NOAA Websites Down During Tsunami Warnings Because Of Government Shutdown That Ended Monday Night
As parts of Alaska and the entire West Coast prepared for a potential tsunami Tuesday morning, a number of webpages for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were either down or were not being updated due to a federal government shutdown that ended Monday night.
The NOAA, which oversees the nation's climate research, linked to a page that said: "The federal government is currently shut down. NOAA.gov and many associated websites are available while others remain live but not supported."
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System page was not affected, with the website featuring a message that read: "The Federal Government is currently shut down. NOAA.gov and most associated websites are unavailable. However, because the information this site provides is necessary to protect life and property, it will be updated and maintained during the Federal Government shutdown."
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Other NOAA pages, however, including the main website, as well as the administration's main Twitter account did not change after the government shutdown ended Monday evening.
Read more: Entire West Coast on tsunami watch after earthquake rocks Gulf of Alaska
A page providing information about the Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami that struck Alaska's Prince William Sound on March 28, 1964, could not be reached.
The page had become available by around 7:55 a.m. ET, while others continued to feature warnings that they would not be updated due to the federal government shutdown until later Tuesday morning.
The U.S. federal government is currently shutdown. This account will not be updated until appropriations are enacted. Only sites necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. Go to https://t.co/83F2guq6DU for weather information and visit https://t.co/JGGeA2nKqb pic.twitter.com/0lXrEESZmm
— NOAA (@NOAA) January 22, 2018
The federal government was shut down on Friday evening after Democrats refused to support a budget bill to continue funding government operations unless an agreement shielding undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as "Dreamers," from deportation could be struck.
Most government operations were brought to a halt as a result, aside from essential services.
By Monday night, however, Republicans and Democrats had ended the shutdown, voting for a temporary funding bill to keep the government running until February 8.
National Weather Service Acting Director of Public Affairs Susan Buchanan told Newsweek that NOAA pages would be updated Tuesday morning, when employees returned to work. The pages were updated by 9 a.m. ET Tuesday.
Asked why the NOAA would link its page to a notice warning of the government shutdown, Buchanan said she is "not sure where the notice came from," adding: "NOAA.gov remained live, but was not supported during the shutdown."
Tsunami warnings for Alaska were downgraded and later lifted after residents were warned to evacuate low-lying coastal areas and move inland on Tuesday morning.