06/13/2026
I’m frustrated.
This is the second time in three days that significant weather has caught me by surprise while working at the farm. Today, the forecast showed little concern for storms until much later in the day. Instead, thunder was my warning.
Right now, I’m sitting safely in my car, out of range of falling trees and waiting for the storm to pass. But if this had been a tornado situation, that would be a very different story.
Just a couple of weeks ago, a tornado warning was issued near our home. Our phones never alerted us. The only reason we knew to take shelter was because we happened to hear the outdoor warning sirens.
As a farmer, I make decisions every day based on weather forecasts and warnings. So do construction workers, utility crews, first responders, pilots, boaters, event organizers, and millions of other Americans. Accurate forecasting and timely alerts aren’t a luxury - they’re public safety infrastructure.
When weather forecasting and warning systems are understaffed, underfunded, or stretched beyond their limits, real people are put at greater risk. We shouldn’t have to rely on luck, thunder, or distant sirens to know when dangerous weather is approaching.
We all deserve better.
Reliable forecasts. Timely warnings. Well-supported public weather services.
Lives depend on it.
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