Congress has a critical opportunity now to reform the National Flood Insurance Program. Here are some of the lessons we can learn from recent hurricanes and other flood events that underscore the need. Read more >
High waters surround homes and businesses in the small town of Bucksport, S.C. as rivers continue to rise and flooded areas expand as a result of Hurricane Florence, Sept. 24, 2018. Photo: US Army National Guard/Staff Sgt. Jorge Intriago
Hurricane Florence Lessons Underscore Need for the National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019
Shana Udvardy, Climate Resilience Analyst
June 13, 2019 11:09 AM EDT
Members of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Nebraska Task Force One comb a neighborhood for survivors impacted by flooding from Hurricane Harvey. FEMA
FEMA and HUD Budgets are Vital for Disaster and Climate Preparedness
Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director and Lead Economist, Climate & Energy
April 9, 2018 10:19 AM EDT
Last year’s record-breaking disasters—including hurricanes, wildfires and floods—were a reminder of how climate change and faulty development policies are colliding to create dangerous and costly outcomes for the American public. While much attention is focused on post-disaster recovery, we need to invest much more in preparing for disasters before they happen. The good news is that the omnibus budget deal recently passed by Congress appropriated significant funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help foster community resilience, in many cases undoing steep cuts that had been proposed by the Trump administration. Read more >
Federal funding should help ensure that communities are better prepared before disaster strikes, instead of just picking up the pieces afterwards. Photo: chere/Shutterstock
4 Ways President Trump’s Budget Takes Aim at FEMA and Disaster Preparedness
Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director and Lead Economist, Climate & Energy
May 25, 2017 4:34 PM EDT
The damaging cuts included in President’s Trump proposed budget make clear that the administration is willing to put Americans at risk by shortchanging investments in disaster preparedness. Read more >
Damage from Hurricane Sandy in Mantoloking, New Jersey in 2012.
An Innovative Way to Encourage Disaster Preparedness: FEMA’s Public Assistance Deductible
Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director and Lead Economist, Climate & Energy
April 12, 2017 11:01 AM EDT
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently outlined a new framework for encouraging states to invest in disaster resilience and thus limit the growing costs of disasters.
Today is the comment deadline for the ‘Public Assistance deductible,’ a concept that can help protect communities and ensure federal taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. The Union of Concerned Scientists is filing comments supportive of this idea, with some important recommendations for improvements. Read more >
Cutting FEMA’s budget would put the safety of Americans at risk and seriously undermine our nation’s ability to prepare for and recover from disasters, such as Hurricane Ike in Texas in 2008. Photo:Photo: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.
How to Make Disasters More Costly and Harmful: Cut FEMA’s Budget
Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director and Lead Economist, Climate & Energy
March 15, 2017 10:08 AM EDT
A potential 11 percent cut in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s budget would seriously undermine our nation’s ability to prepare for and recover from disasters, and put the safety of Americans at risk. Congress should reject it. Read more >
