Scientists fear impact of National Weather Service cuts

TAZEWELL COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — Sunday service at Crossroads Global Methodist Church often starts in song, but on the morning of November 17, 2013, it began with tornado sirens alerting congregants of an approaching storm.

"Everybody's phones were going off," executive director Donna Cimino recalled. "We immediately started moving people to our storm shelters."

The warning issued by the National Weather Service a full 16 minutes ahead of the tornado's arrival no doubt saved lives...