As Florida copes with Hurricane Milton – in the wake of Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, which killed hundreds and caused at least an estimated $100 billion in damage across the southeastern United States – ActionAid stands in solidarity with all affected by the storms. The devastation caused by these storms is a stark reminder that some people are more vulnerable than others: many could not evacuate simply because they could not afford to do so.
Headline-grabbing celebrity donations to relief funds; unhoused individuals forced to turn to nonprofits for support in the face of disaster; people unable to evacuate because they can’t afford gas or simply have nowhere to go: all these are signs that our government isn’t fulfilling its duty. Despite what some politicians might say, we are living in an era of increasingly devastating climate impacts, and long-term public investment in resilience and disaster response is what will save lives.
This is as true in the United States as it is in poorer and more vulnerable countries around the world. The difference is that the United States can afford to pay, and we must hold our government accountable for supporting vulnerable people facing disaster. Hurricanes Milton and Helene make it clear: there are no more safe havens from climate impacts, and the US must do its fair share globally and domestically. We need bold leadership and true climate justice for today and the future.