A fascinating analysis with compelling graphics: see The ecological disaster that is Trump’s border wall: a visual guide. New sections of wall will cut through a Texas wildlife refuge and the habitat of beautiful cats.

NOAA team sees Florence and Michael storm surge devastation first-hand
Did storm surge watches & warnings make a difference?

The shutdown will harm the health and safety of Americans, even after it’s long over

As the shutdown draws on, it increasingly weakens the government’s ability to protect Americans down the road, long after federal workers are allowed to go back to work. Many of these effects are largely invisible and may feel intangible because they don’t currently affect specific individuals. However, the shutdown poses a very real threat to preparedness for future emergencies, such as natural disasters and disease outbreaks. It also damages the government’s ability to recruit and retain the experts needed to work at the cutting edge of public health.

Here’s How the Shutdown Hurts Government Contractors

California storms threaten mudslides in communities hit by fires. Evacuation orders have been issued as storms could unleash flows of mud, boulders and debris.

The other set of stories unfolding have to do with the holdup of disaster relief by the President and the furlough effects. More to come on this topic.

Trump ‘weaponized’ disaster aid against political opponents

Thanks to Ed Thomas for this citation.

This is a compelling, essentially structural rather than partisan analysis: Why is Congress so dumb? We lawmakers dumped our in-house experts. Now lobbyists do the thinking for us.

After decades of disinvesting in itself, Congress has become captured by outside interests and partisans. Lawmakers should be guided by independent scholars, researchers and policy specialists. We must recognize our difficulties in comprehending an impossibly complex world. Undoing the mindless destruction of 1994 will take a lot of effort, but with investment, we can make Congress work again.

Note that the author is a congressman from N.J.

From the WashPost: Hundreds of FEMA contractors ordered to halt work as government shutdown drags on

California’s Camp Fire Was The Most Expensive Natural Disaster Worldwide In 2018
The state’s deadliest fire ever was also the world’s costliest catastrophe in 2018.

From MunichRe: The natural disasters of 2018 in figures. Losses in 2018 dominated by wildfires and tropical storms