The Obama administration believes climate change will make hurricane season worse for people in some areas of the country, such as those living in South Florida.
“There was certainly a discussion about how the very early effects of climate change are putting some communities across the country at even greater risk from a hurricane,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Tuesday during his daily briefing.
“There are some communities in South Florida where we have seen sea levels rise and begin to encroach on populated land,” he said. “That makes the potential impact of storm surge associated with a significant hurricane even more dangerous.”
“The president is certainly mindful of that risk here at the beginning of hurricane season,” he said.
Earnest also gave Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate, who he called a “legitimate expert” on hurricane preparation, credit for restoring “tremendous competence” to FEMA.
The remark was a not-so-subtle reference to the operational breakdown of the agency in 2005 during response to Hurricane Katrina under the administration of President George W. Bush.
After Obama huddled with FEMA officials Tuesday, he urged citizens to take some responsibility for their own safety in the face of the impending storms.
“And that means taking proactive steps, like having an evacuation plan, having a fully stocked disaster supply kit — if your local authorities ask you to evacuate, you have to do it; don’t wait,” he said.
