Head of FEMA Links ‘Historic’ Destruction from Helene to Climate Crisis
Deanne Criswell, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has made a significant statement linking the severe flooding and subsequent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene to the climate emergency. According to Criswell, rising temperatures in the Gulf are creating conditions that lead to “significant infrastructure damage” affecting a multi-state area.
While the worst of Hurricane Helene is believed to have passed, recovery efforts are in full swing in numerous communities. The aftermath of the storm has been devastating, with at least 62 people losing their lives and millions left without power.
Helene, now classified as a post-tropical cyclone, is expected to linger over the Tennessee Valley through the weekend, as forecasted by the National Hurricane Center. Criswell, speaking on CBS’s Face The Nation, described Helene as a “true multi-state event,” highlighting the “historic flooding” that occurred.
The FEMA head explained how the storm intensified rapidly due to the warm waters in the Gulf, leading to more storms reaching major category levels. She pointed out that the warm waters are causing greater storm surge in coastal areas and increased rainfall as storms move northward.
In the past, hurricanes primarily caused wind damage, but Criswell noted a shift towards more water damage due to the impact of climate change. She emphasised the complexity of the recovery process across the five affected states – Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper reported that efforts are ongoing to restore normalcy in affected communities, although the death toll of 11 in the state is expected to rise. The state is facing challenges such as communities being cut off and numerous incidents of flooding and landslides.
Authorities are working tirelessly to save lives, provide supplies, restore communications, and reintroduce power and transport systems. Despite the challenges, Cooper expressed determination to improve the situation as quickly as possible through ongoing relief efforts.
As the impact of the storm continues to unfold, FEMA and other agencies are focused on aiding communities, assessing damages, and providing assistance to affected families. The collective effort to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene underscores the urgent need for climate action and disaster preparedness in the face of increasingly severe weather events.