, robotic boats that can sail straight into terrifying storms to record and deliver valuable data that helps …

Floods are worsening but engineers worry national rainfall database won’t be updated

By Laura Cassels, Florida Trident A cadre of engineers and planners who design America’s roads, bridges, hospitals and other critical infrastructure fear that an emerging tool that would replace the nation’s out-of-date rainfall and flood data is on the Trump administration chopping block. The new tool, Atlas 15, uses modernized rainfall data to allow engineers to design and build infrastructure to withstand flooding for decades to come as extre…

What U.S. weather agency cuts mean for P&C

Photo by iStock/baona Recent and ongoing cost cutting initiatives at U.S. federal agencies may impact the ability of insurers across North America to gauge how severe weather events could impact secondary perils claims going forward, industry sources suggest. Agencies experiencing significant layoffs include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and its subsidiary, the National Weather Service (NWS). Both U.S. agencies crea…

Federal Forecasters Lose Access to Critical Tool as Hurricane Season Begins

The change marks another blow to NOAA’s forecasting abilities, adding to growing concerns about the agency’s readiness for hurricane season.

The Fight to Preserve NOAA: Scientists Rally to Save Key Climate and Ocean Research

By Mya Trujillo Four months ago, Dr. Holden Harris was leading a team of scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). Now, he sells frozen chocolate bananas on the beach in Florida.  Harris was one of the approximately 880 NOAA employees laid off on Feb. 27 as a result of cuts made by the Trump administration to multiple federal agencies. The former research biologist rece…

NOAA forecasters missing drone vessel fleets to gather data going into hurricane season

CNN – Hurricane forecasters won’t have a valuable tool for this hurricane season.  For nearly five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been able to send a fleet of drone vessels into severe weather to gather information.  These small boats were developed by “Saildrone,” a California-based company, and can record harrowing videos during significant storms.  A NOAA spokesperson stated that “Saildrone” was unable t…