Fresh Air Rising Floods, Cuts To FEMA And Future Chaos
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Jul 16, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Abrahm Lustgarten, Editor-at-Large at ProPublica and a key voice on climate change, highlights the devastating floods in Texas and the urgent need for better disaster preparedness. He warns against federal budget cuts to agencies like FEMA, jeopardizing support during crises. Lustgarten connects worsening weather patterns to mounting climate challenges, emphasizing the economic impact of inaction and the looming threat of climate migration. His insights shed light on the precarious intersection of policy, environment, and community resilience.
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Floods Worsen with Climate Change
- Flooding is the deadliest disaster in the US and is intensifying due to climate change.
- A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, causing mega rain events and extreme floods.
Policy Cuts Weaken Disaster Response
- Cuts to FEMA and the National Weather Service threaten disaster response capacity.
- We're seeing policy degradation just as climate disasters increase in frequency and severity.
Maintain FEMA Funding Support
- Don't remove FEMA funding abruptly; states heavily depend on it for disaster response.
- Build stronger state disaster systems gradually while maintaining federal support.
