Mmmm. Made from scratch cornbread stuffing. One of my favorite things to make for Thanksgiving

New report from @NRDC and @EDF on funding voluntary buyouts. Buyouts not only allow high-risk property owners to move somewhere safer but also the newly acquired properties can become part of the community’s longer-term climate resilience plans. www.nrdc.org/press-releas...

First step to solving a problem is recognizing we have one...a very big one. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...

Illinois AG's seeking information about State Farm's huge rate increases in Illinois. That may turn up other factors, but I told @Law360 why premiums may rise for years to come. "If our homes aren't built for the future, then homes won't be insurable in the future." www.law360.com/insurance-au...

Headquartered in Illinois, State Farm is not interested on providing data to the Illinois Department of Insurance about its insurance business. Illinois AG is going to have State Farm explain this to the courts. www.chicagobusiness.com/insurance/il...

My op-ed was published today in @crainschicago.bsky.social re: whyt Illinois must do more on risk reduction and climate resilience in order to keep homeowners insurance prices stable. One need only look to LA, CA, and FL for what happens if you don't. www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/illi...

Gilbert Gaul's recent piece in @yalee360.bsky.social should be required reading for state insurance regulators and officials who are responsible for bldg codes and land use. Where, what, and how we build today define tomorrow's problems. e360.yale.edu/features/cli...

good inspiration 50 States, 50 Fixes www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Time to circle the firing squad up. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

The administration's dismantling of risk reduction and disaster resilience programs will cost the nation dearly. My colleague, Anna Weber, makes a good case for keeping these programs. progressive.org/op-eds/disas...

Story on "beach nourishment" project in South Carolina contains all-too-predictable sentiments that illustrate the futility of these projects 1) you can't just spray sand and expect it to stick 2) identical project done in 2014 and 2018 (see 1 above) www.postandcourier.com/charleston_s...

It's quiet out there...thank goodness.

If you missed Columbia University's Climate Mobility conference in June, you can learn more about it on @americaadapts.bsky.social. www.americaadapts.org/episodes/ins...

Does that make sense to anyone? In the aftermath of a flash flood that led to 120+ fatalities? www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Beautiful Spending Bill That Makes Climate Change Worse Protects Chickens From Climate Change 🐔🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Put down you Rolex Sec. Noem. Times Up! www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/c...

As President Trump heads to Texas, let's reflect on some of his previous disaster site visits, as told in this book. www.simonandschuster.com/books/Whose-...

We've done this a couple times earlier...right? www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

I think that's what's so troubling “Without any official action,” the official said, “you’re already seeing the theory” of the administration’s new approach “taking place in Texas.” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

FEMA Administrator...I mean Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator (kinda)...nowhere to be seen. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...

Conspiracy theorists certain that weather radars operated by local tv stations are weather control devices. Not sure how we win this war of the minds. How does one correct such an amazingly off-kilter belief?

Sec Noem's personally approving any expenses in excess of $100,000 at DHS and FEMA In the wake of disasters in TX and NC, that's a lot of reviewing and not much delivery of much needed services. www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/p...

At the fireworks...people pulling in and setting up chairs and insist on leaving their headlights on. me: "Can you please turn off your headlights?" "Oh yeah, they'll turn off in a few minutes." me: "How about you turn them off now...using the switch?

Some much appreciated good news. Congratulations and thank you to @conservationfnd.bsky.social @selc.bsky.social and all who kept this mine from happening and saved one of the truly wild places in Georgia. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Like I've said before, if you have any doubts about climate change, just go to a super-boring insurance conference and listen to the super-boring panels where they dryly talk about the growing threat of disasters so catastrophic and unpredictable in scope they simply cannot be insured at any price.

If states want to follow the lead of FL, LA, and CA...they're well on their way. Risk reduction is their only way out of this downward spiral. And states could demonstrate a new model for insurance, via their FAIR plans. www.nrdc.org/bio/alfonso-...

Wild how the Fed chair saying that *entire regions of the United States* won’t be able to get a mortgage in the next decade barely registered as a news event

File under "short-sighted", "small-minded", and "predictable" www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/c...

When people complain about FEMA it’s most often that they want FEMA to be doing more (and better), not less. These comments support that.

File under "inevitable" www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...

A public comment period wrapped up in May re: the future of FEMA and its role in climate resilience and disaster recovery. @aaweber.bsky.social @nrdc.org compiled this summary of the comments. Overwhelmingly, the public doesn't seem to like the admin's direction. www.nrdc.org/sites/defaul...

File under "predictable" Cuts that DOGE and the administration sold as addressing waste, fraud, and abuse now likely to result in more waste, fraud, and abuse. US Housing Agency Vulnerable to Fraud After DOGE Cuts, Documents Warn www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Once again, the administration that insisted FEMA should do better is making sure it does worse. www.cnn.com/2025/06/04/p...

Posting this b/c I'm sure everyone could use more Los Straitjackets in their lives. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGdl...

The Trump administration is implementing changes to FEMA that keep those affected by disasters from getting the help they need. Already, states are being denied federal assistance that would have been provided just a few months ago. People and communities deserve better.

Recovery can last for years and includes removing debris, rebuilding infrastructure, and helping implement risk reduction. Wherever possible, FEMA helps communities rebuild stronger, particularly those that are under-resourced, underserved, and disproportionately affected by disasters.

Their response ranges from arranging emergency food and shelter to providing resources and expertise for emergency repairs to protecting critical community lifelines like hospitals, water plants, bridges, and power lines.

If the president issues a disaster declaration, FEMA mobilizes staff and financial resources, and assumes the responsibility of coordinating the various federal, state, and local agencies involved.

Before a disaster, FEMA provides training and education for first responders and emergency managers; establishes guidelines and approves risk reduction plans and provides funding to help communities reduce their risks to future disasters and enhance their climate resilience.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the U.S.’s leading agency for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. It was established in 1979 after it became clear that certain disasters were well beyond what state and local governments could handle.

The unravelling of the national disaster safety net is already affecting a lot of people and will likely impact millions more as we move through hurricane and wildfire season. States and communities may find that they're on their own after a disaster.

The president who thought FEMA could do better is making sure the agency does even worse subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...

We're probably past the point where runaway sea level rise occurs. Good summer to rent (don't buy) a place on the beach...before it's gone. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

There are so many actions this administration is taking that are deeply troubling. But many have this in common: they're simply throwing away people, expertise, experience, capacity, and capabilities that the nation will sorely miss. And barely making a dent in the federal budget.

Note : Floodplain mapping

Not the most reassuring headline... www.cnn.com/2025/05/15/p...

Today @nrdc.org filed comments with the administration, detailing how their actions have unraveled the nation's disaster safety net and set back climate resilience. Their actions are degrading federal emergency management capacity, and state and local gov'ts. www.nrdc.org/bio/rob-moor...

People won't know it's gone until they wonder where their post disaster assistance is.

Lean, efficient (despite challenges), cost effective, performs critical functions essential to all aspects of federal gov't. Not enough to be spared DOGE's and the administration's cuts. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/u...