This is the first part of our “The Cost of Ignorance” series: a set of weekly campaigns that shine a spotlight on how the Trump administration is making America less safe, with the aim of inspiring more people to speak out. Research by Potential Energy and others shows that people are more motivated to speak up when they see how they are personally impacted.

This week, we’re focusing on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss how cuts to both agencies are already having tangible impacts on all of us personally.

The recent flash floods in Texas, North Carolina, and New Mexico make it clear that climate-fueled disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity. Without proper weather forecasting, warning systems, and disaster preparedness, we and our communities will be the ones to bear the brunt of the consequences.

Recent budget and staffing cuts have had a devastating impact on both NOAA and FEMA’s operations, threatening the agencies that play the biggest roles when disasters strike. The result is an understaffed Weather Service office, a lack of preparedness ahead of hurricane season, and the loss of critical experience and institutional knowledge when long-time employees are laid off or induced into early retirement.

The gutting of these vital agencies makes us all less safe.

Even though the forecasts and warnings were accurate ahead of the flash floods in Texas, there were still vacancies in critical positions at local offices as the disaster unfolded. FEMA’s response was also slowed due to a new rule requiring Secretary Noem’s approval for grants and contracts above $100,000. Staffers were left unable to pre-position Urban Search and Rescue crews, and even faced delays sending additional support staff for disaster call centers.

With the Trump administration still seeking substantial cuts to climate and weather research—not to mention the outright elimination of FEMA—inaccurate forecasts, insufficient warnings, and reduced disaster response will make all of us less safe.

Ultimately, the solution will be to elect a new administration that works to make America safe again, but in the meantime, we must do what we can:

• We can help nonprofits fill the gaps. Organizations working in disaster relief already know that they can’t provide the breadth of resources FEMA has to offer—but that isn’t stopping groups like Team Rubicon, CORE, and Good360 from shifting their strategies and readying themselves to step up in ways they haven’t before.

• We can encourage states to work together. Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact—a mutual aid system that facilitates resource-sharing between states—several states have helped support Texas’s disaster response efforts. Additionally, the attorneys general of 20 states have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration for defunding the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. With any luck, the preliminary injunction they’ve filed will go through, restoring the funding that communities are counting on while the lawsuit proceeds.

• We can continue to speak out. There are so many ways to act! Whether you’re advocating for change using the Climate Action Now app or working to connect the dots between climate change and extreme weather in your own community, every act helps us build a better future.

Thank you for being here and joining us in facing the current moment. Action is the antidote to despair!