It’s October in Southeast Ohio, and there’s no shortage of the summer’s lingering heat. Intense flooding followed by periods of drought is increasingly common in the area, which is made even more concerning by recent federal cuts to reporting services and the current government shutdown in Washington, D.C.
The problem is many residents in rural areas, especially rural Appalachian areas, use social media for news about weather services, and climate change isn’t letting up. As a result, social media is a critical step forward in national weather reporting, and shutting down such sites puts Appalachian residents at a particularly grave disadvantage.
Appalachian Ohio received more flood warnings than any year since 1986, and a lack of federal reporting strategies puts local populations like Athens County at serious risk.
For many, Facebook is a significant source of news reporting. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found the highest percentage of adults, 38%, in the U.S. get news from the social media app. This is especially true for Appalachia, where many residents are distrustful of government sources as a valid source of information because of decades of underinvestment and over-promising in the region. For example, 30 counties in the Appalachian region lack a foundation or organization to promote economic growth or civic engagement.
The issue comes at a particularly worrying time, as the U.S. government shut down on Oct. 1. Federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the National Weather Service, are partially impacted.
Although both are considered “essential services” by the federal government and will continue reporting for extreme weather risks, there's a significant problem: NOAA will no longer update its social media sites.
At a time when the NWS lost close to 600 staff members as a result of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, moments like these show regions like Athens County face obstacles in dealing with significant weather challenges, much less report them.
A recent study conducted by Natalie Kruse Daniels and Geoff Debelko at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service showed some county governments in the region don’t have a website but instead rely on Facebook as a sole source of communication for residents.
When such essential sites fail to function as a result of federal underinvestment, it seriously disarms rural populations’ ability to combat increased weather dangers posed due to climate change.
Despite the problem, there are real and positive solutions available. “Climate resiliency” is a word many use, but it should be simpler. It’s not just about surviving, it’s about using digital tools to create a stronger Appalachia.
It starts with sites like Facebook. If weather reporting via traditional means is considered an essential service, so too should reporting on social media sites. It also takes the federal government to adequately fill workforce vacancies in the coming years and employ citizens who care about protecting others. Neighbors checking on other neighbors also remains a powerful tool in moments of crisis, but Appalachia relies on digital access as a key source of safety and engagement, too.
It’s time to seriously consider the most essential services during moments of political crisis when the lives of the most vulnerable groups, especially older populations, are consistently safe and secure. Without it, weather warnings won’t be the only problem that places like rural Ohio face.
Aiden is a sophomore studying journalism. Please note that the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Aiden? Reach him on Instagram at @aiden_with_an_i_ or email him at ar260223@ohio.edu.
