President to Focus on Extreme Weather

The White House announced today a series of initiatives to help states and municipalities prepare for extreme weather and increased flooding due to global warming.

The actions focus on shoring up electric systems, planning for coastal flooding or storm surges, identifying landslide risks and better forecasting of drought and rising sea levels, according to a White House fact sheet.

The recommendations came from President Barack Obama’s State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, which was set up in November to advise him on the needs of communities dealing with climate change impacts. Obama is to announce the steps later today.

Several federal agencies are involved and will contribute resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will award $236.3 million in funding to eight states for improving rural electric infrastructure. The U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies are unveiling today a $13.1 million program to develop three- dimensional mapping data of the U.S. to help predict flood risk, water resource impacts and coastal erosion.