extreme precipitation
Credit: The National Guard/Flickr
Rural Kentuckians left out of federal flood protection efforts
The federal government’s flood risk assessment tool overlooks rural areas like Eastern Kentucky, leaving communities unprotected and underfunded after devastating floods.
Claire Carlson and Elizabeth Miller report for Climate Central and the Daily Yonder.
In short:
- Kentucky’s rural communities, despite repeated flood disasters, are classified as "low risk" by FEMA, limiting federal support.
- The National Risk Index used by FEMA undervalues rural areas due to lower financial assets, leading to biased disaster funding.
- Local leaders and residents are advocating for better federal support and preparing for future disasters with limited resources.
Key quote:
“There’s a bias against, I think, rural communities, especially in the flood dataset.”
— Chad Berginnis, Executive Director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers
Why this matters:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) labels these areas as “low risk” for flooding, not because the floods are rare, but because the financial stakes are lower compared to urban centers. In simpler terms, these communities are too poor to warrant the full federal safety net. Read more: Rising waters: Aging levees, climate change and the challenge to hold back the Ohio River.
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Credit: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid/Flickr
El Niño and global warming fuel extreme weather disasters
Recent events in Chile and California highlight the devastating effects of climate change and El Niño, combining to cause deadly wildfires and record-breaking floods.
In short:
- Wildfires in Chile and floods in California are driven by a mix of climate change and El Niño, leading to severe weather phenomena.
- Record high temperatures in the Pacific Ocean have exacerbated the conditions, leading to atmospheric river storms in California and intense heatwaves in Chile.
- Disasters such as these demand improvements in infrastructure and heightened preparedness for extreme weather events.
Key quote:
"These synchronized fires and floods in Chile and California are certainly a reminder of the weather extremes and their impacts in otherwise benign Mediterranean climates."
— John Abatzoglou, climate scientist at the University of California, Merced.
Why this matters:
These are stark warnings of the growing impact of climate change on weather extremes, affecting health, safety, and the environment. They emphasize the critical need for nations to adapt to and mitigate the effects of a warming planet, impacting both local communities and global climate patterns.
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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
More U.S. homes are repeatedly flooding as the nation’s flood risk grows
The number of U.S. properties that have flooded numerous times continues to rise, according to federal data, in the latest sign of the nation’s mounting flood risk.
Credit: Phil Roussin/Flickr
The dubious, racially charged flood project Biden is resurrecting in Mississippi
Congress approved the construction of the Yazoo Pumps more than 80 years ago. They might finally be built—and disproportionately benefit white landowners.
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Photo by Tyler Rutherford on Unsplash
Once known for its pollution, Pittsburgh becomes a poster child for climate consciousness
The National Climate Assessment shines a light on the city’s “innovative” plans to curb flooding based on projections for heavier, climate-amplified precipitation.
Bamboo may be the secret ingredient to building a flood-resistant home
A star architect is building swaths of flood-resistant homes out of bamboo. What makes the material so “marvelous”?
Environmental, immigrant groups say state needs to prepare for likely climate migration
In Maine, as in other places, the impacts of climate change are already being felt, with ocean temperatures warming quickly and the state experiencing higher than average levels of precipitation.
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