Need to ‘invest’ in NWS so Texas disaster is ‘a thing of the past’: Congressman & fmr. meteorologist

Weather Monitoring & Preparedness - The industry emphasizes the need for strengthened weather monitoring systems, especially in rural areas, to mitigate the impact of severe weather events [2] - The industry recognizes the importance of learning from past tragedies to avoid repeating mistakes and improve future disaster response [5][6] - The industry highlights the necessity of tornado drills and preparedness in schools, drawing parallels from past events [5] - The industry suggests strategically placing sirens in flash flood-prone areas with distinct tones to instruct people to seek higher ground [17] National Weather Service & Funding - The industry acknowledges the critical role of meteorologists at the National Weather Service and local broadcast media in providing real-time information [7] - The industry expresses concern over potential short staffing issues within the National Weather Service enterprise [12] - The industry advocates for increased investment in the National Weather Service to improve the accuracy of weather models and potentially prevent future disasters [9] - The industry stresses the importance of ensuring the National Weather Service remains a reliable service, emphasizing the need for effective communication and escape routes during weather emergencies [13] Communication & Social Science - The industry points out the challenge of communicating weather threats effectively, especially during holiday weekends when people may be less connected [15] - The industry calls for continued efforts in social science to improve the communication of meteorological information, ensuring people understand the severity of weather alerts [14]