Rescuers Blinded by Noem’s Contract Lapse During Deadly Tornadoes
During recent deadly tornadoes in the Midwest and Plains, state and local search-and-rescue teams were hampered by the absence of a critical tornado-tracking tool typically supplied by FEMA. The contract for this tool, which provides a precise path of destruction within minutes, expired in February and its renewal is caught in a slow spending-approval process. This lack of timely data left responders operating with a less precise picture, forcing them to rely on less efficient methods to pinpoint devastated areas. This disruption mirrors previous issues where similar approval processes have delayed disaster response efforts.
John Q. Hosedrinker