Cuts To Nation’s Weather Service Put More Pressure On Property Managers

Read the full article at BisNow.com.

Since the firing of 800 employees from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the government agency that tracks and predicts weather patterns, property managers in hurricane-prone areas have begun feeling pressure to fend for themselves. Many have even gone to lengths for hurricane preparedness, including stocking supplies earlier, expanding access to generators, pre-contracting emergency vendors, and changing policies and resident communication protocols.

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center is currently the go-to source for tracking storms and storm predictions, so any delay in NOAA’s forecasting or messaging of extreme weather events can have consequences.

“We’re hopeful that these cuts and changes don’t affect the information that’s being provided to us, because I think aside from The Weather Channel, they’re probably the main source of information when it comes to preparing for a hurricane’s arrival,” said Jessica Ruiz, Senior Vice President of Management for AKAM Southeast.

Ultimately, recent layoffs at NOAA have created a ripple effect among property managers in hurricane-prone regions, forcing them to become more self-reliant in the face of potential natural disasters. With NOAA serving as a critical source for accurate and timely storm forecasts, any disruption in its services could significantly hinder preparation efforts. As uncertainty grows, property managers are proactively adjusting their emergency strategies, but the long-term impact of reduced federal forecasting capacity remains a serious concern for those on the front lines of hurricane preparedness.