Hey John, 

As we reflect on the 15-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we want to recognize that hurricanes remain a persistent and worsening threat to people and places. Hurricane Laura hit the southern United States last week, where communities are still recovering from the significant damage caused by the storm.

Last week on August 29 also marked the 15-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which wrought havoc on the Gulf Coast in the southeastern United States and resulted in $125 billion in damages. The lasting impacts of this storm continue to fall most heavily on Black people and poor people, many of whom were displaced and saw their houses and livelihoods washed away.

Fifteen years later, not everyone has returned to the Gulf Coast, and life is not back to normal for many. For a long time, Hurricane Katrina was the costliest storm in history (currently tied with 2017’s Hurricane Harvey). When storms like this hit, the communities that experience disproportionate environmental harms and risks—such as tribal communities, Black communities, under-resourced communities, and communities of color—are the ones who have the most to lose.

The climate crisis, coupled with environmental injustice, coexists with structural racism. Climate justice is racial justice, and Hurricane Katrina is a prime example of what happens when we don’t properly invest in equity.

We need to call out climate denial. Pretending the climate crisis does not exist puts communities living on the margins at risk first, and most often.

We are currently in the middle of hurricane season. Climate change threatens to significantly increase the frequency and severity of storms, like Hurricanes Katrina and Laura, over time. Simply ignoring climate science or denying that the climate crisis is even real has real-world implications.

The politicians elected to represent us in office are supposed to represent the best interests of their constituents. Thoughts and prayers are simply not enough—we need actual, bold, sweeping solutions to the climate crisis.

That is why none of us can let up on our campaign to Get The Facts Out. We are here to speak truth to power and call out members of Congress and the Trump administration who are willfully ignoring the science in front of us.

In 2005 we couldn’t afford climate denial and we sure can’t today. Will you join me in calling out climate deniers on their inaction?

Lotanna Obodozie
Advocacy Associate
Generation Progress