hurricanes
Newsletter
Credit: Paul Brennan/Pixabay
Rebuilding coastal communities post-hurricanes is complex and transformative
As coastal communities rebuild after hurricanes, the process is expensive and can drastically alter local character.
Dorany Pineda and Rebecca Blackwell report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Charles Long faces a $450,000 cost to rebuild his hurricane-damaged home on stilts, opting instead to create a pole barn for an RV.
- Rising insurance rates and high construction costs make rebuilding prohibitive, with some fearing gentrification and displacement.
- Resilient infrastructure projects vary by community, each impacting ecosystems, shoreline access, and community identity differently.
Key quote:
“You want to leave communities well protected, but you also want to preserve what makes them vibrant and worth living in.”
— Paul Gallay, director of the Resilient Coastal Communities Project at Columbia Climate School
Why this matters:
Coastal communities face growing challenges from climate change, with rising sea levels and stronger storms threatening long-term viability.
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Credit: Coast Guard News/Flickr
Hurricanes are becoming less predictable and more dangerous
Fueled by rising ocean temperatures, hurricanes are intensifying faster, lasting longer, and becoming less predictable, posing new challenges for communities worldwide.
In short:
- Climate change is extending hurricane seasons and increasing their intensity, with warmer oceans providing more energy for storms.
- Hurricanes are slowing down, leading to prolonged rainfall and increased damage in affected areas.
- Shifting hurricane tracks are bringing extreme storms to regions unaccustomed to such events.
Key quote:
"Because we can't suddenly turn off climate change and have everything go back to the way it was. There's an inertia to the system that we can't really get past. And so adaptation is going to be a big part of it."
— James Kossin, climate and atmospheric scientist, NOAA, retired
Why this matters:
Hurricanes are no longer playing by the rules. As climate change cranks up the Earth's thermostat, these once somewhat predictable storms are turning into wild cards, packing unpredictable punches that leave communities scrambling to pick up the pieces. Read more: Robbie Parks on why hurricanes are getting deadlier.
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Credit: Danny Burke/Unsplash
Fossil fuel plants release toxic pollution during hurricane
A powerful storm has already caused fossil fuel plants on the Gulf Coast to release toxic pollutants into the air, prompting medical experts to call for a halt to new plant construction in hurricane-prone areas.
In short:
- Hurricane Beryl caused power outages at multiple refineries and petrochemical plants in Texas, leading to the release of harmful pollutants.
- Environmental justice advocates warn that new LNG terminals will exacerbate pollution in storm-affected areas.
- Medical professionals urge the Biden administration to consider public health impacts when approving new fossil fuel infrastructure.
Key quote:
“Despite massive flood walls, facilities can become isolated by surrounding open water. Federal and state agencies failed to fully consider future sea level rise, land subsidence, and the stronger and more frequent hurricanes brought on by climate change when permitting these facilities.”
— Shaq Cossé, program manager at the Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Why this matters:
The increase in hurricanes due to climate change intensifies the risks posed by fossil fuel plants. Communities, especially low-income and minority groups, are disproportionately affected by pollution from these facilities.
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Newsletter
Credit: Sandy Ravaloniaina/Unsplash
Coral reefs that protect Caribbean islands from hurricanes are rapidly declining
Hurricane Beryl, which hit the Caribbean as a Category 4 storm, highlights the crucial role of coral reefs in mitigating storm damage, but these vital ecosystems are disappearing.
In short:
- Coral reefs act as natural barriers, reducing wave energy and preventing flooding in Caribbean nations.
- The area of live corals has decreased by 80% in recent decades due to climate change and human activities.
- Without reefs, the flood risk in the Caribbean and the U.S. would increase significantly, endangering thousands more people.
Key quote:
"Without reefs, annual damages would more than double."
— Authors of the 2018 study "The global flood protection savings provided by coral reefs."
Why this matters:
Coral reefs provide essential protection against hurricanes, but their decline due to climate change weakens this natural defense. Rising ocean temperatures, acidification, and human activities are causing unprecedented rates of coral bleaching and degradation. As these reefs disappear, so too does their ability to protect coastal communities from the ravages of hurricanes.
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Newsletter
Credit: NASA Johnson/Flickr
How an early hurricane may signal a rough storm season
Hurricane Beryl's explosive growth and record-setting intensity foretell a potentially catastrophic storm season fueled by unusually warm waters in the Atlantic and Caribbean.
In short:
- Hurricane Beryl has set multiple records, including the earliest Category 4 storm and unprecedented rapid intensification.
- The storm’s strength is driven by abnormally warm sea temperatures, which are currently at levels typical of peak hurricane season.
- Experts warn that this trend indicates a season with more frequent and intense hurricanes, similar to the deadly 2005 season that spawned Hurricane Katrina.
Key quote:
“Beryl is unprecedentedly strange... It is so far outside the climatology that you look at it and you say, ‘How did this happen in June?’”
— Jeff Masters, meteorologist and Weather Underground co-founder
Why this matters:
With sea temperatures far above normal, the risk of severe hurricanes is heightened, posing serious threats to coastal communities and indicative of the broader impacts of climate change on weather patterns. Read more: Robbie Parks on why hurricanes are getting deadlier.
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Credit: Paul Brennan/Pixabay
FEMA faces potential funding shortfall amid increasing natural disasters
With hurricanes and heat waves growing more severe, FEMA's funding might deplete before summer's end.
In short:
- Record-high ocean temperatures predict an intense hurricane season with up to 25 named storms and 4-7 major hurricanes.
- FEMA's disaster relief fund is projected to face a $1.3 billion shortfall by August and could be $6.8 billion in deficit by September.
- The agency may need to pause long-term recovery projects to manage immediate disaster responses, impacting overall disaster management.
Key quote:
"Without additional funding, FEMA will take steps prior to funding exhaustion to ensure resources are available to support ongoing lifesaving and life-sustaining activities."
— FEMA spokesperson
Why this matters:
The rising intensity of these weather events has stretched FEMA's resources thin. Just last year, the agency grappled with a series of devastating hurricanes and wildfires, and this year's forecasts suggest more of the same. With hurricane season in full swing and unprecedented heat waves scorching the nation, FEMA's budget, which must cover immediate disaster response and long-term recovery efforts, is under immense strain.
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Credit: The National Guard/Flickr
Hurricane season could overwhelm disaster response systems
Grim forecasts for an active hurricane season highlight significant gaps in America's disaster preparedness.
In short:
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts up to 25 named storms this hurricane season, driven by warm Atlantic waters and La Niña conditions.
- America's disaster-preparedness system, including FEMA and private insurers, lacks the resources to handle consecutive severe storms.
- Public complacency and inadequate disaster response infrastructure exacerbate the risks posed by increasingly frequent and intense hurricanes.
Key quote:
"Big ones are fast. They don’t care about our timelines. Preparedness is absolutely everything."
— Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service
Why this matters:
With predictions of a highly active hurricane season, the inadequacies in current disaster response systems could lead to severe consequences for vulnerable communities, emphasizing an increasing need for better preparedness amid escalating climate-related risks. Read more: Robbie Parks on why hurricanes are getting deadlier.
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