Federal Report Says Sandy Recovery Spending Must Account for Future Climate Change

The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, a presidentially appointed group in charge of coordinating rebuilding efforts in the states devastated by last year's storm, yesterday issued a report stressing the need to take climate change into account when investing federal funds in disaster recovery.

While the rebuilding strategy ensures that residents of New York and New Jersey have the federal aid they need to build more resilient communities, the report does not include a recommendation to provide additional federal revenue to invest in resilience efforts in other communities vulnerable to storms, floods, drought, heat waves, and wildfires.

Because of lack of funds, some states have not adequately invested in community resilience.  In the wake of the tornados in Moore, Oklahoma, the New York Times reported that, “only about 10 percent of homes in Moore” had storm-safe rooms or underground shelters.

Federal Report Says Sandy Recovery Spending Must Account for Future Climate Change