Concerns are rising in Florida after hundreds of forecasters, scientists and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees were reportedly laid off Thursday, amid sweeping federal cuts spearheaded by Elon Musk’s DOGE effort. NOAA declined to comment to 10 Tampa Bay specifics on the personnel let go, citing longstanding policy. The Associated Press reports hundreds of probationary employees were among those fired. Probationary employees could include ones with less than 2 years or service, or those who just got promoted. 10 Tampa Bay talked with Meteorologist Andy Hazelton, PhD. via Zoom on Friday. Hazelton was working out of the National Hurricane Center in South Florida when he got a “very shocking” and "impersonal" email. “Probationary just means you're a new federal employee. But I’ve been with NOAA working on these things for eight, nine years now,” he explained. For the last several months, Hazelton has been working on and testing new hurricane forecast models up-to-speed ahead of hurricane season. Staff at the NHC provide crucial forecasts and data that meteorologists, airlines and others across country rely on. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/politics/doge-job-cuts-florida-meteorologists/67-b56ec6a8-c18b-4ac8-8143-688d7cfe69f9