There have been a record 25 weather and climate-related natural disasters in the U.S. so far this year that have each caused at least $1 billion in damages—floods, wildfires, drought, severe storms and even a tropical cyclone. That's more than three times the annual average for weather disasters over the previous four decades, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
It's a problem that has been building recently. Last year, more than 3 million Americans had to leave their houses because of floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters, the Census Bureau reports. While 40 percent were able to return home within a week, 12 percent were displaced for more than six months, and 16 percent never returned home at all.
Welcome to the new normal for Americans and millions of other people around the world—a "normal" that includes figuring out how to cope with the heightened threat of floods, wildfires, heat waves, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters that are growing in number and severity as a result of climate change. The best response to the growing risks of extreme weather? Counter the threat with a well-informed, practical plan to mitigate the danger for yourself, your family and your community.
"Knowledge is power," says Dr. DeeDee Bennett Gayle, an associate professor at the College of Emergency Preparedness at the University at Albany, State University of New York. "Having a plan is not just having an emergency kit. Communication plans for families are essential as well."
Here's what you need to do to keep yourself and the people you love safe.
Know What You're Up Against
Experts say getting early warning signs about an impending weather emergency and not waiting for last-minute alarms is crucial. The United Nations' 2019 Global Commission on Adaptation flagship report found that just having 24 hours warning of a coming storm or heatwave can cut the ensuing damage by 30 percent.
It's especially important to get informed about the extreme weather events likely to occur in the region where you live. Resources like the U.S. Natural Hazards Index from Columbia University Climate School's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, FEMA's National Risk Index and the Red Cross map of common disasters across the U.S. can help you learn more about the extreme weather risks in your specific locale.
Then, subscribe to early warning services about weather threats in your area, which are often sent over text message. The Red Cross offers emergency alerts across disasters (download its free emergency app or text "GET EMERGENCY" to 90999) while the National Weather Service has text notifications for floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires (no sign-up required; participating cell-phone carriers include AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon). For smoke, you can monitor the Air Quality Index in your region at airnow.gov.
"Knowing hazards in your area is important, as well as understanding steps you can take to reduce your risk," says Bennett Gayle. "The hazards in upstate New York are different than in Florida and are different than in California. Having a plan and understanding the appropriate measures you should take [is critical] if you ever find yourself impacted by a disaster."
Get Close to Your Neighbors
Studies have shown that communities where neighbors are in contact are much better prepared to survive climate-induced natural disasters. Research around the 1995 Chicago heat wave, one of the deadliest in American history with temperatures reaching as high as 106 degrees over a five-day period, found that people with social connections were less likely to die from the extreme heat than those without.
There are long-term benefits as well: A study done after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, a magnitude 9.1 eruption followed by a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people, found that when whole neighborhoods were relocated together, older adults had lower long-term rates of cognitive impairment and mental illness than if they'd relocated individually.
"A person's connection with neighbors, community leaders and local social organizations can go a long way towards their preparedness for and recovery following a disaster," says Bennett Gayle. "Often the first 'first responders' are those impacted by an extreme event. Research has shown that neighbors tend to help each other out. We band together following many disasters, particularly those from natural hazards."
Forming strong communities is especially important for people who may be at higher risk during disasters, including older adults, people with disabilities, historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, low-income communities, recent immigrants, children and sometimes women, and other groups—who collectively constitute more than half of the U.S. population. Some local emergency management offices also have registries of people who might need specific assistance during an emergency; check and see if there's one in your state and consider adding your contact information.
Make Sure You're Covered
Many people wait to secure adequate insurance until it's too late. Research shows that 64 percent of regular homeowners' policies fail to adequately account for disaster risks—a gap that's even worse in high-risk areas like California, where up to two-thirds of homes in the state's wildfire regions are underinsured and only 10 percent of California homeowners have earthquake insurance.
"Most people got their homeowners' insurance years ago, for the lowest cost possible, and don't really know what's in their policies. Well, insurance is suddenly very important. Just ask anyone whose house has burned down in the wildfires, has been damaged by the hurricanes or rotted by flooding," says David Pogue, author of 2021's How to Prepare for Climate Change.
Pogue says the critical fact that many homeowners don't know is that homeowners' insurance does not cover flooding. Big insurers stopped insuring for floods years ago. Now, the U.S. government provides 95 percent of the country's flood insurance coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (find out more about this program at floodsmart.gov). If you live in a flood plain, you probably need flood insurance, he says.
Getting appropriate insurance coverage isn't always a straightforward process. For example, there's no single policy known as "hurricane insurance." Instead, you'll need to insure your home against the two main sources of hurricane damage: wind and floods, two different types of coverage that are purchased separately. If you live in hurricane-prone states, homeowners' policies typically don't cover windstorm damage. Tornado insurance, on the other hand, typically covers damage done to the structure of the house, along with fences and sheds.
As the impact of climate change worsens, some regions may stop issuing insurance altogether; some carriers have stopped issuing new home insurance policies in California and premiums are soaring in Florida and other disaster-prone states, so it's crucial to get insurance as soon as possible.
Have an Emergency To-Go Bag Ready
No matter what kind of extreme weather event you might face, you're going to want to have an emergency kit and supplies ready to go.
Your kit should include at least a three-day supply of food and water for each person in your group, as well as pets; a medicine supply of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs that may be needed; power sources such as portable cell phone chargers and flashlights (don't forget extra batteries); safety and personal hygiene items; and important documents, including medical documents, wills, passport and personal identification. Experts also recommend getting a battery-powered or hand crank radio, and a NOAA Weather Radio. Have fire extinguishers on hand and train your family how to use them (check expiration dates regularly).
Make sure to write down emergency phone numbers and keep them on the refrigerator or near every phone in your house. Program them into your cell phone, too. For smoke-related emergencies, having a dedicated air purifier or getting new filters for your central air conditioner is the most effective thing you can do to help protect yourself inside your home.
Make an Evacuation Plan
Disaster preparedness is more than just having supplies ready. Developing a communication plan with your family, along with an evacuation plan, is essential.
What exactly should your plan entail? For hurricanes, flooding and wildfires, make a plan for evacuation. Plan and practice an evacuation route and a backup in case of flooding. Locate the nearest shelter and different routes you can take to get there from your home. (To find a center near you, use the DRC Locator or text DRC and your ZIP code to 43362.)
For wildfires, plan a designated emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. Experts also recommend asking an out-of-state relative or friend to be the "family contact," in case your family is separated.
For extreme heat, learn to recognize the signs of heat illness—which include a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, along with a rapid pulse and dizziness or confusion—and identify places in your community where you can go to get cool, such as libraries or cooling centers.
Pet owners should pre-identify shelters, a pet-friendly hotel or an out-of-town friend or relative where you can take your pets in an evacuation. Local animal shelters may be able to offer advice on what to do with your pets if you are asked to evacuate your home.
In the event of an evacuation, be ready to go. Grab your emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you. Unplug your appliances. If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity and water. Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend, even if there's traffic. Never drive through flooded areas—cars and other vehicles can be swept away or may stall in just six inches of moving water.
Having this kind of plan in place will help you not just in the case of a disaster, but right now. "Prepping for disaster has two payoffs, not just one," Pogue says. "Yes, taking some steps now will protect you, your family, your home and your finances when disaster hits (and over time, it certainly will). But thinking strategically, and taking some actions, is also good for your mental health. You literally sleep better at night. Actually take some steps. You'll feel so much less stressed."
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
