From CNN: Here’s why the US has more tornadoes than any other country. This article explains why the U.S. leads every other country for tornadoes

From the Congressional Research Service, this new, 5 page report: Climate Change, Slow-Onset Disasters, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency

The United States is already experiencing certain effects of climate change, including high temperature extremes and heavy precipitation events. The U.S. Global Change Research Program, among other bodies, expects these trends to continue and intensify, likely resulting in more severe and frequent “slow-onset” events (e.g., drought; sea level rise), compound disasters (e.g., extreme rainfall combined with coastal flooding), and cascading events (e.g., mudslides caused by flooding after wildfires). Such events may not have clearly defined start or end dates, and cumulative damage may not be immediately apparent

From HSNW: Texas’ First-Ever Statewide Flood Plan Estimates 5 Million Live in Flood-Prone Areas.

“The state’s flood plan shows which Texans are most at risk of flooding and suggests billions of dollars more are needed for flood mitigation projects. Texas plans to reduce the risk for those people by recommending solutions to harden Texas against floods and rising sea levels.

More than 5 million Texans, or one in six people in the state, live or work in an area susceptible to flooding, according to a draft of the state’s first-ever flood plan.”

From The Conversation: Who is displaced by tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters tells a story of vulnerability and recovery challenges in America

“Decades of disaster research, including from our team at the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center, make at least two things crystal clear: First, people’s social circumstances – such as the resources available to them, how much they can rely on others for help, and challenges they face in their daily life – can lead them to experience disasters differently compared to others affected by the same event. And second, disasters exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.

This research also shows how disaster recovery is a social process. Recovery is not a “thing,” but rather it is linked to how we talk about recovery, make decisions about recovery and prioritize some activities over others.”

From the WashPost: Louisiana’s coast is sinking. Advocates say the governor is undermining efforts to save it.

“For the past decade, Louisiana’s program for coastal protection has been hailed as one of the best in the country, after the devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita pushed the state to shore up coastlines, repair levees and protect natural habitats.

But now, environmental advocates and experts say the state’s new Republican governor is undermining its coastal protection agency — the state’s first and strongest line of defense against climate change-induced sea level rise. In an open letter published this week and signed by more than 200 business leaders, environmental advocates and other experts, various groups warned against Gov. Jeff Landry’s plans to transform the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

“The very future of our state is at stake,” the letter read.”

From Fox News in Houston TX: FEMA disaster relief: New aid, streamlined application process for storm victims.

“…For the thousands of people who have been devastated by this month’s floods and storms, new help is available from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

This year, FEMA announced its biggest changes in 20 years to create more flexibility for people who need financial assistance after a disaster.”

From the WashPost: Months after Maui Fires, Health Problems Persist.
A new report details respiratory ailments, mental health conditions and lack of access to medical care following the deadly fire in Lahaina in August.

From TheConversation: Wildfire smoke is back – fires burning across Canada are already triggering US air quality alerts in the Midwest and Plains

“The North American Seasonal Fire Assessment and Outlook for May through July highlights drought conditions in western Canada and Central America and higher than normal fire risk in both regions. It also notes the challenge of forecasting fire risk for later in the year as the El Niño climate pattern transitions to La Niña in late summer.”

From CNN.com: How Deanne Criswell blazed a trail from fighting fires to running FEMA. An excerpt:

“She joined FEMA during the Obama administration, helping to oversee the agency’s response to natural disasters across the country. In 2019, she became the first woman to lead New York City’s Emergency Management Department, where — less than a year into the job — she helped navigate the city through the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, as FEMA’s top official, Criswell hopes her unorthodox career path will encourage others to seize opportunities and take professional risks.”

A special edition of Issues is titled On the Front Lines of Change: Reporting from the Gulf of Mexico. Several articles dealing with findings from research on past Gulf Coast disasters.

On the Front Lines of Change: Reporting From the Gulf of Mexico