The head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is both defending the administration and thanking a local weather office that contradicted President Donald Trump’s claims about Hurricane Dorian threatening Alabama.
Acting administrator Neil Jacobs told a meteorology group Tuesday that a NOAA statement which criticized a local forecast office that contradicted Trump was meant to clarify “technical aspects” about Dorian’s potential impact.
Jacobs told the group what the statement failed to mention was the “good intent” of the Birmingham office in trying to calm fears and rumors about Dorian hitting Alabama. Jacobs recognized and thanked the Birmingham office while speaking before the National Weather Association in Huntsville, Alabama. He appeared near tears at one point.
Weather officials say Birmingham didn’t realize that rumors about Dorian hitting the state began with a tweet by Trump.
