As heat waves and wildfire smoke emergencies rise, states struggle to access federal aid due to unclear disaster definitions.
Sachi Kitajima Mulkey reports for Grist.
In short:
- Heat waves and wildfire smoke aren’t listed as “major disasters” under FEMA’s guidelines, complicating funding requests.
- States face difficulties in documenting costs and meeting FEMA's requirements for disaster declarations.
- A coalition of states and organizations is pushing for policy changes to recognize heat and smoke as major disasters.
Key quote:
“Our disaster framework is really geared toward protecting property and counting up damages to property.”
— Juanita Constible, senior climate and health advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council
Why this matters:
Heat waves and wildfire smoke, exacerbated by climate change, cause significant health impacts and economic losses. Recognizing these events as major disasters could unlock essential federal aid for affected communities.
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