Weather Forecasters, Hurricane Hunters Endorse James Lee Witt for Congress

News provided by

National Weather Service Employees Organization

Sep 15, 2014, 08:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Weather Service Employees Organization, which represents the forecasters and technicians at the National Weather Service, the civilian crews of the nation's hurricane hunter aircraft, as well as the government's hurricane researchers today endorsed James Lee Witt for Congress in the 4^th Congressional District of Arkansas. The union's members staff the NWS's 122 Weather Forecast Offices nationwide, the National Hurricane Center, and the nation's two Tsunami Warning Centers. They are responsible for issuing warnings of severe weather.

"If there is anyone in public life today who understands the importance of protecting the American people from natural disasters, it is James Lee," said Dan Sobien, the Lead Emergency Response Meteorologist at the Tampa Forecast Office, who serves as President of the NWSEO. "Before James Lee, FEMA was a political dumping ground, and he professionalized it and brought a heightened awareness to being prepared for severe weather. His leadership as head of FEMA served as an example for state and local emergency management agencies across the nation, and they have improved their degree of professionalism and level of service as a result."

"The National Weather Service needs a strong advocate in Congress," Sobien added. "The National Weather Service has seen significant cut backs in staff in the past several years, and recent service assessments have disclosed that this has resulted in the agency's diminished ability to issue warnings during the most severe weather events, such as Hurricane Sandy."

Contact:
Lisa Luciani
NWSEO Director of Communications
(202) 907-3036
www.nwseo.org

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SOURCE National Weather Service Employees Organization