The Research:
The reality of extreme weather and the value of preparation is undeniable.
Here are some authoritative studies that illustrate the challenge before us
and why we must invest now to build a secure and prosperous future.
The Infrastructure Report Card by ASCE analyzes how prepared (or not) the United States is for extreme weather, in various areas of its infrastructure, including as levees, bridges, and waterways. Spoiler alert: the overall grade is a D.
Beach-Stabilization is an important facet of extreme weather preparation, especially in terms of the economic value of property and tourism that occurs along the shores. This report by Richard Stockton and Steven Hafner of the College of New Jersey and the Coastal Research Center details the current state, the needs, and the possible responses to revitalizing New Jersey’s beaches so that they are resilient in the face of climate change.
North East Climate Change Impacts is a report put out by Climate Nexus that details the weather experience of the North East in the past few years in terms of temperature, sea-level rise, extreme storms and precipitation.
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The Climate Change Trends & Projections for New Jersey by Rutgers University and the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance provide a description of climate changes in New Jersey, including the past changes that have been documented from historical observations as well as expected changes based on projections of temperature, precipitation and sea level through the end of the century.
Disaster relief funding presents a key opportunity for state and local governments to rebuild in a manner that anticipates and responds to future changes in the climate. This report on the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 by the Georgetown Climate Center, analyzes whether state and local governments can spend these funds to adapt to impacts, such as sea-level rise, increased precipitation, and increased storm frequency and intensity.
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Do voters effectively hold elected officials accountable for policy decisions? Voters often reward officials who obtain funds AFTER an extreme weather event, but rarely reward officials who try to spend on preparedness beforehand. This study by Andrew Healy (of Loyola Marymount University), and Neil Malhorta of Stanford University) estimates that $1 spent on preparedness is worth about $15 in terms of the future damage it mitigates. By examining policy decisions and the consequences of those policies, this study provides more complete evidence about citizen competence and government accountability.
This report on Extreme Weather & Public Opinion by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication illustrates how most of us expect extreme weather to be a regular part of our lives, and the shifting public opinion around responding to the changes in climate and weather.
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Share these Facts & Statistics via social media
to lift-up the importance of extreme weather preparation
Other Initiatives and Analyses
US Strong recommends the following organizations
for authoritative research and leadership in addressing and understanding
the many issues pertaining to extreme weather and climate change.
NASA’s Global Climate Change center is produced by the Earth Science Communications Team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory / California Institute of Technology and supplies information on sealevel rise, icemelt, temperature rise, and more in formats that are highly interactive and appropriate for many ages.
Climate Central is an independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the American public.
Energy and Enterprise Initiative is part of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University and seeks to unleash the power of free enterprise to create a long-term, stable energy policy to achieve energy security and avoid the unnecessary risks of a changing climate.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a division of the department of commerce and serves as a primary provider of climate science, data, tools, and information used by stakeholders and citizens in decision-making contexts. These resources are supported by a strong foundation in science — including global climate observation and monitoring networks; world-renowned scientists; and state-of-the-art climate models. NOAA is working with partners and the public to build a climate-smart nation that is resilient to climate and weather extremes, and long-term changes.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, they combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
The Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) is located in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University. It serves the 12-state region that includes: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. The Center’s staff works cooperatively with the National Climatic Data Center, the National Weather Service, state climate offices, and other interested scientists in the Northeast to acquire and disseminate accurate, up-to-date climate data and information.
The NYC Climate Coalition is a program of the Human Impacts Institute dedicated to climate awareness and action in New York City. The Climate Coalition builds the capacity of New Yorkers in addressing root causes of climate change and in preparing for impacts of a changing climate on our City.