Is Arizona’s weather warning system prepared for emergencies?

After massive flooding in Kerrville, Texas, swept through the area and killed more than 90 people and left dozens missing, town officials said an inadequate weather warning system was a major part of the problem when it came to preventing loss of life.

Reports delivered to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) show the town was at risk for catastrophic flooding, and they repeatedly asked for funding for a warning system, but were rebuffed by the state.

To discuss the concerns and questions about Arizona’s weather warning system, Randy Cerveny, a climatologist at ASU, joined “Arizona Horizon.”

Cerveny said compared to systems in other states, Arizona has adequate resources in place to notify the public if an emergency is on the way.

“We have a very good infrastructure in place,” Cerveny said. “Not only with the National Weather Service, but we have a huge number of meteorologists that are in situations here in Arizona that can help with regards to warning.”

As for what was learned from the response in Texas, Cerveny said the problem is not with the actual warning system but in making sure alerts are communicated properly.

“The biggest thing is communication,” Cerveny said. “Even though the National Weather Service there in Texas had issued a flash flood warning as early as 4 o’clock in the morning, three hours before the actual event took place, information was not transmitted correctly.”

That lack of proper distribution of information is frustrating to Cerveny and people who work in his field.

“When weather people can do their jobs, and then the information they’re coming up with doesn’t get disseminated, that’s a problem,” Cerveny said.