Coastal communities, Tribal nations, and weather forecast accuracy are among the planned beneficiaries of $2.6 billion the Department of Commerce plans to use to help communities be more resilient to climate change, weather hazards and sea level rise.
It includes $575 million for regional challenge grants launched by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week.
More frequent and costly climate and extreme weather events have profound economic and social impacts on communities, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said earlier this month.
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The $2.6 billion - from the Inflation Reduction Act and previously announced funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - offer "transformational opportunities" to help communities prepare for climate impacts, Spinrad said.
"Now more than ever communities across the country are facing the realities of climate change and extreme weather," Spinrad said. "Since January in fact there have been a record setting seven disasters that have totaled a billion dollars or more each in damages."
A $575 million grant program for regional projects to help communities in coastal states and Great Lakes communities, including Tribal communities, collaborate to be more resilient to extreme weather events and other climate change impacts.
The challenge "will help communities that share common challenges work together to develop innovative solutions," said Gina Raimondo, secretary of the Department of Commerce.
The grant program has two tracks, $25 million for supporting collaborative building and strategy development and $550 million to focus on implementing climate adaptation actions. Projects may include acquiring vulnerable land, building natural infrastructure, strengthening or protecting coastal natural resources and planning and preparing for community-led relocation.
A devastating start to the year: 7 weather disasters, 97 lives lost, billions in damage
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NOAA: $2.6 billion will help communities prepare for weather disasters and climate change