Climate Disaster ²
Hurricane Helene showed us "climate havens" might not exist
Hi Earthlings,
Happy October, this week’s newsletter is going to look a little different. By now I’m sure you’ve seen the climate disaster unfolding in parts of Florida and Appalachia.
The magnitude of these disasters feel overwhelming to communicate but the overall message feels clear — the Fossil Fuel Industry’s greed has cost innocent people their lives. Floodwaters and wildfires won’t sway polluters and we need to hold them accountable.
As of October 1, 2024:
Hurricane Helene already ranks third among the deadliest hurricanes to strike the mainland United States in the past 50 years. As of this morning, at least 143 people have died across six states due to Hurricane Helene.
Hundreds of roads remain closed, especially in the Carolinas, making it difficult to deliver supplies. Some areas are so inaccessible supplies are being delivered by mules and by air and people are hiking hours to try to help.
As of this morning, more than 1.6 million customers remain without power across South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Florida.
Resources:
Free 30 minute 1:1 Somatic Crisis Stabilization virtual sessions to help people settle the stress response after experiencing natural disasters. Learn more here.
American Red Cross North Florida
Resources for Asheville, NC
Resources for East Tennessee
World Central Kitchen is giving out free meals in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.
Direct Relief is providing medical assistance to communities impacted by the storm.
Things to Know About Applying for Disaster Assistance from FEMA
Support the Hurricane Helene Response Fund, organized by the Amalgamated Foundation. They are helping with on-the-ground efforts in Florida, Georgia and the Carolina’s.
Climate communicator, Alaina Woods is documenting Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in East Tennessee.
There are 34 days left until the US election. We shared a guide for people voting during (and/or after) a climate disaster. Here’s the guide.
Did you know?
In 2022, an associate professor of real estate at Tulane University named Asheville, NC one of the “possible climate havens.” Gone are the days where climate disasters were largely experienced only though second or third hand story. Everyone is at risk, no place is safe from extreme weather.
Good News:
Here are some stories from this week’s Good News roundup that feels especially relevant. All nine stories are here.
California is suing ExxonMobil for perpetuating recycling “myth”. The state says the oil giant promoted the "myth that recycling plastic is a sustainable solution" to the issue of plastic waste. Source: Newsweek
Why is this good? This could lead to more meaningful action to stop plastic greenwashing. Only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been successfully recycled. Read more about this lawsuit from our friends at HEATED.
Zillow is planning on featuring climate risk and insurance data on listings. Due to increasing risks from extreme weather events such as hurricanes, Zillow announced it will combine climate risk scores, interactive maps and insurance information on its home listings. Source: Axios
Why is this good? This feature will give people the opportunity to assess climate risks, like floods and wildfires, before buying a home.