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sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social
All things climate change, adaptation, and affordable housing. Social policy researcher and co-lead of the Climate and Communities Program at Urban Institute. đź“ŤDC with past lives in SF Bay Area, Santiago and Austin.
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SCOOP: FEMA workers will stop knocking on doors to provide aid to survivors in disaster areas, per a memo obtained by WIRED. This comes as the agency is shifting responsibility for recovery efforts to local authorities. Oh, and it's hurricane preparedness week, btw.

submitted 10 hours ago • 37 comments

Wash > rinse > repeat

submitted 8 hours ago • 0 comments

Curious how your state could be impacted by FEMA changing the threshold for federal disaster declarations? We provide a state-by-state analysis, based on disaster data spanning 17 years and multiple administrations: www.urban.org/urban-wire/p...

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Trump Admin has released its proposed budget for FY 2026. The cuts proposed to housing would be brutal, eliminating: —$26.7 b for affordable housing assistance —All community development block grants and the HOME program ($4.55 b) —The PRO Housing program ($100 m) www.whitehouse.gov/omb/informat...

submitted 3 days ago • 6 comments

With big changes proposed to reduce federal role in disaster recovery, our team crunched the numbers from past disasters to see what these changes could mean for federal disaster spending, recovery, and state and local government budgets. Analysis here w/ state data: www.urban.org/urban-wire/p... 🧵

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

There's a substantial chance 2025 could be an unthinkably expensive disaster year in the US, says Swiss Re. But we keep building more expensive sandcastles along the beach, because developers vehemently oppose changes in how and where we build - new post today: open.substack.com/pub/susanpcr...

submitted 4 days ago • 5 comments

Must read from @ruthygourevitch.bsky.social in @shelterforce.bsky.social on the impact of climate-fueled disasters on renters and how tenant unions can help push towards more equitable recovery and safer/more resilient housing shelterforce.org/2025/04/04/t...

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

Millions of Americans don’t speak English. Now they won’t be warned before weather disasters. | grist.org/equity/natio...

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

A government-backed green building rating system is for the first time ordering project developers to consider climate impacts. The move follows an E&E News investigation that found hundreds of new LEED-certified buildings are at risk of flooding. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Spoke too soon, some more details unfolding in a new memo from acting FEMA administrator Cameron Hamilton as reported by CNN, focused on raising damage threshold to unprecedented levels: amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/04/...

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Begs the question what will determine whether post-disaster requests for FEMA supported are granted in the coming months? www.forbes.com/sites/alexan...

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

Kids are anxious about the climate, don't trust their government to help, and increasingly don't want to have kids of their own. There's a simple solution, and it's the opposite of what Trump is doing Gift link to my column for @opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

As bleak as this series is on struggling small water + sewer systems, I'm afraid its accurate on the state of play in most parts of the U.S. If we actually want safe, reliable and affordable water and sanitation for all, we need transformation in both governance and finance.

submitted 11 days ago • 3 comments

Great data analysis here, which shows how GOP-led states have reaped great benefits from the disaster risk reduction programs that the Trump regime is eliminating.

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Warning, rare personal post ... but WTF is going on with drivers in DC. Today, I was almost hit by a car backing up into a crosswalk after blocking an intersection... all while I was walking my partner home from a physical therapy appointment to recover from being hit by a car last month.đź« 

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

I’m re-releasing a popular pod with Madison Condon, where we explored the expanding world of #climate modeling. But now, the landscape has shifted. The federal government is gutting the public data infrastructure we all rely on. So I brought Madison back for a quick follow-up. #climatechange

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

For a little self-care today, getting lost under the sun in another chapter of @ayanaeliza.bsky.social's must-read "What if we get it right?"

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

This 🌍 Earth Day 🌍 I'm thinking about how changes within the housing sector can advance better outcomes for people, planet and communities to both mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The headwinds are challenging (to say the least) but....

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

What does FEMA’s retreat from hazard mitigation programs mean for states and communities? @wcurrangroome.bsky.social, @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social and I break down the impacts of the administration’s decisions, by state and congressional district: www.urban.org/urban-wire/f...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

🧵Twelve conceptual 'problems' that make dealing with climate change super difficult:

submitted 36 days ago • 14 comments

Important coverage from @kristoncapps.bsky.social and Sarah Holder @bloomberg.com about what's at risk if HUD's GRRP program goes away (declared a target by DOGE): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

submitted 41 days ago • 1 comment

California's insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan, is hurtling toward another hot, dry summer with its coffers already strained. That raises the prospect that homeowners will have to pick up the bill for more funds. My latest on the climate and insurance crisis: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments