
How Americans Think the Government Should Respond to Natural Disasters, According to Recent Polls
But while Americans largely believed the federal government should play a major role in preparing for and responding to natural disasters, an analysis of recent AP-NORC polls shows less consensus about whether the government should be involved in combating climate change to try to keep extreme weather from getting worse.
The polls from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research were conducted in February and June before catastrophic flooding in Texas killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and left others missing. The polls found that Americans generally had a high level of confidence in the National Weather Service and their local weather report, and most thought the federal government should play a central role in alerting Americans to weather events.
That trust could now be undermined as officials face scrutiny over flood preparations and the timing of alerts and evacuations. Although meteorologists warn that human-caused climate change can make bad storms worse, it's unclear if overall views of climate change–and the government's role in combating it–will be altered.
About two in 10 Americans said they had experienced major flooding in recent years, according to the February poll. And among those, about seven in 10 said climate change was at least a partial cause of the recent weather events they had experienced.
That's in line with the share of Americans who have been affected in the past five years by any severe weather event, including extreme heat, droughts, hurricanes, or extreme cold.
Those living in the Northeast and the South were more likely to say they had been personally impacted by major flooding in recent years.
About seven in 10 Americans believe the federal government should have a major role in tracking weather events and warning people about them, according to AP-NORC polling from June. That includes about eight in 10 Democrats compared with roughly two-thirds of Republicans.
About eight in 10 Americans want the government to provide aid to affected communities and help with rebuilding efforts, the June poll found.
But there was less agreement on whether the government should be combating climate change to try to keep extreme weather from getting worse. Just over fifty-six percent of US adults say the government should have a key role in combating climate change to try to prevent extreme weather from worsening.
Scientists have said climate change has led to frequent and more extreme alterations in weather patterns.
About eight in 10 Democrats say the government should play a major role in fighting climate change compared with about three in 10 Republicans.
Following the disaster, National Weather Service and local officials disagreed about who was ultimately to blame for the lack of awareness about the flood severity.
The AP-NORC polling showed that before the Texas floods, Americans placed a relatively high level of trust in the National Weather Service and their local weather report.
About four in 10 US adults said in the June survey that they were extremely or very confident in the National Weather Service or their local weather provider. Another four in 10 roughly were somewhat confident in the National Weather Service or their local weather report.
Confidence in the Federal Emergency Management Agency was lower. Before the floods, only about two in 10 US adults said they were extremely or very confident in FEMA, while about four in 10 said they were somewhat confident.
The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters, and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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Al Arabiya
14 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Texas floodwaters damaged crops and endangered livestock. Now farmers and ranchers are cleaning up
Across a wide swath of Texas, the inundated rivers that ravaged communities also tore through farms and ranches. In the town of Bend, about two hours north of Austin, Boyd Clark waded into rising waters to help one of his stranded ostrich hens. Matthew Ketterman spent several agonizing hours trapped on top of his truck amid coursing rapids after driving out to check the fences on his exotic game ranch outside Burnet, about an hour south of Bend. And the overflowing San Gabriel River knocked Christmas trees sideways, and staff had to get petting zoo animals into a temporary pen at Sweet Eats Adventure Farm in Georgetown, about 65 miles east of Ketterman's ranch. As authorities work to understand the extent of the loss of human life–as of Friday, at least 120 people were killed, more than 160 missing–farmers and ranchers are working to assess damage to their properties, crops, and animals. Many are facing the task of caring for livestock while salvaging what crops they can and cleaning up the wreckage. While many farmers lean on a relentless optimism to get through the uncertainty of relying on the weather for a living, extreme weather disasters like catastrophic floods, droughts, and wildfires can take a toll. The weather events also pose unique challenges to those who rely on seasonal tourist rushes or who might not have crop insurance. It's a double-edged sword: as some farmers turn to agritourism or niche crops to weather unpredictable markets, climate change is also intensifying many of the natural disasters that can make it more difficult for those experiments to succeed. Even the larger operations are not immune; farmers who produce all kinds of crops must plan for emergencies. 'We expect it to happen again. It's never a question of if but when,' said Jon Meredith, co-owner of Sweet Eats, an agritourism outfit that mainly grows Christmas trees. 'And so we just continue to try to mitigate our losses and reduce our risk around events like this.' Still surveying the damage and starting repairs, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said there has been so much rain so quickly that some farmers are seeing complete loss or severe damage to their crops and infrastructure in several counties and beyond the banks of overflowing rivers. 'We've had farm equipment washed down the river. We've had tractors underwater, so they're totaled, won't be able to use those. Irrigation equipment wadded up like a bowl of spaghetti,' Miller told The Associated Press. 'We're finding cattle dead on top of trees downriver. So it's pretty devastating.' Miller said there are resources available for farmers. Those include the State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund, which helps farmers access disaster funding; the Hay and Feed Hotline, which donates animal feed; and the AgriStress Helpline that provides 24/7 mental health support. Now comes the task of cleanup: repair miles of destroyed fence line, tally lost livestock, and move debris from foliage and mud to piled-up picnic tables. After a harrowing night waiting for hours to be rescued, Ketterman, who had gotten stuck on his vehicle, felt lucky to be alive. But he and his team were also grieving the loss of a member who died in the flooding on his way to work. They lost some animals to the churning water as well. 'We're in the hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage, but you know at the end of the day that's just monetary and we'll recover from that,' he said. Disasters like floods can be tough for specialty farmers. Small farms that offer experiences to visitors, don't sell to wholesalers, or don't have crop insurance are especially vulnerable, said Hannah Burrack, professor and chair of the entomology department at Michigan State University, who has worked with fruit farmers in the aftermath of floods. Clark said ostrich growers can access some US Department of Agriculture programs that cover the loss of grass that birds graze on, but otherwise there isn't much assistance. Ostriches also get too cold in heavy rain, and it cuts down egg production; the hens almost stop laying eggs, and mud and water can ruin what few they do. 'It does definitely affect our production this year and our profitability,' Clark said. Burrack said that other crops for consumption, like fruits and vegetables, that get submerged can no longer be sold. Unharvested plants in fields can build up, causing pest issues or creating an unpleasant experience for visitors. And once submerged, long-term echoes of these short-term stressors can make trees more vulnerable to disease. Meredith said Sweet Eats was lucky; the Christmas season is still months away, and they still had a chance to put the trees back up. They would've had a harder time if they were still doing peach trees like they used to. 'Because so much of our stuff is pick-your-own, so if we can't be open for customers, then it magnifies the challenges that we face because of cash flow issues,' he said. All farms need to plan for emergencies and climate change. It's not just floods: farms across the country have taken hits due to extreme weather in recent years. Wildfires have damped farm-based businesses in California, including pick-your-own apple orchards in the southern part of the state and wineries in the north. An unusually warm winter had Midwestern maple syrup producers scrambling in 2024, while pinching drought has hit pumpkins along with many other crops across the West. 'It's good business sense to observe how climate change might affect your operation and make adjustments accordingly,' said Rob Leeds, an extension educator at Ohio State University who works with farmers, especially those interested in agritourism. He described how, after watching a barrage of tornadoes and high winds in recent years, some cattle producers in Ohio have been building tougher barns that more typically would be seen in windswept areas of the West. Some fall-themed agritourism operators have started installing fans and misters, anticipating more hot days later into the fall. It will take a while for Texas farmers to fully recover, but some are already building back stronger. Ketterman said he thinks they're going to put up sturdier fence posts in the coming weeks as they secure the fence line. They'll lean on each other too. Many farmers described the tight-knit sense of community as they weathered the storm. 'We all started calling each other to make sure we could get our animals out and anything else that we needed to save,' said John Meredith, owner of Sweet Eats, 'just because this is a fact of life. When you live on a river, it's beautiful and enjoyable, but there are occasionally times where things can go south very quickly.'


Arab News
17 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan rain death toll rises to 90 as authorities issue fresh flood warning
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Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Saudi Gazette
Mourning begins in Texas where more than 170 are still missing from flash floods
AUSTIN — Shock has turned into grief across central Texas, where at least 120 people have died from flash flooding and more than 170 are still reported as missing. Photos of those who have died, along with candles and flowers, now decorate a fence in Hill Country – a growing tribute that reflect the enormity of the disaster in the region. Victims include three friends who had gathered for the July Fourth weekend, 8-year sisters who were at summer camp and a 91-year-old grandmother. Authorities said they were reviewing lists of those still unaccounted for, but that these tallies can often fluctuate in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Texas authorities have set up disaster recovery centres for those affected, offering survivors a hub to register for federal assistance and other services. Grocery store gift cards were distributed for income-qualified households and financial assistance for hotel stays and utility bills were offered. Search and recovery teams continued combing through debris and riverbanks in Hill Country and its surrounding areas, where some of the worst damage occurred. Officials said nearly 100 victims have been found in Kerr County alone. Survivors have described narrow escapes during the night-time flooding. One woman said she and others, including a toddler, climbed into an attack and then onto a roof to avoid rising waters. They watched cars float past and heard screams in the dark. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Friday. He has pledged to give whatever relief Texas needs to recover. 'I think it's awesome that he cares to come down here and help us and do what he can,' said Kerrville resident Margaret Marrell, as she visited a memorial with flowers and photos of the flood victims. The Guadalupe river in Texas surged more than eight metres in just 45 minutes last Friday, destroying homes, camps and vehicles. The disaster unfolded as heavy rains continued across Texas into the weekend, prompting more flash flood warnings. Authorities have come under scrutiny over whether proper warnings were issued to camps and residents in an area long known for severe flash flooding. Officials defended their actions, stating that they had not expected such an intense downpour, which was the equivalent to months' worth of rain for the area. Texas governor Greg Abbot called on state lawmakers to approve funding for new warning systems and emergency communications in flood prone areas. "We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future," he said in a statement on Wednesday. Forecast service AccuWeather, along with the National Weather Service, had issued warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation. For years, scientists have been sounding the alarm that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events – including flash floods – around the world. Studies continue to show that warmer oceans and a wetter atmosphere are fuelling stronger and more frequent storms everywhere from Europe to the US. — Euronews