Cities struggle as storm prep burden shifts to citizens

Cities struggle as storm prep burden shifts to citizens

Rapidly intensifying storms are forcing cities to adapt as residents increasingly shoulder the burden of disaster preparedness and evacuation planning.

Sara Sneath reports for The Atlantic.


In short:

  • Cities have less time to order evacuations due to faster storm intensification, putting residents at risk of being trapped or facing unnecessary evacuations.
  • Community groups and local organizations in New Orleans are stepping up to fill gaps in disaster preparedness with resource centers and solar panels.
  • Climate change is reducing vertical wind shear, leading to more rapid storm intensification near coastlines, exacerbating the challenge.

Why this matters:

As climate change accelerates storm intensification, cities and residents must adapt quickly to new disaster preparedness challenges. Effective community collaboration and self-reliance become crucial in safeguarding lives and property.

Related EHN coverage:

Dry, cracked soil in a desert landscape with a small weed growing out of a crack.
Credit: Mario/Pixabay

Scientists move forward with climate assessment work despite federal dismissals

Major scientific societies will publish research for the stalled National Climate Assessment after the Trump administration removed the project’s authors.

Rebecca Dzombak reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
A flooded basement with furniture and boxes floating in water.

Climate disaster survivors form nationwide movement to push for climate action and disaster reform

A growing network of U.S. climate disaster survivors is turning personal loss into collective advocacy, demanding action as extreme weather intensifies and federal aid diminishes.

Gabe Castro-Root reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
Silhouette of forest trees with a wildfire in the background.

How federal neglect fuels wildfire crises on tribal lands

Wildfires have increasingly devastated Indigenous reservations, where underfunded and overstretched tribal firefighting programs struggle to keep pace with mounting threats.

Lachlan Hyatt reports for High Country News.

Keep reading...Show less
A scientist's gloved hands placing a bit of soil into a test tube.

Soil tests reveal toxic metals lingering in L.A. burn zones after government cleanup

After federal agencies declined to test soil for toxic substances following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, Los Angeles Times reporters conducted independent testing and found alarming levels of contamination on properties across Los Angeles County.

Tony Briscoe, Noah Haggerty and Hayley Smith report for the Los Angeles Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Small Alaskan village with mountains in the background.

Alaska villages face soaring energy costs as GOP debate threatens clean energy tax credits

As Republicans in Congress battle over the future of clean energy tax credits, rural Alaskan communities like Noatak fear losing critical financial lifelines that help power their homes and reduce sky-high energy bills.

Catie Edmondson reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
A boat floating on a body of water with trees in the background

Louisiana coastal restoration project faces new turmoil over hidden environmental report

An escalating political and legal battle threatens Louisiana’s $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, as allegations emerge that state officials concealed a critical environmental study.

Jack Brook and Jim Mustian report for The Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
A satellite in space orbiting the Earth.
Credit: PIRO/Pixabay

Satellites burning up in Earth’s atmosphere could worsen climate change and ozone depletion

As thousands of satellites burn up upon re-entry, scientists warn their emissions could disrupt atmospheric temperatures and hinder ozone recovery.

Kate Ravilious reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

People  sitting in an outdoors table working on a big sign.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.