Increasing Intensity of Natural Disasters

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of natural disasters, including coastal storms, severe flooding, and wildfires, with notable impacts on communities.  In 2024, 27 weather and climate disasters each caused at least $1 billion in damages, trailing only the record-setting 28 events documented in 2023. Together, these disasters caused at least 568 direct or indirect fatalities and cost approximately $182.7 billion.

Meanwhile, as wildfires grow in size, intensity, and regularity, local, state, and federal agencies are struggling to hire firefighters. Adding to the firefighting challenge are "zombie fires" that smolder through the winter and can reignite in early spring, lengthening the wildfire season. In the wildland-urban interface, where wildfire risks are acute and growing, planners are already playing an active role in risk reduction. Helping communities increase resilience to wildfires may be especially critical in light of persistent firefighter shortages.

In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order urging state and local governments to take a more active role in disaster preparedness. His administration has also publicly considered eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the nation’s primary disaster response agency. But impacts are becoming too severe and frequent for communities to manage on their own, and rarely can one type of crisis be looked at in isolation. Read APA's Hazard Mitigation Policy Guide to explore the impacts of natural disasters and the potential role of planning and planners in mitigation, adaptation, and long-term recovery.