"Disaster survivors are having to wait longer to get aid from the federal government, according to a new Associated Press analysis of decades of data. On average, it took less than two weeks for a governor’s request for a presidential disaster declaration to be granted in the 1990s and early 2000s. ... It’s taking more than a month, on average, so far during Trump’s current term, the AP found."
"The smoke from the wildfires that burned through Los Angeles in January smelled like plastic and was so thick that it hid the ocean. Firefighters who responded developed instant migraines, coughed up black goo and dropped to their knees, vomiting and dizzy."
"Federal scientists and engineers working to prevent deadly disasters and the spread of disease in miners could soon lose their jobs, even as President Donald Trump moves to supercharge U.S. production of coal and critical minerals."
"More than a quarter of U.S. homes — worth a combined $12.7 trillion — are exposed to “severe or extreme climate risk,” according to a new Realtor.com analysis. The report examined threats from wildfires, floods and wind damage — hazards that have been top of mind after a string of recent disasters."
"In March 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law meant to curb “frivolous lawsuits” that he said were raising insurance rates for consumers while enriching predatory lawyers and scaring off insurance carriers. But a new analysis suggests the law — which has served as a model for other states — may have benefited insurance companies more than it has protected consumers."
"As climate change exacerbates the risks of extreme heat across California, the state’s prison officials plan to embark on a $38 million pilot project to figure out how to keep their prison cells cool."
"In the rush to put out wildfires, hundreds of millions of litres of fire retardant are dropped on forests across North America. New research shows the effects they can have on water and ecosystems — especially when accidents happen"
"For decades, the dry season in the Amazon rainforest has been getting drier. A new study, published on Tuesday, found that about 75 percent of the decrease in rainfall is directly linked to deforestation."
"Democratic members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told lawmakers Wednesday that it’s a possibility they could be fired by President Donald Trump at any moment for their regulatory decisions, while questioning recent White House executive orders to accelerate reactor design approvals."
"As oily rain fell on Roseland, where 90% of kids live in poverty, the Trump administration is considering gutting chemical-disaster safeguards."
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