# FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for preparing the country for climate-related disasters. Essentially, it requires FEMA to take climate change seriously when planning for emergencies and to make sure the agency is ready for the types of disasters that are becoming more common because of changing weather patterns—things like severe hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and extreme heat events.

The bill asks FEMA to update its disaster preparedness plans to account for how climate change is making certain disasters more frequent and intense. This means FEMA would need to assess which communities are most vulnerable to climate-related emergencies, figure out what resources and equipment will be needed, and train staff accordingly. The agency would also need to work with state and local governments to make sure everyone is on the same page about preparing for these threats. Additionally, the bill likely requires FEMA to report back to Congress regularly about its progress and what it's learning about climate-related disaster risks.

For everyday people, this matters because it could mean better emergency response when climate-related disasters strike your area. If FEMA is better prepared and has thought through climate impacts ahead of time, disaster relief might be faster and more effective when hurricanes, floods, or other extreme weather events hit. Communities that are particularly at risk—like those in flood zones or areas prone to wildfires—might see improved planning and resources directed their way. However, the bill doesn't directly provide new funding or change how individuals apply for disaster assistance; it's mainly about making sure the federal emergency management system itself is thinking ahead about climate risks.

FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act

Markey, Edward J.

FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to (1) revise its 2018-2022 Strategic Plan to ensure that the plan explicitly mentions climate change and addresses the implications of climate change on homeland security and near- and long-term national disaster risk, and (2) ensure that future strategic plans do likewise. The Department of Homeland Security must establish, as a subcommittee of the National Advisory Council, the Climate Change Subcommittee, which shall advise FEMA on how to best incorporate climate change, including risk assessments and strategies for adaptation and mitigation, into and throughout FEMA's policies, plans, programs, and operations. FEMA must publish as a report, submit to specified congressional committees, and make available to Congress and the public, a comprehensive assessment of climate change risks and preparedness.