Cruel summer

Before I get into today’s newsletter, I want to take a moment to thank you for inviting me into your inbox. I understand news about disasters can feel a bit overwhelming (particularly these days), but my aim with this weekly dispatch is to help you feel a little bit more at ease about our unpredictable world. This is a new venture, so if you enjoy it, please subscribe and share!

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Somehow, as impossible as it might seem for those of us who have been largely indoors since March, we’re now days away from Memorial Day. A long weekend that marks the unofficial start of summer, with crowded beaches and barbecues; pool parties and parades. Of course, for many locales across US, those signs of the season won’t be possible this year due to pandemic protocols. Still, there’s some changes not even the coronavirus can halt – longer days, spiking temperatures, and the increased threat of disasters.

After reminding you that your long weekend plans have likely been cancelled (sorry!), this might be the last thing you feel like hearing about, but in true 2020 fashion, it’s forecasted to be a banner year for disaster threats on both coasts.

As I’m writing this newsletter, Tropical Storm Arthur is brewing over the Atlantic Ocean. While it’s currently projected to do minimal damage, potentially whipping up strong winds and high waves offshore of Florida later this week, it’s an early start to hurricane season, which typically begins in June. Meteorologists are also warning that this season is set to be particularly active, due in part to “warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures” and a low probability of El Niño conditions to slow storms down.

In response, emergency officials are trying to figure out what a social distancing disaster plan looks like – even though many are still in the thick of coronavirus response. I think this interview from WAVY with Jim Redick, the Director of Emergency And Preparedness in Norfolk, Virginia, best sums it up:

Across the country, Western officials are facing a similar predicament as they plan for an early start to wildfire season, brought on by drought conditions. California Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference at a fire station last week to draw attention not only to ongoing preparation efforts, but also to the current response – the state has already seen a 60% increase in fires to date compared to last year.

Redick points out there is a “silver lining,” with emergency officials already in “response mode” and operating with increased communication. But coronavirus concerns will clearly impact many regular protocols for disaster response. For example, the Press Democrat in Sonoma County looked at how officials are planning to alter fire evacuation plans, which includes seeking larger areas to set up emergency operations. Cynthia Shaw, a Northern California Red Cross spokeswoman, said the agency is also planning to implement “screening for symptoms, isolation areas, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices” in shelters.

Ultimately, many officials spoken to in the article agreed there is a likelihood that some risks will have to be taken in the interest of saving lives. Mike Mohler, a Cal Fire spokesman, explained:

Some of these fears have already been put to the test in Tennessee, which has experienced a wave of devastating and deadly tornados in March and April. Preventative measures to address coronavirus concerns included providing first responders with the names and addresses of those who tested positive with the virus. The mayor of one particularly hard-hit county described to the Tennessean his dual role of “setting up a drive-thru COVID-19 assessment site while coordinating with the National Guard on debris removal.” A local youth minister quoted in the same article put it like this:

It’s all enough to give you disaster fatigue (which, yes, is a real thing), but there are some small steps you can take over this long weekend to gain back a bit of control over whatever might be in store this summer. While each of these threats – hurricanes, wildfires, tornados – are incredibly different, the first thing to do for any of them is have a plan. Particularly in this moment, when emergency services are already stretched thin, officials are urging individuals to put together a basic emergency kit and start a conversation with loved ones about how you would approach any worst-case scenarios. If that already sounds daunting, let me know – I’d be happy to offer some tips in a future newsletter if that would be of interest.

What I’m reading/writing:

• Recognizing the cultural hints of the “forgotten” 1918 pandemic (Slate)

• The potentially deadly implications of reopening the Grand Canyon (Heated newsletter)

• How Kentucky’s teacher strikes prepared educators to meet this moment (me, for Business Insider)

• Well, here’s something completely different (Bloomberg)

• Breathe (New York Times)

I’m always eager to hear any tips, story ideas, or suggestions you have – find me on your social network of choice (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) or via email ([email protected]).

Thank you for becoming an early part of this new community, and special thanks to all who have shared this newsletter with their networks. Here’s a little something for reading to the end.

Colleen