With hurricane season fast approaching, Houston's National Weather Service office is operating with over a third of its vacant positions—a staffing shortfall that some local leaders call a “crisis.”
With the approach of hurricane season, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Houston/Galveston is facing a significant staffing crisis, raising concerns about potential risks to public safety. The office responsible for issuing storm warnings throughout the Gulf Coast is currently facing a considerable staffing shortage, with 10 employees missing from its 24-person team, representing over a third of its workforce. A recent shortage has emerged, attributed to early retirements spurred by a contentious government initiative, alongside an extended federal hiring freeze.
Among the retirees is Jeff Evans, who dedicated 11 years to his role as the meteorologist-in-charge. Evans, known for coordinating emergency responses during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, has officially retired as of February. His departure follows an early resignation offer linked to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a program initiated by the Trump administration. Amidst rumors of potential pension rollbacks, Evans has decided to depart after 34 years of dedicated service.
In a recent development, Congress members Lizzie Fletcher, Al Green, and Sylvia Garcia addressed a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), characterizing the staffing situation as a “crisis” that poses a potential risk to lives if not addressed promptly. “These offices are fully staffed to ensure our safety,” Fletcher stated during an interview.
Some staff departures occurred voluntarily as part of the DOGE program, while others resulted from a hiring freeze implemented by President Trump on Inauguration Day. Evans and his team tried to fill open positions before the hiring freeze, but they could not complete the hiring process.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has unveiled a strategy to temporarily reassign 155 employees to various offices, including those in Houston. However, acting meteorologist-in-charge Todd Lericos acknowledges that this solution is merely a short-term measure.
Lericos expressed optimism as the season approaches, stating, “We feel confident going into the season, but this isn’t a permanent solution.”
