Climate Hazards Collide with Policy Cuts: A Recap of Danger Season

Erika Spanger, Shana Udvardy, and Rachel Cleetus contributed to this post

This week in Danger Season:

• Climate extremes collide with Trump administration cuts
• Multiple flash flood records broken
• Wildfires make for bad air quality
• Hot all over
• Shocker: Fossil fuel industry doesn’t want their share of blame or costs

More on Danger Season

This week in Danger Season, the intersection of climate hazards like wildfires and flooding with harmful policies, specifically the Trump administration’s cuts to NOAA and FEMA, and the potential fossil fuel liability waiver, is causing significant challenges. In our Danger Season Weekly Outlook, we delve into these compounding hazards and what to expect in the upcoming week.

Currently, over 144 million people in the US are under a Danger Season alert. With the exception of tropical storms, all the climate change-driven extremes are actively affecting various regions in the US. Some areas are facing multiple hazards simultaneously, highlighting the collision of climate hazards and the detrimental impact of policies and politics on communities.

Heat and Floods Collide in TX, the Northeast, and Gulf Coast

• This week saw disastrous flooding, breaking numerous flash flood warning records, including the highest number of warnings issued on a single day on July 14. The year has witnessed more flash flood warnings than any other year since 1986, emphasizing the tangible impacts of climate change during Danger Season and emphasizing the need for accountability for major polluters.

Wildfires and Air Quality

• Recent wildfires in national parks like Gunnison in Colorado and Grand Canyon in Arizona have led to closures due to increased wildfire activity. The White Sage Fire in Arizona has burned over 58,000 acres and remains a concern. Additionally, wildfires in central Canada have caused hazardous air quality in the upper Midwest and Northeast, posing health risks due to high levels of particulate matter in wildfire smoke.

• Forecasts for significant fire activity remain elevated in the US and Canada, particularly in the western US and southwestern Canada.

Politics and Policies We’re Monitoring

Despite the widespread climate hazards, the current administration continues to prioritize corporate interests over community well-being. Proposed cuts to the US Forest Service budget and attempts to shield the fossil fuel industry from liability are concerning developments that could compromise safety and accountability.

• Efforts to consolidate firefighting services under a new Federal Wildland Fire Service and calls for immunity for the fossil fuel industry from accountability are alarming trends that could hinder disaster response and climate action.

Actions You Can Take Today

• Demand fossil fuel accountability: Advocate for holding polluters accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis and rejecting immunity for the fossil fuel industry.
• Demand heat protection for workers: Support initiatives like the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act to safeguard outdoor workers from extreme heat conditions.

Looking Ahead

• Unrelenting heat: Anticipate continued heat risks across the eastern US, posing threats to vulnerable populations without adequate cooling measures.
• More dangerous flood risk: Keep an eye on storm systems over the Gulf that could lead to significant rainfall and potential flooding, exacerbated by climate change-induced ocean heat.

As Danger Season progresses, the need for accountability, preparedness, and climate action becomes increasingly evident. Stay informed and engaged to protect communities and the environment.