On July 4, 2025, devastating flooding in Kerrville, Texas, resulted in multiple fatalities, attributed to severe rainfall along the Guadalupe River. A warning published last year highlighted critical data-related deletions under the Trump administration, which hampered access to vital information for citizen safety. Cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) and NOAA under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) significantly reduced staffing and forecasting accuracy, impairing timely flood warnings. For instance, the NWS lost nearly 600 employees, weakening local emergency coordination. Despite issuing warnings, local notifications were delayed, exacerbating the disaster’s impact, which included tragic losses, particularly among children. This underscores the need for businesses and individuals to recognize the importance of accessible public data. Organizations must prioritize the identification of external data sources to ensure operational health and readiness, making data curation a key aspect of strategic planning and risk management.
Source link
