So they're blaming NWS, NHC and NOAA now? Proof of the budget cuts.

http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/appropsfy2005_commerce.html

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The proposed funding for NOAA in FY05 is $3.3 billion, an 8.2% decrease from last year's appropriation. Within NOAA, the majority of the research is managed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which is slated to receive a 12% decrease, leaving the program with a total of $350 million. Under the President's FY05 budget request, the National Ocean Service (NOS) would receive $394.3 million (down 22%). The National Weather Service is slated for a 3% increase, bringing the total to $749 million.

NOAA's budget slashes funding for the "wet side", which includes the NOS and OAR. Programs in NOS that will receive less funding than last year include: Navigation Services (down $15 million), Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment (down $80 million) and Ocean & Coastal Management (down $31 million). In OAR, the Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research program was cut by $50 million. The Weather and Air Quality Research program was cut by $20 million. However, the Climate Research Program requested $13 million more than last year.
--snip--
Congress passed the Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary FY05 Appropriations bill July 8th without offering any amendments that would boost funding for the severe cuts to NOAA. The amount appropriated by the bill for NOAA is $2.3 billion, a decrease of $543 million from the FY04 enacted level and $215 million less than the President's requested amount. With overall funding cut by 36%, many one-time, non-recurring projects will be terminated. Funding for ocean and fisheries programs received the most significant cuts, while many of the atmospheric programs remain funded at the president's requested levels. In cutting NOAA's funding, the Committee went against the recommendation of two reports published earlier this year by the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Both reported that significantly higher levels of funding were necessary for ocean and coastal protection and research.

Full 2005 budget available here:
http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/budget2005/



Sorry assholes, this doesn't hold up either, you cut the funding here too... It's all criminal negligence anyway they spin it!!!!

:nuke:

Love their cronies.
Grover Norquist in action - Operation Shrink and Drown

I wasn't aware that these agencies had anything to do with levee management or evacuation/first response planning.

Well, who needs to know where a hurricane is going to go or how strong it is anyway? It's God's will after all.