U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has called for answers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) after the agency cancelled approximately $300,000 in grant funding for the Alaska Earthquake Center (AEC). The decision will lead to the end of real-time seismic data delivery for tsunami warnings across the West Coast by late November.
In a letter addressed to NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Sen. Cantwell wrote: “NOAA must work to restore seismic information needed for tsunami alerts in Alaska and develop a concrete plan to protect this data in other critical locations from going offline or being delayed. On Washington’s coast, a tsunami generated by the Cascadia Subduction Zone could hit communities in 15-30 minutes. Any potential delays in life saving information puts our communities at risk.”
During Admiral Kevin Lunday's nomination hearing for Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Sen. Cantwell raised concerns about how important NOAA data is for safety operations. She stated: “There's some talk about tsunami warning systems being cancelled. I would assume you really appreciate tsunami warning systems in the Coast Guard?” Admiral Lunday replied: “I wasn't aware of that, Ranking Member Cantwell. But we rely on tsunami warning because of the Coast Guard units around the Pacific Rim.”
Senator Cantwell previously authored legislation requiring NOAA to collaborate with agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey and National Science Foundation to provide rapid seismic information to its tsunami forecasting program. The law was enacted as part of broader weather research legislation signed by President Trump.
The AEC has provided over 25 years of seismic monitoring crucial for timely warnings along Washington, Alaska, Hawai‘i, and other West Coast states. NOAA cited budget constraints at its National Weather Service division as reason for discontinuing grant support starting fiscal year 2023 but continued receiving data until recently. After learning that funding would not be renewed again for fiscal year 2026, AEC decided to stop providing real-time seismic data essential for alerts.
As a result of this cutback, nine NOAA-run stations in Alaska that monitor earthquakes capable of triggering tsunamis are expected to go offline soon. While NOAA will still receive delayed seismic data from additional AEC stations through alternative channels, immediate access will be lost.
Senator Cantwell emphasized that quick access to accurate seismic data is vital since coastal communities may have only minutes to evacuate following an earthquake-generated tsunami threat: “Seconds matter during a tsunami, and coastal communities can have as little as 20 minutes to evacuate and prepare for an incoming wave.” According to NOAA assessments referenced by Sen. Cantwell, areas with dense monitoring networks allow Tsunami Warning Centers to issue alerts within five minutes; any delay reduces evacuation time.
She urged NOAA “to immediately restore funding to the AEC and nine seismic stations and to work with AEC and other seismic data providers to ensure that data is delivered to NOAA in real time.”
The full text of Sen. Cantwell’s letter is available online along with video footage from her exchange with Adm. Lunday.
