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Forbes
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Forbes
NOAA Predicts Active Hurricane Season, How Does Social Media Fit In
Brad Reinhart, Senior Hurricane Specialist at the National Hurricane Center, works on tracking ... More Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 season. (Photo by) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast an above-average Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and ends on November 30. Current projections suggest that there could be 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, with four of these potentially reaching major hurricane status. Any of those storms making landfall could be serious events. Social media has proven helpful in the past in disseminating critical safety information while serving as a communication link following a storm. Yet, it presents new challenges for authorities, including the spread of misinformation. In May, NOAA introduced a "Hurricane Preparedness Week Social Media Plan" that shared vital information via Facebook and X, including tips on what to do before, during, and immediately after a storm. Still, experts suggest that NOAA and other agencies could further utilize social media during hurricane season. "The most effective way is for emergency management agencies to include social media platforms as part of a multiple crisis communication dissemination strategy," explained Dr. Claire Connolly Knox, professor within the School of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida. "These platforms should not be the only communication outlet; however, they cannot be left out of the communication strategy," she added while noting that no single social media network is enough to get the message out. Nor should it replace legacy media. "Crisis communication needs to incorporate individual preferences based on previous experiences with information sources, whether that is print, television, radio, social media, etc.," said Knox. "It is essential that the local office of emergency management staff know their community preferences for communication." As more Americans turn to social media for news and information, NOAA and other agencies must be proactive about what they share on the platforms to stay ahead of baseless reports, rumors, and speculation. "Social media can fulfill numerous functions during natural disasters, such as hurricanes," suggested Dr. Amber Silver, assistant professor in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany. "The most obvious of these would be the sharing of official watches, warnings, and advisories with the public," said Silver. "Citizens often use social media to share information about storm conditions and local impacts, which can be used by public officials (e.g., emergency managers, first responders) to assess areas of higher impact vs. lower impact." This information can facilitate operational decision-making, thereby allowing officials to better position personnel, equipment, and supplies in response to rapidly changing conditions. From the end-user's perspective, official and unofficial information shared online has been shown to affect decision-making regarding protective actions, including the actions taken and when they are taken, said Silver. Already, local, state, and federal emergency management agencies turn to the platforms to gain a better sense of what is happening on the ground. Such information can enable officials to better understand local impacts and community needs, which in turn can facilitate their operational decision-making during disasters. However, the multiple agencies need to ensure they're on the same page, including what they collect from social media and what they disseminate. "In crisis communication, the best practice is to speak with one voice. Public information officers from multiple departments or jurisdictions work together before, during, and after a disaster to provide consistent, comprehensible, and specific information through multiple communication mediums," said Knox. Moreover, too much reliance on social media during breaking news events can open the door for misinformation to be accepted as factual, especially if officials inadvertently base their reports on false information. "A unique component of social media platforms is the ability for anyone to create content. During times of a disaster, some of this information is incorrect or false, warned Knox. "Rumor control can become a full-time job during an activation in the emergency operations center or joint information center. This is another reason why it is important for local governments to educate and engage with the public during blue sky days, so the agency's social media account becomes a trusted, reliable source of information during a disaster." Misinformation is likely to move faster than a category five storm, but this may also be why official agencies need to monitor what is being posted. "Like many tools, social media is constantly evolving," added Silver, who acknowledged it is not without its issues. "The sheer volume and rapidity of information diffusion during a large-scale disaster is a known challenge, especially when that information includes misinformation and disinformation. With that being said, however, social media can be used to share information from official sources more quickly and efficiently than traditional channels." There is no denying that hurricane season can cause anxiety, especially for those who now live in regions that have been hard hit in recent years. However, turning to social media before a storm can further bring a negative impact on one's mental health. "Overexposure to media, especially during hurricane season, can significantly impact our mental health, even for those of us who are not directly affected," warned Dr. Reggie Ferreira, director of the Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy and professor in the School of Social Work at Tulane University. The continuous updates about hurricanes, flooding, and destruction can heighten one's anxiety and create a pervasive sense of dread or helplessness. "Over time, we may also experience compassion fatigue, where exposure to repeated distressing stories leads to emotional numbness or a reduced ability to empathize," said Ferreira. "There's also the risk of secondary trauma exposure; individuals might develop trauma-like symptoms such as nightmares or heightened alertness just from viewing graphic content." Additionally, the sheer volume of real-time updates can become overwhelming, making it more challenging to distinguish credible, helpful information from sensationalized or misleading posts. Ferreira cautioned that the use of AI-generated images on social media can exacerbate the issue even further. "Many people end up 'doomscrolling' late into the night, which disrupts sleep and can further exacerbate our mood and anxiety disorders," said Ferreira. "It's a cycle that can quietly take a toll on our emotional well-being."
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What is NOAA? Mass Layoffs Spark Concerns
Brad Reinhart, Senior Hurricane Specialist at the National Hurricane Center, works on tracking Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 season, at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., on July 01, 2024. Credit - Joe Raedle / Getty Images The Trump Administration has begun firing probationary employees at the federal agency tasked with overseeing weather prediction and climate research, raising concerns about the nation's ability to accurately forecast hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme weather events that have become more common in recent years. The layoffs affect the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which includes the National Weather Service and a vast monitoring system that provides free data to commercial forecasters. The move is part of the Trump Administration's broader effort to reduce the federal workforce and trim government spending, impacting nearly every federal agency. At least 880 employees were dismissed on Thursday, according to Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the ranking member on the Senate Committee that oversees the agency. Laid off staffers who were considered probationary employees—those who have been in their jobs for a short period and lack the protections afforded to staff members with longer tenure—received an email Thursday, which read in part: '[T]he Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and/or skills do not fit the Agency's current needs.' Read More: How Climate Change Will Affect the Seasons The firings, which are expected to continue in the coming days, have sparked outrage among experts and lawmakers, who warn that such cuts could severely hamper NOAA's ability to respond to the increasing severity of weather events. The National Weather Service, a key division of NOAA, plays a vital role in issuing warnings and forecasts for life-threatening storms, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. With climate change driving more frequent and intense weather events, the loss of skilled personnel at the agency is seen as a significant blow to the nation's preparedness. 'Going into the severe weather and hurricane season, this cannot be good,' weathercaster Al Roker wrote on X, adding that the agency does more than just forecasts. 'It's fire weather. It's severe weather outlooks. It's climate. It's information that our FARMERS use day in and day out making us the breadbasket of the world. This agency monitors our oceans, our fisheries health.' Some of those laid off held specialized roles, including meteorologists, data scientists, and engineers responsible for maintaining NOAA's satellite and radar systems, which provide real-time data to forecasters, according to people familiar with the situation. The firings appear to be part of a broader strategy outlined in "Project 2025," a conservative policy framework that has closely matched the Trump Administration's approach to government operations. The blueprint calls for reducing the scope of agencies like NOAA, citing concerns over spending and what it deems "climate change alarmism." Project 2025 proposes limiting the role of the National Weather Service and suggests commercializing weather data, rather than continuing to provide it for free to the public, which would mark a sharp departure from the agency's long-standing mission of ensuring that life-saving forecasts and warnings remain accessible to all. Trump, who has long rejected climate change, has not yet outlined his plans for NOAA or for the Weather Service. Here's what to know about the layoffs at NOAA. Established in 1970, the agency is perhaps best known for overseeing the National Weather Service and operating some of the most advanced weather prediction and monitoring systems in the world, responsible for tracking temperature shifts, tornadoes, and hurricanes. But NOAA also plays a vital role in scientific research, providing essential data for studies on climate change, marine ecosystems, and the health of the planet's oceans. The agency oversees the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Ocean Service, the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, and NOAA Corps. The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, for example, manages a fleet of scientific and survey ships and airplanes that provide key data for climate, weather, fisheries, and underwater mapping. Read More: A Mining Billionaire's Case for Ditching Fossil Fuels NOAA's official mission is "to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources." Its research and data is considered crucial for meteorologists, but also to industries that depend on accurate forecasting, including agriculture, fisheries, transportation, and the energy sector. The firings come just as the U.S. braces for a potentially intense season of extreme weather, including hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms, which have become more frequent and intense in recent years. With fewer personnel to monitor and predict these events, experts worry that NOAA's ability to provide accurate and timely forecasts could be severely compromised. 'This is deeply troubling,' meteorologist Jim Cantore wrote on X. 'NWS forecasters don't just come in and put a forecast together. They make processes for all forecasters so much better.' A reduction in staff at the National Weather Service, which relies on a highly trained workforce, could potentially mean fewer meteorologists available to track storms, launch weather balloons for atmospheric data, and issue critical alerts, particularly during peak weather seasons. NOAA, for example, gathered satellite data on the devastating wildfires in California in January that helped inform decisions on the ground. NOAA's research capabilities could also suffer. The agency is at the forefront of climate science, researching ocean health and atmospheric conditions. Layoffs impacting scientists and engineers working on data collection systems such as satellites and radar could disrupt NOAA's ability to monitor long-term environmental shifts and conduct cutting-edge research. Write to Nik Popli at
