Half of last year’s billion-dollar disasters were in the South. Securing federal aid money can take months, and distributing it to people who need it the most can take much longer.
Author Archives: Amal Ahmed
Posted inDisaster Recovery
How can media better serve the public during disasters?
We’re working on a project to assess the most urgent information needs around disaster aid in the U.S. South.
Posted inClimate, Disaster Recovery, Gulf Coast, Justice
‘People are wiped out’: Costs pile up as hurricane season begins
Hurricanes, a winter storm, and spring floods have left low-income Gulf Coast residents exhausted and cash strapped before this year’s season, with no significant aid in sight.
Posted inClimate, Disaster Recovery, Energy, Gulf Coast, Justice, Louisiana, Texas, Utilities
Nobody warned Texans about the public health risks of the winter storm
Without advance warning about the true scale of power outages and the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, local officials say they were caught off guard, leaving residents to fend for themselves.
Posted inClimate, COVID-19, Disaster Recovery, Energy, Housing, Justice, Public Health, Texas
Low-income Texans already face frigid temperatures at home. Then the winter storm hit.
Poor energy efficiency and weatherization standards in Southern states made it even harder for people to stay warm and safe.
Posted inClimate, Disaster Recovery, Gulf Coast, Housing, Justice, Texas
How the government fails low-income renters after natural disasters
Renters in Texas are suing state and federal agencies, alleging their policies have had a “disparate impact on minority households.”
Posted inClimate, Culture, Gulf Coast, Justice, Land, Texas
Climate change is threatening historic African American sites in the South
Nonprofits and volunteers are working to preserve African American cultural and historic sites vulnerable to flooding and other environmental threats.