Jones cites inadequate radar coverage in Northwest and South Alabama
BIRMINGHAM – U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-Ala.) today wrote to Neil Jacobs, who has been nominated to serve as Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to call attention to the gaps in weather radar capabilities in Alabama and to request a meeting on the issue before the Senate votes to confirm him. Jacobs currently serves as the acting NOAA Administrator.
Senator Jones’ office has worked with NOAA to bring attention to the need to expand radar coverage to areas that are not captured by NOAA’s fleet of 160 Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD), particularly in Northwest and South Alabama. NEXRAD systems are no longer being built and new systems will not be ready for another 10-20 years, leaving many communities without the ability to adequately forecast and track storm systems.
“Alabama is particularly susceptible to damaging storms as was evidenced by the deadly tornadoes in Lee County last year. Closing radar gaps and providing better warning to communities will save lives in my state,” wrote Senator Jones, who has been a strong advocate for disaster aid for Alabamians and has proposed legislation to improve preparedness.
Since 2000, more than 300 Alabamians have died as a result of tornado-related injuries.
Full text of Senator Jones’ letter is below and a .pdf is available here.
Media Release/Caroline Stonecipher/Office of Alabama Senator Doug Jones
