Disasters

"Monitoring air quality is key to forecasting and assessing wildfire smoke. Right now, that’s a coordinated effort between federal, state, tribal, and local entities. Federally approved and privately operated monitors feed data into tools like the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow tool, and help forecast air quality and issue public health guidance. But air quality scientists worry that EPA budget and job cuts will make it difficult to get air quality information to people, endangering public health."

"John Dwyer coordinates emergency management in Champaign County, Illinois. He’s seeing a lot more weather extremes, from tornadoes to a major dust storm, even as federal money to keep people safe seems poised to drop." 

"The president canceled $4.5 billion in FEMA grants that helped communities prepare for rising disaster damage."

"Extreme heat is making air pollution worse, scientists say. And President Trump’s regulatory rollbacks could drive air pollution even higher." 

"An intense and nearly historic weather pattern is cooking much of America under a dangerous heat dome this week with triple-digit temperatures in places that haven’t been so hot in more than a decade."

"Ron Watson's new roof doesn't just protect him from storms. It's saving him money, too."

"Record-smashing daytime temperatures near 100 degrees are expected for millions from the Plains to the East Coast this week, while nighttime temperatures may stay above 80 in some metropolitan areas."

"Iran has warned that it could shut the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, in retaliation for U.S. involvement in its conflict with Israel."

"Planting trees has plenty of benefits, but this popular carbon-removal method alone can’t possibly counteract the planet-warming emissions caused by the world’s largest fossil-fuel companies. To do that, trees would have to cover the entire land mass of North and Central America, according to a study out Thursday."