From the WashPost, this article about the complexities of using the existing hurricane scale and of changes proposed: Creation of a New Hurricane Scale Worries Some Scientists.
New Hurricane Scales Worry Some Scientists
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“Why Is Congress So Dumb?”
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.
Effects of Shutdown of FEMA Contractors
Camp Fire in CA Was Most Expensive Disaster Worldwide in 2018
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.
Cost of Disasters in 2018
From MunichRe: The natural disasters of 2018 in figures. Losses in 2018 dominated by wildfires and tropical storms
How Big Hardware Chains Deal With Disasters
From Business Insider website: An analyst breaks down how natural disasters like hurricanes and fires impact Home Depot and Lowe’s
Effects of Shutdown
Federal Shutdown Fears: Loss of Scientific Data, Research Delays. National Hurricane Center staff would normally be working on forecast improvements: ‘We can’t do any research and development for the next hurricane season.’
Even though the ideology of President Donald Trump’s administration has been to deny climate science, communities across the country and institutions around the world have continued to rely on the U.S. government to grapple with the climate crisis. Whether it’s dealing with the devastating impacts of global warming, or supporting research efforts to better understand it, the government shutdown has abruptly stymied that work.
Update: Scientists despair as US government shutdown drags on. Space missions can continue to collect data, but thousands of federal researchers are forced to stay at home without pay.
Thanks to Chris Jones for this citation.
Trump Threatens to Cut Off CA Fire Recovery Money
President Trump says he’s cutting off FEMA money for California fires
President Donald Trump on Wednesday again threatened to cut off federal funds to fight California wildfires, claiming the money is being wasted. “Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen,” Trump tweeted. “Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., replied, saying Trump’s “threat insults the memory of scores of Americans who perished in wildfires last year & thousands more who lost their homes.”
Update: From the Guardian: Trump’s threat to cut California wildfire relief leaves state officials baffled. “He criticized the state for ‘forest management’, a claim that was debunked and admonished the last time he made it.”
Update on Jan.11th: From Snopes, a factchecking site: Fact Check FEMA Order re CA Wildfires.
Destabilizing Effects of Shutdown
Trump’s Long Shutdown Could Destabilize the World.Political dysfunction is about more than which party is winning. The international system is depending on Washington’s leadership.
In the long run, the national commitment to effective government and meaningful regulation is necessary and unavoidable. Eroding it by a long-term shutdown will be costly — not today or tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of our lives.
State of Emergency Powers
Article in Atlantic Magazine: What the President Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency. From seizing control of the internet to declaring martial law, President Trump may legally do all kinds of extraordinary things.
Recovery Diva 