Emergency Alert: Critical Ocean Data at Risk in the Southeast
NOAA could cut this year's funding to IOOS regions, directly contradicting the budget Congress already approved. If these cuts go through, vital coastal monitoring will cease.
Imagine navigating a busy shipping lane without accurate current information, or a coastal town bracing for a hurricane without precise flood predictions. This is the stark reality facing the Southeast United States if proposed federal funding cuts to ocean observing systems are implemented.
A leaked Executive Branch document reveals plans to eliminate the entire budget for IOOS Regional Observations next year. More immediately, the document suggests NOAA should cut this year's funding to IOOS regions, directly contradicting the budget Congress already approved. If these cuts go through, the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), a vital part of the national U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), will begin shutting down operations in late summer.
These proposed cuts are not just budget line items; they represent a direct threat to the safety, economy, and well-being of the Southeast. By taking action now, we can help ensure that critical ocean data continues to flow, protecting our coastal communities for years to come.
What Does SECOORA Do, and Why Does It Matter?
SECOORA isn't just about scientists in labs. It's the backbone of critical information for anyone living, working, or playing in the coastal Southeast (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). Think of them as the eyes and ears of our ocean, constantly collecting and distributing data that supports:
Disaster Preparation: Accurate hurricane forecasts, storm surge predictions, and real-time water level data are crucial for evacuating communities and protecting lives and property. Without SECOORA, these predictions become less reliable, putting millions at greater risk. SECOORA keeps you informed – especially during a disaster. Data collected from weather and wave buoys are crucial to monitoring storms in real time and building models that predict hurricane strength and pathways. These models require long-term data collection and would lose accuracy if SECOORA activities were halted by funding cuts. Water level sensors installed in communities by SECOORA and partners inform management decisions, providing flood data to effectively plan cities and protect infrastructure in the future. Community members can also be alerted of flooding in real time, which is crucial to those who live in neighborhoods with only one access point.
Economic Stability: From commercial fishing to shipping and tourism, countless industries depend on precise ocean data for safe and efficient operations. Fishermen rely on current data to find fish, ports need accurate navigation information, and coastal businesses need to plan for changing conditions. Disrupting this data flow directly impacts livelihoods and regional economies.
Public Health & Safety: Monitoring water quality, tracking harmful algal blooms (red tide), and supporting search and rescue operations are all enabled by the data SECOORA provides. These services directly protect the health and safety of beachgoers, boaters, and coastal residents.
Marine Operations: Everyday activities like boating, offshore energy development, and coastal construction rely on understanding ocean conditions. SECOORA's data ensures these operations are conducted safely and efficiently.
Essentially, SECOORA provides the foundational data that helps us understand, predict, and adapt to changes in our coastal environment. Cutting their funding isn't just about saving money; it's about dismantling a system that protects our communities, supports our economy, and ensures our safety. Learn more about SECOORA's mission:
How Can You Help?
The good news is, there's still time to act. Your voice can make a difference.
Share Your Story: If SECOORA's data or services have impacted you personally – as a fisherman, boater, researcher, business owner, or simply a resident who benefits from safer coasts – share your story. These personal testimonials are powerful and demonstrate the real-world value of IOOS to Congress. Submit your story here: https://secoora.org/funding-cuts-to-noaa-ioos-will-hurt-southeast/
Contact Your Congressional Representatives: Your elected officials need to hear directly from their constituents. A phone call is often the most effective way to ensure your voice is heard, even if you leave a voicemail.
Find your representative: Use this link to type in your address and find out: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/map
Here's a simple script: "Hello, my name is [Your Name]. My address is [Your Address]. I am contacting you to voice my concerns about the proposed funding cuts to the NOAA-funded Integrated Ocean Observing System that would zero out the budget for the program. The Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association, also called SECOORA, is part of the Integrated Ocean Observing System. SECOORA provides critical infrastructure that supports disaster preparation, economic stability, public health & safety, and marine operations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The proposed funding cuts would directly impact my life as a resident of the Southeast."
Donate to SECOORA: While advocacy is crucial for long-term solutions, immediate financial support can help SECOORA bridge the gap in this uncertain funding landscape and continue its essential work.
Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-secooras-mission-to-deliver-data-for-decisions
Spread the Word: Share this information with your friends, family, and networks. When more of us understand this, we're all safer.
Further Resources / Learn More:
For those who want to dive deeper into coastal safety and ocean observing, here are some valuable resources:
Coastal Observation Systems
WebCOOS (Webcam Coastal Observation System): Stream real-time live camera feeds to remotely monitor flooding, study beach erosion, monitor beach usage, and identify rip currents.
Norwegian Meteorological Institute Satellite Images: Learn about how geostationary weather satellites provide continuous images of Earth, showing cloud cover and other atmospheric phenomena. Meteosat, operated by EUMETSAT, uses 12 channels to study various aspects of the atmosphere and Earth's surface.
Weather and Hazard Information
American Meteorological Society: Find information and resources related to meteorology.
https://wcdirectory.ametsoc.org/
National Weather Service (NWS): Access marine, tropical, and tsunami services, including a map of all NWS Marine Forecast and Warning Zones.
Marine Zones: https://www.weather.gov/marine/AllZones
Hurricane Preparedness: https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep
Tsunami Warning System:
NWS National Hurricane Center: Use official forecasts and understand how to interpret weather information.
Understand Forecast Information: https://www.noaa.gov/understand-forecast-information
Take Action Today: https://www.noaa.gov/take-action-today
Know Your Risk (Water & Wind): https://www.noaa.gov/know-your-risk-water-wind
Flood and Evacuation Planning
Floodsmart.gov: Understand flood zones and your risk.
NOAA’s Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper: Identify flood risks in your area.
HurricaneStrong: Find your evacuation zone and plan accordingly.
Global Ocean Data & Forecasts
PassageWeather: Get weather forecast charts from trusted sources like NWS, NOAA, NCEP, ECMWF, and NRL.
https://www.passageweather.com/
World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Access official weather observations, forecasts, and climatological information worldwide.
https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/home.html
The Copernicus Marine Service: Provides free, regular, and systematic information on the state of the "Blue" (physical), "White" (sea ice), and "Green" (biogeochemical) ocean globally and regionally, supporting ocean governance and the Blue Economy.
https://marine.copernicus.eu/news/call-action-advancing-ocean-prediction-benefit-society
When more of us understand this, we're all safer.
//Peace
Who we blame is irrelevant. The damage to our entire ecosystem has already reached the tipping point, and pointing fingers is fruitless. Our complicity goes back centuries.
Making a donation to any one, or more, of the institutions and services listed will make a difference. Every dollar adds up!
Think about future generations.
You can blame maga, and trump