Learning from past disasters can save lives in the future
The results are in, and it’s not good news: In 2021, the nation suffered 20 catastrophic disasters, including three in California. From January’s deadly flooding and winter storms to a devastating wildfire season that lasted well into November, Californians faced yet another year of worry, disruption and tragedy. The events of 2021 have removed any lingering doubt that disasters fueled by climate change are already taking a massive toll on our communities.
After every new catastrophic event, we all rightfully demand answers and better response from agencies, as well as more effective pre-disaster planning.
One Achilles’ heel is the federal government’s inability to comprehensively evaluate disaster preparation, response or recovery. Instead, agencies like the
Federal Emergency Management Agency have only their own selfassessments to rely on, which experts describe as “fraught with shortcomings” and even “great pieces of fiction.”
Meanwhile, it’s well known that disaster programs and policies don’t protect low-income disaster survivors and widen racial wealth gaps. As FEMA’s National Advisory Council wrote last fall: “Through the entire disaster cycle, communities that have been underserved stay underserved, and thereby suffer needlessly and unjustly.”
This must change. Our nation’s response to events ranging from heat domes to ice storms, record-breaking droughts to hurricanes, must include a standardized, evidence-based approach to review and improvement. The government tallies up events that cause more than $1 billion in damage each year, but we know the damage goes well beyond the economy, as lives are lost, homes are destroyed and community members are left scrambling to rebuild — or move out. We must have an informed, respected voice guiding us in reducing risk, supporting survivors and their communities, and addressing the inequities in the nation’s disaster programs.
Fortunately, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is turning these observations into reality and has introduced gamechanging legislation to begin meeting this need. Reps. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, John Garamendi, D-Fairfield, and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., along with Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., are leading an effort to create a National Disaster Safety Board.
Modeled on the success of the National Transportation Safety Board, the disaster board would conduct independent reviews of major disasters; investigate the underlying causes of deaths, injuries and other impacts; and recommend solutions to prevent tragic outcomes. It also would leverage the experience of local and state emergency managers to identify and elevate successes that can be replicated across the country.
The bipartisan support for this bill demonstrates growing recognition that our country must do a better job of learning from disasters if we are to prevent natural hazards like storms or wildfires from turning into human catastrophes. Just as the NTSB can recommend new technology or training following an airplane crash, the National Disaster Safety Board could recommend changes in codes and standards, improvements to land use and hazard mitigation planning, or better resource allocations to serve the most vulnerable.
Importantly, the board would put special focus on assessing and addressing impacts to people of color, low-income people, those with disabilities and others who are disproportionately affected by disasters. It also would provide guidance and technical assistance to carry out its recommendations and coordinate its efforts with government agencies, academic institutions and professional organizations.
This legislation is a historic step in preparing for disasters in a climate-changed present and future. Establishing a National Disaster Safety Board is the kind of commonsense, bipartisan advance that we need to make all our communities safer. It is long past time for us to apply the lessons of past disasters so that we can prevent future suffering.