-                      -                        -  About 
                      - Newsroom
                      -  Newsroom 
                      -  Fact Sheets 
                      -  Blog 
                      -  Events 
                      -  FEMA Live 
                      -  Mobile Products 
                      -  Newsletters 
                      -  Press Releases 
                      -  Podcast 
                      -  Social Media 
                      -  About Us 
                      -  Reports & Data 
                      -  FEMA in Action 

# FEMA and the Changing Climate

                            - English 

FEMA works with state, local, tribal and territorial governments to build and deliver resources and capabilities that ensure the nation can withstand climate hazards of today and those we anticipate for tomorrow.

## FEMA’s Role in Addressing Climate Change

**Before disasters**: We work with—and invest funds in—communities to withstand the climate hazards of today and those we can anticipate for tomorrow.
                        - Through FEMA programs like  Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities  and the  Flood Mitigation Assistance  we provide resources so communities are better prepared before disasters or extreme weather events strike.
                        - The National Exercise Program provides support to federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government partners to assess and enhance response capability and capacity.
                        - We encourage emergency managers to promote the use of  FEMA grants  to invest in the infrastructure, including nature-based solutions and adoption of hazard-resistant  building codes , and response capability that will protect your community. 1

**After disasters:** After declared emergencies and major disasters, we provide information and funding to help federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments strategically invest in building back to increase climate resilience.
                        - Our  Hazard Mitigation Grant Program , including  406 Public Assistance Grants  and  Post-Fire assistance , go beyond just rebuilding; they are available for building back stronger and more resilient to future threats.

## The Changing Climate is a Priority for Emergency Managers

The changing climate is a force multiplier – increasing the number of storms, floods, fires, and extreme temperatures that threaten the well-being of people across our nation. 23

When emergency managers plan for and strategically invest in climate adaptation measures, the effects from disasters are less severe and the road to recovery starts sooner for survivors. 

## Resources Available to Know Your Climate Risk

FEMA developed tools people can use to understand their immediate and future climate risks in order to make a plan, including the FEMA App and the FEMA National Risk Index.

The **FEMA mobile app** is a one-stop shop for weather alerts, giving users access to local weather alerts for up to five locations. This helps you identify immediate threats to protect yourself and your loved ones across the country.

**Climate.gov**, the **Climate Risk and Resilience Portal**, and **FEMA National Risk Index** are online tools that help illustrate the extreme weather events facing our nation and your community.
                        - Climate.gov  includes a new  Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation  tool that helps people consider their local exposure to climate-related hazards.
                        - The  Climate Risk & Resilience Portal  helps emergency planners understand local-scale climate risks in the context of their community, including location of vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure.  4
                        - The  National Risk Index  tells you which of 18 natural hazards have historically posed the greatest threat to your neighborhood.

**Make a plan, now, and prepare**. Knowing your risk isn’t enough.
                        - Every individual can go to  ready.gov  to make a plan and to build a kit to prepare for disasters.
                        - We encourage emergency managers to promote the use of  FEMA grants  to invest in the infrastructure, including nature-based solutions  5 , and response capability that will protect your community.

## Footers

1 In this context, “infrastructure” includes not only grey infrastructure like roads and bridges, but nature-based solutions that use natural features to reduce threats (e.g., securing dunes to reduce flood risk and stabilize shorelines, and creating parks to reduce urban heat). Response capabilities includes staff and emergency operations centers and interoperability equipment that help emergency managers respond and coordinate recovery from the impacts of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.

2 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate — (ipcc.ch), Chapter 6, 2019

3Climate change impacts | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov)

4  The Climate Risk & Resilience Portal integrates FEMA’s Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT).

5 Nature-based solutions use natural features to reduce threats (e.g., securing dunes to reduce flood risk and stabilize shorelines, and creating parks to reduce urban heat)
Download Fact Sheet PDFAccessible TXTTags:AllClimate ResilienceLast updated January 4, 2023Return to top-  Disasters & Assistance 
-  Grants 
-  Floods & Maps 
-  Emergency Management 
-  About 
-  Work With Us 
FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeLinkedInNewsletterContact FEMAFEMA.govAn official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security- Accessibility
- Accountability
- Careers
- Civil Rights
- Contact Us
- FOIA
- Glossary
- No FEAR Act
- Plug-Ins
- Privacy
- Report Disaster Fraud
- Website Information
- DHS.gov
- USA.gov
- Inspector General