Amid an epoch-making year of environmental crises, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unveiling a $3 billion stimulus on Monday to bolster community defenses against the unstoppable march of climate change and the increasingly extreme weather it engenders. This funding injection, authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure legislation endorsed by Congress last year, comes on the heels of the agency's dwindling catastrophe-relief funds and the looming threat of a powerful hurricane bearing down on Florida. To stop FEMA's coffers from running dry, Congress needs to green-light additional spending when they reconvene.
The infrastructure legislation set aside enormous sums to aid communities in toughening their defenses against the consequences of global warming, such as intensifying storms and surging sea levels. Deanne Criswell, FEMA Administrator, emphasizes the beneficial return of investment in resilience. Criswell asserts, “Every dollar that we spend in resilience - like this money right here - saves us $6 in response and recovery costs.”
She expounds on the benefits of this resilience funding, distinct from the Disaster Relief Fund, which is on the brink of depletion following an unprecedented number of billion-dollar disasters and the impending Florida hurricane. The new funding will diminish the complexity and costs of recovery efforts, leading to significant savings for the Disaster Relief Fund.
Anticipating a funds shortage "toward the middle of September," Criswell urges Congress to provide supplementary funding. However, political divisions loom, threatening to spark disputes over disaster funding expand to include additional funding for Ukraine.
Furthermore, lack of action could impede FEMA's response to future Atlantic hurricanes and retard long-term post-disaster recovery efforts, as well as jeopardize timely responses to recent crises, such as the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Hilary in California.
For Criswell and her team, the key is ensuring enough reserves for life-saving initiatives. The hope is that this significant influx of funds will help bolster community resilience in light of spiralling climate change impacts.
In a groundbreaking move, FEMA will fund resilience measures against extreme heat, including a unique project in Portland, Oregon aimed at planting 10,500 trees over three years. The project aims to mitigate urban heat islands, increase shade, and better manage flooding from heavy rainfall.
Other beneficiaries of the fund includes projects to reinforce Jefferson Parish's grid in Louisiana, upgrade Detroit’s sewer mains, and safeguard Nevada's Hobart Creek Reservoir Dam. Also, the relief will facilitate 149 projects in 28 states and the District of Columbia through its flood mitigation program.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas paid tribute to the "first responders when extreme weather events unfold, the frontline builders of our nation’s resilience to the impacts of climate change."
Climate resilience is a centerpiece of President Biden's strategy, with a total of $50 billion set aside for resilience and adaptation in the infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act.
Criswell concludes, underscoring the constant vigilance required to counter climate change. “We have to make sure that we are working with our teams every day to be able to address the severe weather events happening year-round, as these are no longer confined to the traditional storm seasons.”
