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☆ Rising temperatures and floods leave cities with hefty bills. Startups are working to help them adapt to climate risks.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

All of this has given rise to climate adaptation, a sector that aims to mitigate against and adapt to the risks associated with climate change. For James Brennan and Navjit Sagoo, two of the scientists behind climate risk analytics startup Climate X, it is imperative that adaption efforts go hand in hand with those working to curb rising temperatures. Indeed, Bank of America analysts predicted the climate adaptation industry would be worth $2 trillion a year by 2026. Climate X made its calculations based on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's RCP8.5 scenario, which has been deemed to be a "very high" baseline for emissions. Mike Segar/ReutersAll hands on deckThe need for climate adaptation is clear but often overlooked until an extreme weather event occurs, according to Landesman and Chaudhury.

Persons: —, James Brennan, Navjit Sagoo, Abrar Chaudhury, Autarc, Bill Gates, Tucker Landesman, Helge Jørgensen, Mike Segar, Brennan, Sagoo Organizations: Service, Business, Bank of America, Climate, X, Deloitte, University of Oxford's, Business School, New York Times, New, London, Fabian Society, Tech, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Management, Air, International Institute for Environment, Development Locations: London, New York City, New York, California, Autarc , Massachusetts, Medellin, Colombia, Europe, PitchBook, Mamaroneck, Westchester County , New York, U.S

☆ Trinidad and Tobago declares ‘national emergency’ as oil spill from mystery vessel pollutes beaches
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Abel Alvarado | Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An overturned vessel has caused a huge oil spill along Trinidad and Tobago’s coastline, in what the Caribbean country’s prime minister described as a “national emergency” on Sunday. The spill occurred on February 7 off the southern shores of the Tobago Island, according to the country’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM). Prime Minister Keith Rowley said in a news conference Sunday that “the situation is not under control.” The origins of the vessel have not yet been identified, he added. An oil spill in Tobago Island, Trinidad and Tobago, is seen in this handout photo released February 10, 2024 Office of the Chief Secretary/ReutersWorkers clean up an oil spill on Rockly Bay beach in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago, on February 10, 2024. Akash Boodan/APThe oil spill, pictured on February 10, covered about 15 kilometers (about 9 miles) of the coastline in black residue.

Persons: Keith Rowley, ” Rowley, Farley Augustine, –, ” Augustine, Akash Boodan, Clement Williams, Lambeau, Augustine Organizations: CNN, Caribbean country’s, country’s, Disaster Preparedness, Management, ” Authorities, Assembly, Officials, Reuters Workers, Getty, Residents Locations: Trinidad, Tobago’s, Tobago, Tobago Island, Trinidad and Tobago, Scarborough, AFP

Nearly half of all flash flood deaths are vehicle-related, experts say, which is why you should never drive into a flooded street. Here’s what to do in advance — and in the moment — to get through a flash flood safely. A “flash flood warning” means a flash flood is imminent or already occurring, and you should immediately move to higher ground if you’re outside or in a basement apartment. The most dire alert is a “flash flood emergency,” which indicates that not only is flooding occurring, but it’s posing a severe threat to human life. “People need to realize that most people who lose their footing in a flash flood don’t get out,” she said.

Persons: there’s, ”, Bonnie Schneider, Schneider, it’s, Hurricane Ida, You’ll, Ready.gov, David Markenson, ‘ It’s, Sabine Marx, I’m, Julie Munger, Munger, “, Dr, Markenson, you’re, don’t, they’re, Ms, Lynn Burttschell, Burttschell, Eugene Resnick, ’, ” Susan Shain Organizations: National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cross Training Services, Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Sierra Rescue, FEMA, Wimberley, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York Times Locations: United States, New York City, New York, Madison, Wis

☆ Prepping for America's Collapse: Inside an Off-the-Grid Utah Homestead
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Evan Malmgren | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

The folks at Riverbed Ranch have answered these questions decisively, embracing a radical turn toward self-reliance and small-scale sustainability. He founded Riverbed Ranch after losing power during a winter storm. Gleason's wife, Colleen, said of Riverbed residents in a 2021 TV interview : "Most of them tend to be prepper types." AdvertisementGleason envisions Riverbed Ranch as a safe environment for families: "This is about the kids." "The American idea that we're going to go on forever is naive at best," Fisher told me.

Persons: Jesse Fisher's, Fisher, Philip Gleason, they'd, Gleason, Jesse Fisher, of Jesus Christ, Elon, Blonquist Gleason, " Gleason, Colleen, bristled, Priscilla Hart, Hart, you've, Sarah Vezzani, —, Vezzani, Lance Pope, Brittany Organizations: Apple Watch, of Jesus, dodgers, Fox News, Pew Research, Rockies Locations: Utah, Ukraine, Gaza, Idaho, Ogden , Utah, Ogden, Nebraska, America, Arizona, Santaquin , Utah

Summary Ten leading development banks sign joint statementTo deepen collaboration across multiple themesNo mention of phasing out fossil fuel financingDUBAI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Ten of the world's top development banks pledged to step up their climate efforts at the COP28 summit, yet failed to say anything about halting financing for fossil fuel projects, a document seen by Reuters showed. In a statement to be announced at the event in Dubai, the group, including the World Bank and regional peers, said the window of opportunity to secure a liveable planet was "rapidly closing". A new, joint Long-term Strategies Program, hosted by the World Bank, would coordinate support to help countries and sub-national entities develop plans around issues including decarbonisation and climate resilience. The group also pledged to help countries set up platforms to encourage a "collectively reinforcing combination" of support including around policy reform, finance and technical assistance. The banks planned to scale up finance to help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change, including through boosting support for disaster risk management, disaster preparedness and capacity building.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Reuters, World Bank, United Nations, European Investment Bank, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai, Glasgow

☆ Why countries are choosing to build new cities in places at high risk of worsening floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Researchers analyzed global flood hazard datasets and annual settlement footprint data covering the three decades between 1985 and 2015 to understand the populations most affected by flood risk. They found over this period, as the world’s settlements grew by 85%, urbanization happened much more rapidly in high-hazard flood zones than in areas with low flood risk. In 2015, more than 11% of built-up areas globally faced high or very high flood risk, meaning areas at risk of flooding depths of at least 50 cm (17 inches) during 1-in-100-year flooding events, according to the report. Upper-middle income countries had the largest proportion of new human settlements in the highest flood risk zones, the report found. “This is concerning as development patterns are enhancing risk without climate change – climate change will further exacerbate these risks in the future.”

Persons: ”, Paolo Avner, Netherlands –, Molave, Manan Vatsyayana, Robert Nicholls Organizations: CNN, World Bank, Municipal, University of East Locations: East Asia, North America, Saharan Africa, China, Japan, Netherlands, Vietnam, Hoi, AFP, Southwest Florida, University of East Anglia

☆ The White House blasts Marjorie Taylor Greene for risking Americans' 'high stakes needs' by saying she'll only vote to fund the government if Congress moves forward on impeaching Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she will not fund the government without an impeachment inquiry on Biden. The White House released a statement criticizing her for risking a government shutdown. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. "I've already decided I will not vote to fund the government unless we have passed an impeachment inquiry on Joe Biden," Greene said during her town hall. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 31, 2023The White House was not thrilled to hear those remarks from Greene.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden, Joe Biden, I've, Greene, Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 ( Organizations: Service, GOP, Ukraine, COVID, Lawmakers, — Locations: Wall, Silicon, Georgia

☆ Personal emergency kits are a growing market in an uncertain world
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Ripple effects from international incidents also affect the US emergency kit market. “More people are thinking about (emergency preparedness) and those that always have been are spending more.”Federal data backs it up. Many experts say while buying emergency kits might be helpful, the most important preparedness actions will not hurt your wallet. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty ImagesCrager warns people who choose to purchase extensive disaster kits should not be lulled into a false sense of security. It’s one of the most important steps we can take.”For more information on FEMA disaster preparedness recommendations, visit www.ready.gov.

Persons: ”, Trevyn Reese, Reese, Hilary, Bryan Woolston, Joel Stuart, “, Christian Schauf, Stuart, Lea Crager, FEMA’s, you’re, Patrick T, Fallon, ” Schauf, ‘, Jeff Schlegelmilch Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Ready, Hardware, Walmart, Tropical, Reuters Sirius Survival, Supply, Amazon, Sirius, Norfolk Southern, Federal, Preparedness Survey, FEMA, Getty, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University Locations: New York, California, Cathedral City , California, Hawaii, Norfolk, East Palestine , Ohio, North Korea, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Lahaina , Hawaii, AFP, www.ready.gov

Emergency sirens on Maui, part of Hawaii's decades-old early warning system, never sounded. But authorities are finding existing emergency alert systems insufficient for these new threats - sometimes with deadly results. NEW CHALLENGESAcross much of the world, warning systems for natural disasters have not evolved in response to climate change, according to Schlegelmilch. While each locality faces a distinctive threat landscape and needs a unique warning system, disaster management experts see some solutions that can be applied everywhere. The county also acquired a warning system that can send alerts to cellphones, fixed phone lines, emails - and even fax machines.

Persons: Mike Blake, Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, Chris Gregg, Adam Weintraub, Bill Parker, Parker, Mike Chard, Chard, Laura Brewington, Julia Harte, Brad Brooks, Paul Thomasch, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Climate, East Tennessee State University, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, U.S . National Weather Service, Boulder Office, Disaster, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Canada, Vermont, United States, Columbia, Jackson , Mississippi, Colorado's, Boulder, Boulder . Boulder, Chard, Boulder County, Pacific

☆ Hawaii's emergency siren warning system was silent during Maui wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Hawaii residents have long been accustomed to the monthly tests of the outdoor siren warning system. “Maui County faced a challenging, rapidly changing situation, and I think they did everything possible to save lives. Period.’Video Ad Feedback Video shows family's terrifying escape from Maui wildfires 01:18 - Source: CNNThe fire spread with such speed that many people left their homes immediately with little notice from authorities, Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura said. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/AP Burnt boats sit in waters off of Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday. Phonoxaylinkham, his wife, and their five children were caught in the Lahaina wildfires and survived by exiting their car and spending four hours in the ocean as the west Maui wildfires raged around them.

Persons: Cole Millington, ” Millington, ”, Millington, …, –, Adam Weintraub, ” Weintraub, Weintraub, “, Allen Vu, Vu, Anne Lopez, Jill Tokuda, Karl Kim, Brad Ventura, ” Ventura, John Pelletier, Josh Green, Clay Trauernicht, Wedelin, Lee, Matthew Thayer, Patrick Fallon, Justin Sullivan, Rick Bowmer, Mike Blake, Zoltan Balogh, Zeran Harris, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Patrick T, Fallon, Dustin Johnson, Lane, ” Kim, Brock Long, ‘, Rachel Zimmerman Organizations: CNN, Lahaina, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, CNN Hawaii, National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, University of Hawaii, Maui County Fire, Maui County Police, Gov, Communication, National Weather Service, “, Maui Fire Department, Facebook, Firefighter, Fire Department, Maui News, AP Pacific Whale Foundation, Getty, Hawaii Department of Land, Natural Resources, Reuters, . Hawaii Department of Land, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Kahului, Technologies, AP Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Lahaina . Millington, Maui, “, Hawaii, Lahaina, Millington, Maui County, Manoa, Honolulu, Olinda, Kula, Hanamu, Piʻiholo, Lahaina Bypass, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Lahaina , Hawaii, Maalaea, West Maui, AFP, Wailuku, Upcountry, Waiola, Kula , Hawaii, Kahului, California, Las Vegas, Kihei

☆ The Once and Future Climate Emergency
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Amanda Taub | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One key insight from the PEPFAR results was that efficiency isn’t enough on its own; leaders need political support to carry out policies, too. Often, the most dollar-for-dollar efficient policies aren’t the ones that excite people — especially when leaders need political momentum for quick action (and funding). But combining efficient policies and those that have strong political appeal can have a powerful effect. Treatment drew greater political support and unlocked additional funding, allowing PEPFAR to ultimately save far more lives than if it were focused only on prevention. One paper, for instance, found that voters reward politicians for delivering emergency relief for natural disasters, but not for investing in natural-disaster preparedness — even though $1 spent on preparedness was worth approximately $15 in emergency response.

Persons: PEPFAR, you’re, ”, Yotam Margalit Organizations: Tel Aviv University

☆ US official visits Taiwan to discuss US-hosted APEC meetings
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, June 30 (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official charged with handling ties with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) bloc visited Taiwan this week for talks on his country's plans to host the grouping this year, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei said on Friday. APEC is one of the few international organisations to which Chinese-claimed Taiwan belongs, since Beijing, which views the island as a Chinese province, and not a country, blocks its participation in most others. Against the backdrop of military tension between Beijing and Taipei, past APEC summits have served as a rare conduit for direct engagement between Taiwan and China, which is also a member. The U.S. official, Matt Murray, visited Taiwan on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss with senior officials issues related to APEC and the robust U.S.-Taiwan economic relationship, the American Institute in Taiwan said in a brief statement. Chang had a brief conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the time, and also discussed semiconductors with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

Persons: Matt Murray, Murray, Morris Chang, Chang, Xi Jinping, Kamala Harris, Ben Blanchard, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: U.S, Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S ., American Institute, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Asia, Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing, China, Seattle, San Francisco, Bangkok

CNN —Western Myanmar is being battered by strong winds and heavy rain after Cyclone Mocha made landfall on the Bay of Bengal coastline Sunday. Local residents check the damages after Cyclone Mocha's crashed ashore in Kyauktaw in Myanmar's Rakhine state on May 14, 2023. Two children stand under a roadside shelter to protect from rain before Cyclone Mocha hits in Sittwe, Rakhine State, on Sunday, May 14, 2023. APTropical Cyclone Mocha has intensified to the equivalent of a category 5 Atlantic hurricane. Most live in bamboo and tarpaulin shelters perched on hilly slopes that are vulnerable to strong winds, rain, and landslides.

Since forming in the Bay of Bengal early Thursday, tropical Cyclone Mocha has intensified to a high-end Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, with sustained winds of 240kph (150mph). Tropical cyclones (also known as hurricanes, typhoons and tropical storms depending on ocean basin and intensity), feed off ocean heat. They need temperatures of at least around 27 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit Fahrenheit) to form, and the warmer the ocean, the more moisture they can take up. The waters in the Bay of Bengal are currently around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit Fahrenheit), about 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than average for May. Climate-change fueled sea-level rise adds to the risks, worsening storm surges from tropical cyclones and allowing them to travel further inland.

☆ Racial Disparities are worsening disaster recovery for people of color. With climate change, things could get worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Lauren Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Rolling Fork, Mississippi suffered massive damage from a powerful tornado on March 24. Racial disparities existed in Rolling Fork for decades. She started I-DIEM after spending over 14 years in disaster management. Shirley Stamps stands in the rubble of her home in the aftermath of the Rolling Fork tornado. And increasingly, non-profits are doing things differently to address racial disparities in disaster management.

If a nuclear attack were headed toward the US, residents would have fewer than 30 minutes to prepare. Russian Presidential Press Service/APA nuclear attack remains highly unlikely, but it's not out of the question, experts say. Redlener said the best way to learn of an impending nuclear attack would probably be TV or radio. Survivors of a nuclear attack would have about 15 minutes before sandlike radioactive particles, known as nuclear fallout, reached the ground. A sign for a nuclear fallout shelter on a residential block in Brooklyn.

☆ Fact Check-‘Catastrophic Contagion’ video is fictional and does not support claims about pandemic preparedness exercises
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Baseless claims that pandemic preparedness exercises are proof that disease outbreaks are “planned” by authorities have been a recurring narrative since the coronavirus pandemic broke out. These fictional scenarios go beyond infectious diseases, as such exercises also exist for natural disasters or nuclear events, for example. These rules, that are binding for WHO members, set out countries’ obligations when handling public health events and emergencies that could potentially cross borders (here) (here). Otherwise, we will be unprepared for the next infectious disease event. Experts told Reuters that preparedness exercises like “Catastrophic Contagion” have been a part of pandemic preparedness for at least the last two decades.

☆ How to stay safe in an extreme solar flare, where the sun bombards Earth with radiation and magnetic havoc
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Stay safe during a solar storm by preparing to lose power, printing out maps, and staying off planes. What is a solar flare and how do they affect Earth? CMEs primarily affect the magnetosphere, jostling Earth's magnetic field lines in an event called a geomagnetic storm, also known as a solar storm. NASAGetting ready for the possibility of a major solar flare isn't that different from getting ready for any other disaster. If you follow the basics of disaster preparedness, you'll probably be ready for a solar flare.

☆ How to survive a nuclear bomb attack: Minute-by-minute steps to protect yourself
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Aria Bendix | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

If a nuclear bomb were headed toward the US, residents would have 30 minutes or less to shelter. Russian Presidential Press Service/APA nuclear attack remains highly unlikely, but it's not out of the question, experts say. Redlener said the best way to learn of an impending nuclear attack would probably be TV or radio. Survivors of a nuclear attack would have about 15 minutes before sandlike radioactive particles, known as nuclear fallout, reached the ground. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends staying indoors for at least 24 hours after a nuclear explosion.

☆ Alex Jones' billion-dollar judgement: The conspiracy theorist has turned career-ending setbacks into profit windfalls, but this could be too much to overcome
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Ashley Collman | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Robbie Parker was later falsely called a crisis actor, and the Parkers are among those who sued Alex Jones for defamation. Longtime informal adviser to Donald Trump, Roger Stone (right), and and Alex Jones (left) speak to reporters in December 2018. Picture showing a computer screen displaying the Twitter account of Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones taken on August 15, 2018 in Washington DC. "Alex Jones is likely to continue being Alex Jones, which means he's likely to try all kinds of shenanigans to avoid accountability," said Holt. "The money awarded in damages does not repair what Alex Jones has done to those parents' lives, but it could be a step towards dismantling the toxic empire that Alex Jones has built around his brand."

☆ Flint residents reported high rates of depression, PTSD years after water crisis
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Carma Hassan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —In a new study, researchers say that the experiences of residents of Flint, Michigan, show that environmental disasters like the water crisis can have long-term consequences for mental health. Flint residents reported changes to the water’s color, smell and taste soon after the city turned to the Flint River as a water source in April 2014. Researchers found that 1 in 5 Flint residents met the criteria for presumptive major depression, 1 in 4 for presumptive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and more than 1 in 10 for both disorders. Eight years after the water crisis began in Flint – even with new pipes and a different water source – some city residents recently told CNN they still don’t trust the water. In a statement, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health said community mental health centers can provide therapy, peer support and intensive outpatient programs for people in need of psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment.

☆ A nuclear attack would most likely target one of these 6 US cities — but an expert says none of them are prepared
▼ + stars: | 2019-12-17 | by ( Aria Bendix | Taylor Ardrey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A nuclear attack on US soil would most likely target one of six cities: New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Washington, DC. A nuclear attack in a large metropolitan area is one of the 15 disaster scenarios for which the US Federal Emergency Management Agency has an emergency strategy. That includes the six urban areas that Redlener thinks are the most likely targets of a nuclear attack: New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. "Can you imagine a public official keeping buildings intact for fallout shelters when the real-estate market is so tight?" Both experts agreed that for a city to be prepared for a nuclear attack, it must acknowledge that such an attack is possible — even if the threat is remote.

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