Harris to announce $1 billion to states for flooding and extreme heat

The White House will make more than $1 billion available to states to address flooding and extreme heat exacerbated by climate change.

Vice President Kamala Harris will announce the grant programs Monday at an event in Miami with the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other officials. Competitive grants will help communities across the country prepare for and respond to weather-related disasters.

“We know that the impacts of the climate crisis are here and that we must invest in building resilience to protect our communities, infrastructure and economy,” the White House said in a statement.

Harris will visit the National Hurricane Center for a briefing from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and FEMA. He will also visit Florida International University, where he is expected to address extreme weather events across the country, including flooding in Kentucky and Missouri and wildfires in California.

Harris will speak about the plan during her visit to Miami at 4 pm Monday.

The announcement comes as the death toll from massive flooding in Kentucky continued to rise Sunday amid a renewed threat of heavier rain. In the west, wildfires in California and Montana grew in size amid hot and windy conditions, engulfing neighborhoods and forcing evacuation orders.

Officials said that more than 100 million residents across the US have been experiencing drought, while others have faced catastrophic flooding, such as Kentucky, where more than two dozen people have died amid increasing flooding.

“These investments improve wildfire response and reduce the overall loss of critical infrastructure and resources while prioritizing assistance to underserved communities,” the White House said.

[Con información de The Associated Press]

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and turn on notifications, or follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.