2023 was the hottest year on record, and yet this year projects to be even hotter than last. That’s a very scary thought.
Last summer, we witnessed the devastating effects of a prolonged drought and heat wave across the central and southern U.S., which claimed hundreds of lives and crippled agricultural production. West of that, Californians grappled with yet another season of catastrophic wildfires, and worst of all, Lahaina on Maui experienced one of the most tragic and devastating wildfires the country had seen in over a century. The picture wasn't much brighter here on the East Coast, where relentless rains led to widespread flooding that inundated communities from Florida all the way to Maine – and led to an unprecedented whirlpool 10 minutes from where I live. These are just a few examples of last summer's relentless assault, which merely typify the troubling reality: the cost of climate disasters in the U.S. has more than doubled in the last five years and continues to rise.
In response to the trials of 2023, we saw some states take reactive albeit positive measures to respond to these challenges. California established a $95 million fund to support undocumented workers in the wake of intensive flooding last May. Similarly, even Vermont, a state less historically prone to major weather events, announced an $100M investment in flood mitigation infrastructure after experiencing record-breaking flooding.
But the investments themselves are just the first step to responding to disaster. To matter, the funds have to actually reach the affected communities with the speed that an emergency requires. That should be hours or days. Instead, it’s often taking months if not years.
This reality isn’t for lack of tireless work on the part of emergency management officials. Often, the infrastructure to facilitate the process of administration is non-existent such that states and communities – the ones who have experienced the disaster in the first place – are left to recreate the wheel at the time of disaster.
As we prepare for summer 2024, and as some states still make final decisions around their FY2025 budgets, we need to prepare for a possible repeat – and worsening – of the unprecedented number of climate disasters that ravaged the country last year by making preemptive investments into infrastructure that allow these funds to actually reach communities.
The good news is much is happening at the federal level. The Inflation Reduction Act offers unprecedented investment to help communities build climate resilience over the next decade. And as it pertains to disaster response itself, FEMA announced a number of tremendously positive changes in January that include offering $750 in direct assistance to individuals experiencing “serious needs”.
But even with this progress, the federal assistance alone won’t be enough. Last year, FEMA exhausted its funds by September. And while 30 million households qualified for LIHEAP last year, only 3% received it for summer bills.
We’re moving in the right direction, but states and philanthropic partners must take their own proactive action to ensure our communities are even somewhat prepared. At a minimum, this should include investing in proactive and preemptive local infrastructure for immediate disaster response for when these events inevitably manifest – which could include revolving funds that can be structured to interact with FEMA’s response in addition to a pre-tapped network of community organizations and accompanying technology system that is ready to go.
Beyond that, it should also include creative approaches to ensuring our local communities are more resilient to begin with, such as the interesting pilot approach Governor Hochul announced last week here in New York.
While the temperature is still mild and we can bask in the promise of Spring, the time is now.
Beam was borne out of nine tornadoes that caused billions in property damage in Dallas, and we have no shortage of experience in helping communities respond with the speed a disaster requires. As communities across the country prepare for the tough summer months ahead, we’d love to connect to learn how you’re creatively approaching building resilience.
