r/EmergencyManagement • u/WatchTheBoom I support the plan • 19d ago

Hurricane Hunters punching through the eyewall of Hurricane Erin

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13

u/Stunning-Egg459 19d ago

Didn’t Trump defund this program?

58

u/WatchTheBoom I support the plan 19d ago edited 19d ago

Yes and no.

Not the Hurricane Hunters program itself, but they reduced the number of air frames and standby air crews, essentially limiting data collection flights to only those storms that might impact the continental US instead of every storm, as a default.

Additionally, many of the scientists that support the flights aren't members of the actual HH program - their travel budget was slashed, so the roster to support the flights with actual scientific muscle (and therefore the whole point to green-light a flight) has been severely reduced.

15

u/SgtGhost57 19d ago

Thank you for the detailed answer.

8

u/PropUganda 18d ago

Didn’t Trump suggest “nuking” hurricanes during his first term?

6

u/HotLava00 18d ago

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-nuke-hurricanes/

I’m leaning toward “yes” on this one.

-6

u/MickyFany 18d ago

idk, NOAA still has 12,000 employees but suddenly can’t do weather related research