It is unfortunate that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s budget (FEMA) is subject to appropriation each year, right in the middle of hurricane season. This year, as we stare down the abyss of a government shutdown, the agency is delaying $2.8 billion in disaster aid to conserve cash in the event of additional disasters to come before a final budget is determined. (We say “final budget” to exclude continuing resolutions that punt decision-making forward in time.). The delay affects on-going recovery projects in Florida, Puerto Rico, Louisiana and California. The Disaster Relief Fund has a balance that is lower than what was spent on relief in one month after Hurricane Ian made landfall last year, according to the linked article.
At the beginning of August, the Colorado State University released its final forecast for the 2023 hurricane season – which includes an above average Atlantic season. Earlier forecasts mentioned the strong “El Nino” effect this year that has the ability to put a brake on Atlantic hurricanes through wind shear. However, the record, unusually warm Atlantic water over-shadows the El Nino effect this year. We also link to the CSU forecast of impact probabilities for each coastal county from Maine to Texas.
Also in August, the White House sent House Speaker McCarthy a letter outlining three areas of critical needs, one of which is bolstering the Disaster Relief Fund to handle recoveries already in process and maintain preparedness for the future. We share a post written in 2019, speaking to similar issues: “Climate Chronicles II: Rising Waters; Government Response”. We also link to a related piece written at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, “Which Frog Will Boil First?”
And here we are…..
