Mary Tarnoff, Southeast Iowa Sierra Club

Letter to the Editor

In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, people are now talking openly about the impact of climate change on severe weather events. While climate change may not, by itself, cause hurricanes, the World Meteorological Organization made this sobering assessment: “Climate change means that when we do have an event like Harvey, the rainfall amounts are likely to be higher than they would have been otherwise.”

The United States has been lucky, up until now: Insulated — by sheer distance — wars are rarely fought on our soil. Refugees seeking sanctuary from flood, famine or war have had limited access to the U.S., so we have not had to bear the lion’s share of the financial burden of resettlement. But what happens when those seeking safe haven are our own citizens?

According to Federal Emergency Management Agency Chief Brock Long, 450,000 victims of Hurricane Harvey are expected to file disaster claims, while at least 30,000 homes have suffered irreparable damage. How will we, as a nation, bear the estimated $190 billion cost of rebuilding, repairs and resettlement?

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We can no longer sit by arguing about the details of climate change. No country can continue to absorb this kind of human devastation and financial loss as it becomes more frequent and extreme. The time to act is now.

Call the president and your legislators today. Tell them to immediately enact legislation that will speed our transition from fossil fuels to cheap, climate-friendly energy sources.

But the needs of the victims of Hurricane Harvey must come first. Please consider donating whatever you can to a trusted charity for their relief.

— Mary Tarnoff, chair, legislative action committee, Southeast Iowa Sierra Club