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Severe thunderstorms hit my hometown of Durham, NC last week, bringing 80 mph winds and flash flooding across our community. Around half the county was without power for more than 24 hours– presenting serious health risks for our most vulnerable neighbors, as temperatures (and humidity levels) climbed into the mid-90s. 
96% of people in the United States have faced extreme weather risks this summer (from flooding, storms, heat, or fire) according to the new “Danger Season” tool from the Union of Concerned Scientists that tracks county-level alerts. 

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls – including new polling on the Inflation Reduction Act.

Last week, we saw breaking news on August 8th describing what is now being called “the deadliest wildfire in over a century” in Maui, HI (the traditional territories of the Nā moku ʻehā). With families still being reunited, people still missing, and a cause yet to be determined, the dire situation is still unfolding as the aftermath of this event continues to be discovered. Many local residents, Indigenous folks, and climate activists who have long warned of such an event, have taken to social media to ask for support, offer resources, and give their understanding of why a fire that was so devastating, occurred in an area that has not been prone to wildfires.