Budget Cuts Affect Weather Spotters Program
By: Alan Van Zandt
Updated: February 5, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Federal budget cuts are forcing some communities to think about how they prepare for severe weather.
The National Weather Service confirms that reduced funding is affecting their Severe Weather Spotters program they provide throughout the region. Instead of offering the spotters training every year, some smaller communities will go to an every-other-year rotation.
"The number of classes has been reduced. We are going to be able to schedule a lot of classes throughout the area. But unfortunately, not every county will get a class this year," says Steve Runnels with the National Weather Service.
St. Joseph's weather spotter training will go on as scheduled this spring. It will be March 23rd at 1 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Church. Last year nearly 200 people showed up for the local program.
The National Weather Service confirms that reduced funding is affecting their Severe Weather Spotters program they provide throughout the region. Instead of offering the spotters training every year, some smaller communities will go to an every-other-year rotation.
"The number of classes has been reduced. We are going to be able to schedule a lot of classes throughout the area. But unfortunately, not every county will get a class this year," says Steve Runnels with the National Weather Service.
St. Joseph's weather spotter training will go on as scheduled this spring. It will be March 23rd at 1 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Church. Last year nearly 200 people showed up for the local program.
