Stories by Thomas Frank

Nearly half of residents lost income after a hurricane, a new study shows. Most were low-paid hourly workers in storefront shops

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster response fund could run out this summer. It dealt with a similar situation last year, which led to a slowdown in rebuilding projects

A Brookings Institution report warns that energy-hungry artificial intelligence tech will worsen the climate crisis

Buying out and razing homes harmed by Hurricane Sandy boosted business development, jobs and property values in nearby neighborhoods

Building codes that don’t fully account for climate change are “one of the most significant factors” in increasing disaster risk, a federal report says

Increasingly frequent thunderstorms caused insurers to pay $60 billion in claims in 2023

States that adopt updated building codes also could see big savings in energy bills

A FEMA advisory council says a program that allows developers to elevate homes on fill dirt is environmentally harmful and can increase flood risks for nearby homes

Millions more people in the U.S. may be required to buy flood insurance based on the recommendation of an expert panel at a time when climate-driven floods are becoming increasingly common

First-of-its-kind FEMA funding aims to update archaic building codes that leave millions of people exposed to climate-fueled hurricanes, floods and other extreme weather

More states are requiring homeowners to disclose a property’s flood risk and history when they sell it. But 18 states, including hurricane-prone Florida, have no flood disclosure requirements

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will resume funding long-term rebuilding projects after withholding funds since August

Puerto Rico will be hit hardest by spending restrictions set by FEMA as disaster funding runs short. More than $2 billion is expected to be withheld from the island, which is still reeling from past hurricanes

A government shutdown could force the Federal Emergency Management Agency to curtail all disaster activities at a time when it is already short of cash to respond to crises

U.S. census tracts with high exposure to climate impacts will get extra federal funds to build resilience

Many states prioritize using money from a federal energy assistance program for low-income people to defray energy costs for heating rather than cooling bills

A Federal Emergency Management Agency analysis of New York City’s inadequate storm drainage system shows that many urban areas can’t handle more intense rainfall

NOAA precipitation estimates that engineers and planners use to design bridges, roads and other infrastructure are decades out of date because of climate change

A key FEMA disaster fund and state insurance programs could run out of money to finance disaster recovery and pay claims, respectively, as hurricane and wildfire seasons begin

As part of its effort to prod the construction industry to go green, the Biden administration is providing new funding for rebuilding with low-carbon materials after disasters

Insurers face a “crisis of confidence” as global warming makes weather events unpredictable and increases damage

Home buyers are paying excessive prices after ignoring flood risk and the costs of insurance and repairs, a new study finds

More than three million adults were forced to evacuate their homes in the U.S. in the past year because of hurricanes, floods and other disasters, according to the Census Bureau

The U.S. Department of the Treasury makes an unprecedented move to find out if home insurers are abandoning communities vulnerable to climate change