Did weather service staffing cuts impact tornado warnings for Kentuckians? Beshear weighs in

KENTUCKY, Ky. (FOX 56) — Recent federal cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) have raised some concerns from the public over whether the organization’s office in Jackson was able to issue warnings with enough time for residents to act.

On April 4, the Associated Press reported that nearly half of NWS forecast offices have vacancy rates of up to 20%—twice the vacancy rate of a decade ago.

During a press conference on Friday, Gov. Beshear responded to questions about whether or not NWS warnings were a detriment to the well-being of Kentuckians.

“While I have big concerns about cuts to the National Weather Service, I don’t see any evidence it impacted this one,” Beshear said. “The National Weather Service is just an amazing organization. I work with them every day, every week, in this job. They work so hard. And if you look especially at the flooding disasters, on a couple of them, they gave us a week, a week’s worth of notice.”

NWS survey teams are currently in Laurel County, where researchers said “at least EF-3” damage had been found in neighborhoods close to the London-Corbin Airport.

Survey teams are also in Pulaski County, where an initial survey showed EF-2 and potential low EF-3 damage. Storm survey teams are still gathering their findings in both counties.

Gov. Beshear said local, state, and federal leaders are ready to help anyone impacted by the storms for weeks and months to come.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.