1. United States
2. Ark.
3. Letter

Arkansas Tornado Alley - Weather Service Saves Lives The National Weather Service and its related agencies play a critical role in safeguarding lives and property through accurate weather forecasting and severe storm tracking across the region, including western Arkansas. Reducing staffing levels and dismantling key infrastructure threatens to significantly undermine forecast accuracy and data availability at a time when climate change is driving an increase in extreme weather events. The proposed cuts risk leaving residents of western Arkansas, Oklahomans, and Americans nationwide dangerously vulnerable by eroding public trust, compromising forecasting consistency, and limiting real-time radar analysis capabilities. I urge you to reconsider these damaging policies that jeopardize public safety. A robust, centralized National Weather Service is essential for coordinating reliable weather information across state lines and ensuring citizens have the advance warning needed to protect themselves during severe storms impacting western Arkansas and the surrounding areas.