{"id":115016,"date":"2021-05-24T19:50:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T19:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=115016"},"modified":"2021-05-24T19:50:38","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T19:50:38","slug":"biden-doubles-funding-for-states-local-communities-in-preparation-of-hurricanes-and-wildfires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/politics\/biden-doubles-funding-for-states-local-communities-in-preparation-of-hurricanes-and-wildfires\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden doubles funding for states, local communities in preparation of hurricanes and wildfires"},"content":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013 In advance of what’s expected to be another busy hurricane and wildfire season, the Biden administration is doubling to $1 billion the amount of funding available to help states and local communities prepare for extreme weather events.<\/p>\n
The administration also announced Monday the development of new\u00a0climate data systems to\u00a0help\u00a0NASA understand and track how climate change is impacting communities.<\/p>\n
“Now is the time to get ready for the busiest time of the year for disasters in America,” President Joe Biden said during a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Hurricane season in the south and east, and the fire season out west.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts\u00a013 to 20 named storms will develop during hurricane season, which begins June 1. That would be the sixth\u00a0consecutive year of above-normal activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Last year, a record 30 named storms formed, including 14 hurricanes, of which seven were major hurricanes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
President Joe Biden participates in a briefing on the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, at FEMA headquarters, Monday, May 24, 2021, in Washington. (Photo: Evan Vucci, AP)<\/span><\/p>\n All weather and climate-related disasters in 2020 cost communities across the United States nearly $100 billion combined, according to the administration.<\/p>\n The White House said it wants to shift the focus from “reactive disaster spending” to helping communities better prepare for the next hurricane, flood or wildfire.<\/p>\n That also means investing in climate research to better understand extreme weather events, according to the administration.<\/p>\n “We all know that these storms are coming,” Biden said. “We don’t have a moment to lose in preparing for 2021.\u201d<\/p>\n