Two weeks ago, Hurricane Beryl set a record as the earliest Category 5 hurricane observed in the Atlantic. With winds greater than 157 miles per hour, Category 5 hurricanes are deadly, destroying homes and leading to power outages that can last months.  

Beryl’s explosive intensity was partly fueled by record warm ocean temperatures –– closer to what would be observed in September, peak hurricane season.  

Climate change is making major storms like Beryl more frequent, severe and costly. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 1980s saw around three weather and climate disasters each year that caused more than $1 billion in damage. In 2023, there were 28 –– almost 10 times as many. 

When it comes to major hurricanes, slashing climate pollution will help in the long term. But in the short term, these weather disasters are here to stay, so we need to adapt. Here are a few places where EDF is helping communities build resilience: