Alejandra Borunda

They manage fisheries. They protect species like whales and corals. I could keep going. They do a lot.

Yeah, so staffing is definitely one thing. Hundreds of people have been fired so far. We know that's already affecting weather forecasting in some parts of the country. It's delayed the opening of some fishing seasons, which is a big deal for coastal communities. There are plans to essentially eliminate one of the research wings, you know, along with other climate work across the agency.

Yeah, so staffing is definitely one thing. Hundreds of people have been fired so far. We know that's already affecting weather forecasting in some parts of the country. It's delayed the opening of some fishing seasons, which is a big deal for coastal communities. There are plans to essentially eliminate one of the research wings, you know, along with other climate work across the agency.

Yeah, so staffing is definitely one thing. Hundreds of people have been fired so far. We know that's already affecting weather forecasting in some parts of the country. It's delayed the opening of some fishing seasons, which is a big deal for coastal communities. There are plans to essentially eliminate one of the research wings, you know, along with other climate work across the agency.

And there are more budget cuts on the way. So a draft proposal from the White House for 2026 would reduce NOAA's current budget by more than 25%.

And there are more budget cuts on the way. So a draft proposal from the White House for 2026 would reduce NOAA's current budget by more than 25%.

And there are more budget cuts on the way. So a draft proposal from the White House for 2026 would reduce NOAA's current budget by more than 25%.

Yeah, so the budget proposal would keep funding even for the National Weather Service, right? That's the weather forecasting part. But, you know, in practice, they've been hit hard already because of those people that have been fired. And some scientists think they're already seeing weather forecasts get less accurate.

Yeah, so the budget proposal would keep funding even for the National Weather Service, right? That's the weather forecasting part. But, you know, in practice, they've been hit hard already because of those people that have been fired. And some scientists think they're already seeing weather forecasts get less accurate.

Yeah, so the budget proposal would keep funding even for the National Weather Service, right? That's the weather forecasting part. But, you know, in practice, they've been hit hard already because of those people that have been fired. And some scientists think they're already seeing weather forecasts get less accurate.

Yeah. So there's a lot of funding that the federal government provides for preparing for disasters. A lot. FEMA has awarded more than four and a half billion dollars since 2020 to help communities prepare. You know, these are grants they've already told communities that they're getting. They're on the way. But now they've been canceled. OK, so what were these grants for?

Yeah. So there's a lot of funding that the federal government provides for preparing for disasters. A lot. FEMA has awarded more than four and a half billion dollars since 2020 to help communities prepare. You know, these are grants they've already told communities that they're getting. They're on the way. But now they've been canceled. OK, so what were these grants for?

Yeah. So there's a lot of funding that the federal government provides for preparing for disasters. A lot. FEMA has awarded more than four and a half billion dollars since 2020 to help communities prepare. You know, these are grants they've already told communities that they're getting. They're on the way. But now they've been canceled. OK, so what were these grants for?

OK, yeah, here's an example. So there's this tiny community of Depew, Illinois. They have a big problem, which is when it rains a lot, it causes flooding and it floods their sewage treatment plant. It gets inundated with water. And that means people may not be able to flush their toilets. Daniel Hoffert, the village president of Depew, told me about it.

OK, yeah, here's an example. So there's this tiny community of Depew, Illinois. They have a big problem, which is when it rains a lot, it causes flooding and it floods their sewage treatment plant. It gets inundated with water. And that means people may not be able to flush their toilets. Daniel Hoffert, the village president of Depew, told me about it.

OK, yeah, here's an example. So there's this tiny community of Depew, Illinois. They have a big problem, which is when it rains a lot, it causes flooding and it floods their sewage treatment plant. It gets inundated with water. And that means people may not be able to flush their toilets. Daniel Hoffert, the village president of Depew, told me about it.

Yeah, you need that sewage to run. Exactly. Because if the plant isn't working, the sewage actually backs up in the pipes. It even spills into the basements of people's houses. And in past storms, they've had more than 100 houses that were affected. Fixing it means moving the wastewater treatment plant to higher ground. And that's expensive, you know, $25 million.

Yeah, you need that sewage to run. Exactly. Because if the plant isn't working, the sewage actually backs up in the pipes. It even spills into the basements of people's houses. And in past storms, they've had more than 100 houses that were affected. Fixing it means moving the wastewater treatment plant to higher ground. And that's expensive, you know, $25 million.

Yeah, you need that sewage to run. Exactly. Because if the plant isn't working, the sewage actually backs up in the pipes. It even spills into the basements of people's houses. And in past storms, they've had more than 100 houses that were affected. Fixing it means moving the wastewater treatment plant to higher ground. And that's expensive, you know, $25 million.

And Hofford says it would take them decades to collect enough tax revenue because, you know, only about 1,500 people live there. So he applied to FEMA for this program specifically for projects that prevent disaster damage.