1. The Fires Themselves:

• Driven by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds reaching 100 mph and dry conditions due to an aggressive dry season, the fires are the most destructive in the city's history (Rolling Stone).
• At least five people have died, over 130,000 residents have been evacuated, and over 2,000 structures have been burned (Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times).
• Over 7,500 fire personnel have been deployed, but containment remains a challenge (California Gov. Gavin Newsom).
• The fires are likely exacerbated by climate change, creating conditions ripe for rapid spread and ignition (Inside Climate News).
• Water infrastructure faced unprecedented strain with some fire hydrants running dry due to extreme demand, not budget cuts (Inside Climate News).

2. Politicization and Misinformation:

• Blaming DEI Initiatives: Prominent figures like Elon Musk and Megyn Kelly spread the false claim that the LAFD's diversity initiatives hindered firefighting efforts, exemplified by Musk's tweet, "DEI means people DIE." (Rolling Stone, The Washington Post).
• Attacking Gov. Newsom: President-elect Trump falsely accused Newsom of refusing to sign a non-existent water restoration declaration to protect the Delta smelt, diverting water needed for firefighting. This claim was debunked by experts and Newsom's office (Inside Climate News, Rolling Stone).
• Conspiracy Theories: Alex Jones propagated the theory that the fires were a planned attack to destabilize the US, gaining traction on X (formerly Twitter) (Rolling Stone). Wild claims about Sean "Diddy" Combs' arrest and underground tunnels being destroyed by the fires circulated on TikTok (Rolling Stone).
• Misleading Budget Narratives: Social media and outlets like Fox News falsely accused Mayor Karen Bass of slashing the LAFD budget, ignoring the context of new contracts and increased firefighter salaries. Bass refuted these claims, stating that budget cuts did not impact firefighting capabilities (Inside Climate News, Mother Jones).
• Racialized Looting Concerns: Although officials warned about looting, online rhetoric often took a racist tone, with a viral (and debunked) tweet falsely accusing men of looting based on a news clip showing homeowners evacuating (Rolling Stone).

3. Role of Social Media:

• Elon Musk's Influence: Musk's use of X to amplify far-right narratives and attack individuals based on their identity highlights how his platform has become a megaphone for his own political views (The Washington Post).
• Amplification of Misinformation: X, once a hub for breaking news, has become less reliable due to reduced fact-checking and the prioritization of paid conservative accounts (The Washington Post).
• Lack of Context: The spread of out-of-context information about the LAFD budget and the Delta smelt demonstrates how misinformation can flourish in the absence of accurate, nuanced reporting (Inside Climate News).

This underscores the dangerous intersection of natural disasters and the spread of misinformation. As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, the need for accurate, reliable information will only grow more urgent.

2024: A Year of Record-Breaking Heat and Climate Impacts

The overarching theme is clear: 2024 was the hottest year on record globally, exceeding the 1.5°C warming threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement for the first time and bringing a cascade of extreme weather events

• Record-breaking Temperatures: 2024 was the hottest year on record globally, surpassing 2023's record. Global temperatures were 1.6°C warmer than the pre-industrial level (1850-1900) according to Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), and 2.3°F warmer than NASA's 20th-century baseline (1951-1980) according to NASA's analysis. (Copernicus, NASA, UN, NPR, Al Jazeera)
• 1.5°C Threshold Exceeded: The global average temperature exceeded the 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement for the first time, although exceeding it in a single year does not mean the agreement has been breached. (Copernicus)
• Record Warmth Throughout the Year: Every month from January to June 2024 was warmer than the corresponding month in any previous year. July and August saw the hottest day and summer on record, respectively. (Copernicus, Al Jazeera)
• Warmest Decade on Record: The past 10 years
• Human Activities Driving Warming: Scientists attribute the warming trend to the release of heat-trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels. (NASA)
• Climate Change Impacts contributed to extreme weather events across the globe, including:
• Heat Waves: Extreme heat events were widespread, with many regions experiencing "strong" or even "extreme" heat stress.
• Floods: Heavy rainfall events caused widespread flooding, such as in Nigeria, Europe, and Australia.
• Wildfires: Prolonged dry conditions fueled devastating wildfires in Canada, South America, and other regions.
• Hurricanes: Warmer ocean temperatures intensified hurricane activity, with Hurricane Beryl in the Atlantic becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record.
• El Niño: A strong El Niño event in 2023 Reduced Aerosol Emissions: Changes in shipping regulations led to a reduction in sulfate aerosols in the atmosphere
• Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcanic Eruption: The 2022 volcanic eruption injected water vapor into the atmosphere

SoCal Wildfire Tips from Evacuation to Air Quality - January 9, 2025

Situation: Multiple wildfires, including the Palisades Fire, are raging across Southern California fueled by strong winds and low humidity. Tens of thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate, with over 1,000 homes and structures destroyed.

Urgent Actions:

• Evacuate immediately if ordered: Residents in affected areas must evacuate without delay when instructed by officials. Do not wait for the fire to approach. ("California fire evacuations- How to prepare, what to pack and what to do if you'.pdf")
• Sign up for emergency alerts: Stay informed about fire spread, evacuation orders, and other critical information by signing up for alerts from Cal Fire, LA County, and Ventura County. Utilize resources like the Watch Duty app for real-time updates. ("How to Stay Safe as Fires Sweep Southern California - The New York Times.pdf")
• Protect yourself from smoke: Minimize exposure to wildfire smoke by staying indoors, closing windows, and running air purifiers. If going outside is necessary, wear an N95 mask. ("How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires - Los Angeles Ti.pdf", "Wildfire smoke poses health hazard in LA - NPR.pdf")

Health Impacts:

• Respiratory Issues: Wildfire smoke can trigger asthma attacks, exacerbate COPD, and cause other respiratory problems.
• Cardiovascular Risks: Smoke exposure can worsen heart conditions and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
• Long-Term Effects: Studies suggest a link between wildfire smoke exposure and an increased risk of dementia. Evacuation & Shelter Resources:

• Evacuation Centers: Multiple evacuation centers are open, including Westwood Recreation Center, El Camino Real Charter High School, and Pasadena Civic Center. ("Palisades fire- Evacuations, road closures, shelters, forecast - Los Angeles Tim.pdf", "SoCal wildfire evacuation centers - ABC7 Los Angeles.pdf")
• Animal Shelters: Dedicated shelters are available for small and large animals at various locations throughout the affected areas. ("Palisades fire- Evacuations, road closures, shelters, forecast - Los Angeles Tim.pdf", "SoCal wildfire evacuation centers - ABC7 Los Angeles.pdf")
• School Closures: Many schools in Los Angeles and surrounding areas are closed due to evacuations, air quality, and safety concerns. LAUSD is providing meal distribution at select locations for students. ("Palisades fire- Evacuations, road closures, shelters, forecast - Los Angeles Tim.pdf")

Further Information:

• Cal Fire website: https://www.fire.ca.gov/
• LA County Emergency website: https://lacounty.gov/emergency/
• Air Quality Information: https://www.airnow.gov/ and https://www.arb.ca.gov/
• Watch Duty App: Download from app stores
• FEMA Shelter Locator: Text “SHELTER” and your ZIP code to 43362

Major Winter Storm Threatens Southern US

Situation: A major winter storm, named Cora, is forecast to impact a large swath of the southern United States between Wednesday, January 8, 2025 and Saturday, January 11, 2025. The storm will bring a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, creating hazardous travel conditions and potential disruptions to daily life.

Geographic Scope:

• Primarily Impacted: A 1,400-mile stretch from North Texas to the North Carolina coast, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
• Potentially Affected: Southern Kansas and Missouri, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast (lighter snow accumulations expected).

Timeline:

• Wednesday Night: Spotty wintry weather begins in western Texas.
• Thursday: The storm strengthens, bringing significant snow and ice to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and surrounding areas.
• Friday: The storm tracks eastward, bringing snow and icy mix to Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
• Saturday: Lingering snow possible along the Eastern Seaboard and in the Appalachians. The storm moves offshore and potentially strengthens into a bomb cyclone in the Atlantic, posing no threat to the East Coast.

Impacts:

• Snowfall:Highest accumulations expected from northeast Texas and southeast Oklahoma through Tennessee and the southern Appalachians (potentially exceeding 6 inches).
• 3+ inches possible in northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
• Lighter accumulations (dusting to a few inches) possible in surrounding regions.
• Ice:Sleet and freezing rain expected in central and northern Texas, southern Arkansas, and potentially other areas as warmer air mixes in.
• "Any amount of ice is dangerous; just a thin layer — even a tenth of an inch — can turn paved surfaces into skating rinks." (CNN)
• Travel Disruptions:"Treacherous travel conditions and the potential for road closures, flight delays and cancellations, and school and business disruptions." (The Washington Post)
• Major interstates, including I-20, I-30, I-35, and I-40, likely to be impacted.
• Power Outages:"Frigid temperatures will increase power demands in Texas but grid conditions are expected to be normal", according to ERCOT. (CNN) However, the risk of outages remains, especially in areas with significant ice accumulation.
• Flooding: Possible in coastal Texas due to heavy thunderstorms.

Noteworthy Points:

• This storm is expected to be the biggest snow event in several years for many southern states.
• Atlanta, which hasn’t had significant snowfall in nearly seven years, has a moderate chance of receiving measurable snow.
• The storm's track is still subject to change, which could alter snow and ice accumulations.
• A separate storm system may interact with Cora, potentially bringing additional light snow to the Midwest and Northeast.
• Following the storm, a prolonged period of frigid temperatures is expected across much of the US.

Southern California Wildfires Intensify

Overview:

This briefing document synthesizes information from four news articles covering the devastating wildfires raging across Los Angeles County in early January 2025. These fires, fueled by an unprecedented combination of extreme Santa Ana winds and prolonged drought conditions, have caused widespread destruction, claiming lives and displacing thousands of residents.

Key Findings:

1. Destructive Impact: As of January 8th, 2025, over 1,000 structures have been destroyed across multiple wildfires. The Palisades fire alone has consumed over 5,000 acres, reaching the Pacific Coast Highway and incinerating homes. The Eaton fire near Altadena and Pasadena has burned over 2,200 acres and claimed two lives.
2. "More than a thousand homes, businesses and other buildings have burned and at least two people are dead in wildfires scorching communities across L.A. County, making this one of the most destructive firestorms to hit the region in memory." (Los Angeles Times)
3. Unprecedented Weather Conditions: The driving force behind these fires is a rare convergence of climate factors. The region is experiencing its worst high-wind event since 2011, coupled with record-breaking dry conditions for early January. Strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts exceeding 90 mph in some areas, are whipping the flames and challenging firefighting efforts.
4. "The wildfires are the result of an unheard-of combination of factors at this time of year — the worst high wind event in Southern California since 2011, plus some of the driest conditions on record for early January." (Axios)
5. "The National Weather Service warned that this could be the strongest Santa Ana wind event in Southern California in over 13 years, since Dec. 1 2011" (Yale Climate Connections)
6. Climate Change Link: Experts are connecting the severity of these fires to the escalating impacts of climate change. Prolonged drought, fueled by a hotter, drier climate, creates ample fuel for fires. The extended dry period is intersecting with the Santa Ana wind season, leading to a dangerous overlap of extreme conditions.
7. "Climate change is increasing the overlap between extremely dry vegetation conditions later in the season and the occurrence of these wind events." (UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain, quoted in Axios)
8. Difficult Firefighting Conditions: The strong winds are grounding firefighting aircraft, hampering containment efforts. The fires are exhibiting "extreme fire behavior," including long-range spotting, making them challenging to control.
9. "The fire is being fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and surrounding topography, which makes it extremely challenging for us firefighters to really get a handle on it.” (Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott, quoted in the Los Angeles Times)
10. Evacuations and Looting: Tens of thousands of residents are under evacuation orders due to the rapidly spreading fires. Law enforcement officials have reported arrests for looting in evacuated zones.
11. "Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 32,500 residents were under evacuation orders in the Eaton fire area and another 37,000 residents were ordered to be evacuated in the Palisades fire. Two people have been arrested on suspicion of looting in the evacuated zones, he said." (Los Angeles Times)

Biden Designates Two New National Monuments in California

On January 7, 2025, President Biden designated two new national monuments in California: Chuckwalla National Monument in the southern California desert and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in the state's northern mountainous interior. This action protects a combined 848,000 acres of land with significant ecological, cultural, historical, and scientific value. The move is lauded by environmental groups and California officials as a major victory for conservation efforts, while drawing criticism from some as a politically motivated attempt to thwart the agenda of incoming President Trump.

Key Themes:

• Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation: The monument designations are framed as key components of the Biden Administration's ambitious conservation agenda and commitment to tackling climate change. These actions protect biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and contribute to the “America the Beautiful” initiative, aiming to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
• Tribal Sovereignty and Cultural Heritage Preservation: Both monuments encompass ancestral lands and sacred sites of Indigenous peoples. The designations prioritize tribal co-management and recognize the importance of Indigenous knowledge in land stewardship. Notably, the Sáttítla Highlands Monument protects the Medicine Lake Volcano, a site of immense cultural and spiritual significance for the Pit River Tribe.
• Political Legacy and Inter-Party Conflict: The timing of the monument designations, just days before the inauguration of President Trump, suggests a strategic maneuver to solidify Biden's environmental legacy and potentially limit his successor's ability to pursue resource extraction in these areas. Trump has criticized the move, vowing to revoke the protections on his first day in office, setting the stage for potential legal battles.
• Scale of Protection: “With today’s designations and yesterday’s actions to protect the East and West coasts and the Northern Bering Sea from offshore oil and natural gas drilling, President Biden has now protected 674 million acres of U.S. lands and waters.” (White House Fact Sheet)
• Conservation Corridor: “Establishing the Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California is President Biden’s capstone action to create the largest corridor of protected lands in the continental United States, covering nearly 18 million acres stretching approximately 600 miles. This new Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor protects wildlife habitat and a wide range of natural and cultural resources along the Colorado River, across the Colorado Plateau, and into the deserts of California.” (White House Fact Sheet)
• Economic Benefits: "National monuments do more than preserve beautiful and culturally significant places; they also drive substantial economic benefits for surrounding communities. Studies have consistently shown that conservation of public lands correlates with growth in local economies, particularly through tourism and recreation." (California Governor's Office press release)
• Trump's Opposition: “They took away 625 million acres of offshore drilling... nobody else does that. I’m going to have it revoked on day one. If we need to we’ll go to the courts, if they try to be sneaky... remember this is a man who said he wants the transition to be smooth. You don’t do those kind of things... We’re going to be drilling soon.” (President Trump, quoted in Yahoo News article)

Risks Become Reality: 2024 Altered Extreme Weather

This briefing summarizes the key findings of the World Weather Attribution (WWA) report "When Risks Become Reality: Extreme Weather in 2024," analyzing the year's extreme weather events and their connection to climate change.

Key Themes:

1. Escalating Extreme Weather Events: The report emphasizes the unprecedented levels of extreme weather experienced in 2024, including heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms, and floods. These events resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. The report states that "Extreme weather reached dangerous new heights in 2024," demonstrating the increasing threat of a 1.3°C warmer world.
2. Climate Change as a Key Driver: WWA studies directly link climate change to the increased intensity and likelihood of many of these extreme weather events. They analyzed 26 events and found climate change was a significant contributing factor in each, leading to the deaths of at least 3,700 people.
3. Dangerous Heat Days on the Rise: New analysis by Climate Central, included in the report, shows a global average increase of 41 dangerous heat days in 2024 due to climate change. This poses a severe threat to human health, particularly impacting vulnerable small island and developing states.
4. Impacts Beyond El Niño: While the El Niño weather pattern influenced early 2024 events, WWA studies consistently found climate change played a more significant role than El Niño in driving events like the historic Amazon drought. This highlights the growing dominance of climate change's influence over natural climate variations.
5. Record Rainfall and Flooding: 2024 saw record-breaking global temperatures that led to record-breaking rainfall and devastating floods worldwide. Of the 16 flood events studied, 15 were linked to climate change-amplified rainfall. This aligns with the understanding that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, resulting in heavier downpours.
6. Amazon Under Threat: The Amazon rainforest and Pantanal Wetland suffered severe droughts and wildfires in 2024, causing significant biodiversity loss. The report underscores the critical role of the Amazon as a global carbon sink and emphasizes the need to halt deforestation to protect these vital ecosystems.
7. Intensified Storms: Hotter seas and warmer air contributed to more destructive storms like Hurricane Helene and Typhoon Gaemi. Research points to climate change increasing wind speeds and rainfall in these storms. WWA analysis shows an increasing risk of multiple high-intensity typhoons hitting the Philippines due to climate change.

Conclusion:

The WWA report underscores the undeniable link between human-induced climate change and the intensifying extreme weather events witnessed in 2024. It serves as a stark reminder of the urgency to accelerate global action on climate change mitigation and adaptation to protect lives, ecosystems, and the future of our planet.

BEACON: Florida's New AI-Driven Hurricane & Emergency Alert System

Overview:

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), in collaboration with the University of Florida and AI company Futuri, has launched BEACON, an innovative artificial intelligence-driven emergency messaging system. This system aims to provide real-time, targeted alerts before, during, and after disasters, primarily focusing on hurricane preparedness in Florida.

Key Features:

• AI-Powered: BEACON utilizes artificial intelligence to process information from local, state, and federal agencies, including the National Weather Service and IPAWS.
• Text-to-Voice Conversion: The system converts text-based information into human-sounding voice messages for broadcast.
• Multilingual: Currently available in English and Spanish, BEACON plans to incorporate Haitian Creole and other languages.
• Radio-Based: Utilizes the robust and resilient infrastructure of AM radio, FM HD channels, and a dedicated mobile app for dissemination.

Functionality:

BEACON gathers relevant emergency information, personalizes it based on location, and broadcasts it via radio and the BEACON app. This provides actionable information to residents and visitors, complementing existing alert systems like the Emergency Alert System.

Benefits:

• Improved Communication: Enables faster and more targeted information delivery, potentially saving lives.
• "I guarantee you, sometime over the next decade, that we will save lives," said FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie.
• Enhanced Resilience: Leverages radio's reliability, ensuring communication even during power outages.
• "So why radio? Because radio survives even the harshest storms," said Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.
• Targeted Messaging: Delivers personalized alerts based on specific geographic locations and needs.
• Accessibility: Reaches diverse communities, including those with limited internet access.

Pilot and Expansion:

The initial BEACON site launched at WUFT public radio station in Gainesville, serving the Gainesville-Ocala market. FDEM aims to expand the system statewide before the 2025 hurricane season, with plans for a Southwest Florida launch in the coming months.

Quotes:

• "BEACON combines new technology with the reliability and power of broadcast radio to deliver messages directly to the communities that need them the most," - Kevin Guthrie, FDEM Director.
• "This has been a longtime coming." - Craig Fugate, Former FEMA Director.
• "It complements those warnings by now giving people actionable information about what they need to do," - Craig Fugate.
• "We want to use this as a preparedness tool as we get ready to go into severe weather season,” - Kevin Guthrie.
• "All of the information that we’re receiving is actually vetted at the local level or the state level or the federal level. It’s coming from the storm weather prediction center. It’s coming from local national weather service,” - Kevin Guthrie.

Conclusion:

BEACON represents a significant advancement in Florida's emergency preparedness strategy. Its utilization of AI and radio broadcasting ensures reliable and timely communication, empowering communities to make informed decisions during critical events. The statewide expansion holds the potential to significantly enhance public safety and disaster response effectiveness.