Erika Spanger from UCS explains how climate change is fueling Hurricane Melissa and what it means for people in its path.

"At a moment when climate impacts are accelerating and disinformation is eroding trust in science, the work here continues steadfast, and that is no small feat." Read Dr. Delta Merner's blog from the IPCC meeting in Lima, Peru.

Bad day in Jamaica.

"Let’s not forget that there are those to hold accountable for disasters like this: the policymakers and fossil fuel companies who have long obstructed climate action, lied about climate science, and left communities to face the destruction of extreme disasters."

Shockingly, because of the government shutdown, the hurricane hunters are going unpaid as they risk their lives for theise data. And staff at the National Hurricane Center are also without pay as they continue to perform their critical duties during this record-breaking storm.

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 hurricane with 185 mph sustained winds. It will tie the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Atlantic recorded history based on central pressure. Follow the latest forecast here: www.hurricanes.gov

The delay in granting the disaster declaration for #Alaska after #Halong follows a disturbing trend by the Trump administration to delay requests and reimbursements and a trend of wondering, where exactly is #FEMA? blog.ucs.org/shana-udvard...

After Ex-Typhoon #Halong hit #Alaska on Oct.12 w/hurricane-force winds & floods, devastating remote villages & evacuation of ~1,800 people, Gov. Dunleavy had to fly to DC to get Pres. Trump to grant a disaster declaration unlocking $25M in critical relief. www.alaskasnewssource.com/2025/10/22/h...

On the ground reporting from Quinhagak. Not as catastrophic like further north, but still severe impacts from #halong, including 60 ft of Beach loss and the destruction of an extensive archeological dig. #alaska #flooding #erosion www.kyuk.org/public-safet...

On the ground reporting from devasted village of Nightmute, from the critical subsistence site of Umkumiut, and Toksook Bay. The brutal storm pushed salt water into many #subsistence fresh water areas. Many areas will have severe subsistence impacts #halong #alaska www.kyuk.org/public-safet...

Danger is brewing this week in the Caribbean, and it’s not just the Trump Administration's sinking of boats. In his latest blog, @decletbarreto.bsky.social calls for US climate and humanitarian aid, rather than military aggression, as Tropical Storm Melissa forms in the Caribbean: bit.ly/477G0o8

SCIENTISTS REACT 🎬 UCS nuclear experts watched the trailer for A #HouseOfDynamite, coming to Netflix this weekend, and here’s what they had to say: “I hope this film is a wake-up call.” Take action: act.ucsusa.org/4hormMp

Great news that @climatecentral.org has resurrected @noaa.gov’s Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database after the Trump administration axed it!

Will FEMA be ready for disaster response and recovery in its current hobbled state, especially when many other federal resources will literally be shut down? @ucsshana.bsky.social explores this pressing question in her latest blog.

Evidence for Democracy (E4D) recently completed a review of scientific integrity (SI) policies in the US & Canada. Its analysis revealed key criteria of SI (protections for scientists, transparent research, enforcing/normalizing SI policies) have suffered in the US since Inauguration.

The data and evidence are clear. Over the past 8 months, the egregious actions of President Trump and his enablers have caused real harm to people and communities across the country.

I couldn’t say this any better. @tomwarrickac.bsky.social not only highlights the importance of resilience but highlights failures across all levels of government and provides solid recommendation’s. www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

On 7/29, we hosted a virtual action hour featuring our experts sharing updates on the current status of funding for #NOAA and #FEMA, as well as the current timeline for the appropriations process. UCS staff then shared 3 different actions to protect funding for these critical agencies. Watch now:

Today, the EPA released a proposal that would gut the 2009 Endangerment Finding. “These actions by Lee Zeldin are anti-science and backed by the fossil fuel industry, said Chitra Kumar, Managing Director, UCS Climate & Energy campaign.

Congress must reclaim its power-of-the-purse authority to halt attacks on vital agencies and safeguards and work quickly to undo the damage already done. The answer to worsening #DangerSeason will never lie in anti-science solutions. Can we count on you to push back @lisamurkowski.bsky.social?

#KillerHeat is... killing us🌡️ 💀. The ocean is losing its cool🌊🥵. We're making a U-turn away from solutions. (!!!). BUT heat responds quickly to reduced emissions if we #ActOnClimate. #DangerSeason is baking us. And this could be the coolest summer for the rest of our lives. This is #ClimateChange

This week in #DangerSeason: #Climate extremes collide with Administration cuts; 💧multiple #FlashFlood records broken; 🔥wildfires make for bad air quality; 🥵 hot all over; ⛽SHOCKER - #FossilFuel industry doesn’t want their share of blame or costs. 🔗 bit.ly/46hUuBQ

My latest @ucs.org blog unpacks how how the Trump administration's FEMA handled the response and how local and state governments contributed to the disaster. Congress must pursue policies that build on the lessons we’ve learned from this tragedy. blog.ucs.org/shana-udvard...

This past week, millions of people were at risk from extreme heat—in the places they work or where they live and play—and protections to keep them safe offer, at best, a patchwork that leaves many vulnerable.

Update to 30. RIP globalchange.gov, June 30, 2025. I am not sure how old the site was, but it was first archived by @archive.org on August 15, 2000. (Note that this is all of the US Global Change Research Program website, not only the National Climate Assessments)

See the 2nd installment of our @ucs.org Danger Season Weekly Outlook and roundup—and a dangerous week it’s been, by @Erika Spanger, Amanda Fencl and Carlos Martinez, PhD blog.ucs.org/erika-spange...

This week, Trump's WH issued guidance on implementing its so-called “Gold Standard Science” EO—framed by Science Advisor to the President Michael Kratsios as a fix for longstanding issues in the scientific community. But as UCS President @gretchentg.bsky.social explains, it’s all a “golden facade.”

The US Climate.gov, a key public climate science website, has been shut down by the Trump administration and is now redirecting to noaa.gov/climate.

Happening NOW: #OSHA Hearings on the #heat injury and illness prevention proposed rule. UCS is #FiredUpforHeatJustice

Today as #OSHA holds its hearing on badly needed #heat protections, @NOAA forecasts dangerous levels of heat across the South & West. @UCSUSA calls for #HeatJusticeNow #JusticiaDeCalor www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Happening NOW: #OSHA Hearing on the #heat injury and illness prevention proposed rule @UCSUSA is #FiredUpforHeatJustice www.youtube.com/live/q-kYJOC...

“Mr. Trump’s pick to lead OSHA, David Keeling has also raised concerns among some workers’ health advocates. Mr. Keeling is a former health and safety executive at UPS and Amazon, and both companies have been fined for workplace safety citations, including for heat-related illnesses.”

To the scientists who shared their work and kept pressure building against the Trump Admin for 100 straight hours: thank you for your relentlessness. We owe you a future of climate safety.

My quote in this AP News article: “In 2024, NOAA was able to offer some of its most accurate weather forecasting to date for active hurricanes. These incredibly accurate forecasts were made possible by a fully funded NOAA... "

Now, let’s get serious: we need the Trump administration to nominate a FEMA administrator with real emergency management experience. Learn how Trump is making hurricane season more dangerous for millions by slashing FEMA and other agencies in our latest blog.

When asked how he expects states to handle disaster response and recovery this year when they haven’t budgeted, hired or trained staff, he essentially said take lessons from Texas and Florida

Said "I can’t remember” regarding the laws FEMA is supposed to implement and follow.

Cut FEMA staff and resources but then told remaining staff to implement the same disaster plan as last year for this hurricane season but many of those programs no longer exist. FEMA staff:

Hurricane season started last weekend—and acting FEMA head David Richardson reportedly told staff he didn’t know the US had one. Clueless? Joking? Either way, the guy running US disaster response is giving big Michael Scott energy—and that’s really bad. Some comments from his tenure:

Breaking News: A woman sued oil and gas companies over her mother’s death in a heat wave. It's the first wrongful death case targeting fossil fuel companies over their role in global warming, experts said.

"For decades, major fossil fuel companies have worked hard to bury the truth: their own research confirmed the dangers their products posed to the planet and people." In this blog, UCS Delta Merner breaks down our recent report "Decades of Deceit"

When you're living through a hurricane or extreme heat, keeping the lights can be a matter of life or death—but our power grid is woefully unprepared to meet the moment. How do we get there? Read our new report: act.ucsusa.org/4juJunq

The Trump administration is attacking NEPA—the foundational law ensuring environmental reviews and public input on federal projects. UCS’s Kristie Ellickson explains why safeguarding NEPA is crucial for science and communities.

NEW — I’ve obtained audio of new acting FEMA head David Richardson threatening staff in an all hands meeting this morning. As first reported by Reuters, he told those who resisted change in the agency, “Don’t get in my way…I will run right over you.” Listen to the clip here:

“Given the Trump administration’s actions to date,” she said in an emailed statement, “his leadership of the agency seems less focused on empowering states and more intent on abandoning them as extreme weather and climate disasters mount.” insideclimatenews.org/news/0705202...

Poisoning America: Senate advances bill overturning public health protections for 7 air pollutants that science shows are extremely toxic to human health, incl. mercury, dioxins & PCBs. House passage of the bill is expected, would mark 1st time ever Congress has weakened Clean Air Act protections.

"The administration’s devastating funding cuts and layoffs already have damaged the nation’s future by gutting its scientific foundation. If Congress passes anything resembling this budget, there will, in fact, be a whole lot more harm inflicted on the public."—UCS President @gretchentg.bsky.social

It seemed like nearly every day of the first 100 days of the Trump administration brought another attack on FEMA. UCS’s Shana Udvardy offers a rundown of some of the administration’s worst attacks on the agency, which was created to help communities prepare for and withstand catastrophic disasters.