Climate Extremes: The New Norm

As the search continues for the residents of the fire-ravaged Paradise, California, it is clearer than ever that climate is changing in ways that spur unforeseen and devastating natural disasters, such as wildfires, droughts, record-breaking temperatures, mudslides and floods. The tragedies Californians are now experiencing align with the global trend of climate related natural disasters steadily rising over the past few decades. In 1980, there were 200 extreme weather events that caused widespread destruction and human death around the globe; in 2016 the number of such events more than tripled to over 700. A year ago this week, Santa Barbara County became ground zero for such devastation with the Thomas Fire and the debris flow that followed. “How we’ve thought of climate change until recently: Far away or in the future, affecting polar bears and low-lying island nations, or Sub-Saharan Africa, but now it’s creating havoc here, in our own backyard,” says Sigrid Wright, CEO and Executive Director of the Community Environmental Council. President Trump may choose not to believe his own government’s recent report on climate change, but those of us who have experienced its destruction know firsthand that it is not only real but a clear and present danger.

In the aftermath of the Thomas Fire, I became curious about the steps that were taken in advance that prevented this disaster from creating even more havoc than it did. So I reached out to those who were involved, motivated by my belief that rebuilding and reimaging what life will be like going forward with climate extremes as the new norm means it is critical to understand the investments made behind the scenes years before this epic disaster struck: the systems for communication and coordination, community engagement, and partnership with government that were built.

I started with Mark Ghilarducci, the head of Emergency Services for the State of California. He outlined the problem:“We are seeing a new era of disasters — the intensity, complexity, scope, and scale of these events are broad.” Why is this the case? The data is clear: Year after year, our planet experiences record heat levels; in fact, 16 of 17 the hottest years ever recorded have been since 2001. Hotter years lead to more wildfires, while most of the excess heat is trapped by the ocean, which then in turn disrupts the water cycle, causing record-breaking downpours. These downpours can cause floods and mudslides.