Disasters can be incredibly destructive, and since climate change has become a problem that directly affects us, it is better to be informed about this matter.
According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, climate and weather-related catastrophes in the United States caused about $93 billion in damage last year. Considering this, have you ever wondered if you are safe? Is the state you live in one of the states that are the most affected by extreme weather that is caused by climate change?
First of all, you need to know that all the states are at risk, but there are some that are more exposed than others. And many of them are not making efforts to mitigate the risks.
Read on and find out if your state is prepared for major damage from flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and wind.
1. Connecticut (Infrastructure score: 216 out of 425 points)
This state is almost the perfect place for a storm to wreak havoc. With rising temperatures and intensifying severe weather, including Nor’easters, the effects are far-reaching. Coastal areas are also threatened because sea levels keep rising.
Connecticut is aware of the urgency of the situation, and as a result, it adopted a climate action plan in 2021, whose goal is to reduce the CO2 levels by 45% by 2030. This is an ambitious goal, but more changes need to be made.
For example, renewable energy is an important factor that needs to be developed fast. As you would expect, many other sustainable practices are missing, but renewable energy is an urgent one.
2. Pennsylvania (Infrastructure score: 235 out of 425 points )
“The Keystone State” has some complex battles to fight against climate risks, and all of this is due to its diverse geography. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), all counties will experience a warmer and wetter climate, and the annual rainfall will rise by 8%. It might not sound much, but it can have brutal effects on the economy, infrastructure, and public health.
Floods and heatwaves are the main dangers we think about, but there are also landslides, erosion, and damage to farms. Even more, Pennsylvanians could see a rise in heat-related illnesses. Worse allergies and more cases of tick-borne diseases are both possible as temperatures continue to rise.
So, the goals for this state would be flood mitigation, and let’s not forget about renewable energy, as this plays a minimal role in Pennsylvania’s energy production.
3. Maryland (Infrastructure score: 188 out of 425 points)
This state has 12,000 miles of coastline around the Chesapeake Bay, and this is why it’s among the most exposed states when it comes to climate change. The rising sea levels are alarming, and Maryland is vulnerable to flooding and land subsidence.
3 to 5 millimeters per year. This is how fast the sea levels are rising here, and according to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, this is double the global average.
11% of Maryland’s 2.2 million properties are at risk of flooding, and major damage is foreshadowed for the next 30 years. This is why the 10-year Climate Adaptation Resilience Framework was adopted in 2021. This plan aims to make sure that Maryland’s buildings, transportation networks, and utilities will resist when disaster strikes.
4. New Hampshire (Infrastructure score: 145 out of 425 points)
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this state has experienced a temperature rise of about three degrees over the past century. This is not good news and can have significant effects on the environment and infrastructure.
One of the most visible changes is the loss of trees and wetlands. This destroys natural habitats, and the shift from snow to rain during the winter also increases the risk of flooding.
Less snow means less tourism in the popular areas and also less meltwater for farms and forests.
In the future, researchers from the University of New Hampshire predict more frequent and intense droughts. When it rains, most probably during the winter, flooding is the number one danger for aging infrastructure, putting immense strain on roads, bridges, and utilities.
5. Louisiana (Infrastructure score: 179 out of 425 points)
We already know that Louisiana has endured some of the biggest destructions caused by severe weather, most notably Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But this is just one of the major disasters that hit this state.
According to NOAA, Louisiana has been hit by more than one hundred major catastrophes since 1980, with each inflicting at least $1 billion in damage. These refer to an extensive range of natural disasters, including 43 severe storms and 25 tropical cyclones, as well as floods, droughts, and severe winter storms.
Low-lying coastal regions are the main reason this state is so susceptible to strong storms such as hurricanes that can easily lead to severe flooding.
Right now, the Climate Initiatives Task Force is the main organization that tries to protect Louisiana from the potential disasters caused by climate change. This is a 23-person group that tries to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but right now it is not known if this plan will suffer changes or not after the election of Republican Governor Jeff Landry in 2023.
If you want to learn more about climate change, this book is a good start: Creating a better climate future: How you can start solving climate change in 5 minutes a day
You should also read: Top 10 WORST States in the USA for Quality of Life
