«This is not just any agency, I don't understand how they can fire people to cut costs, because there are a thousand other ways to reduce expenses without affecting agencies that, like this one, are of national and strategic importance,» concluded Cavagnaro. The impact could be strongly felt in the province. The National Meteorological Service is key when planning irrigation for agricultural production, preventing material damage, floods, electrical activity, among other things. «The operational capacity is greatly affected, the forecasts are affected. We are talking about civil defense agencies, all the agencies that need these early warnings. They are talking about firing 250 professional and non-professional workers,» the specialist noted. Martín Cavagnaro, a meteorology specialist and university professor in Mendoza province, assured that the agency «is a very important link in the prevention chain». There are six official meteorological stations that require specialized personnel to operate and maintain data collection. Workers and specialists warn that the cuts could affect not only weather forecasts, but also early warning systems that prevent disasters and save lives. Currently, the National Meteorological Service has about 780 workers. They will stop providing data, and there will be places in the country where there will be no direct information. «They can prevent accidents, they can prevent deaths,» the expert emphasized. Furthermore, the specialist highlighted that «it is a matter of safety, for cars, for everything outside. This agency has great importance and great coverage».
