Tom Fahy, legislative director of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, says there are critical weather expert shortages in South Florida because of federal layoffs and retirements. 

The weather service in Miami is short five meteorologists, Key West is down four and the National Hurricane Center is short five hurricane specialists.

"it's a red flag," he says. 

John Cortinas, who retired from the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab on Virginia Key, says he's concerned for public safety because the shortages of federal funding for that lab have been pulled. 

"It's the lab that developed the current hurricane forecast model that's being used here and internationally," he said. 

"It's devastating for all of South Florida and the country," Fahy said. 

Fahy also said the job is getting done, but at a cost. He says workers are putting in 14-hour days and often suffer from fatigue. 

That's why Andy Hazelton, a hurricane modeler and hurricane hunter who was laid off from his job at the National Hurricane Center, says communities have to press Congress to restore funding. 

"The more things are cut, the harder it is for people to do their jobs."