Dear Editor,
Every night, the news brings us stories of families losing their homes to floods, tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters. The scale of this natural devastation reflects a growing national crisis. Yet where are the reports of our government responding to the enormous needs of people who are clearly suffering?
Are the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross and relief organizations expected to shoulder the growing burden of helping hundreds of families whose homes have been destroyed or damaged, while businesses are left wondering how they will survive and entire communities struggle to rebuild their lives?
We are facing a crisis that is, in part, the consequence of years of neglect of our environment and failure to adequately prepare for the consequences of a changing climate. Yet too often, it seems that Washington is more focused on political battles and spectacle than on the people who are suffering.
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I am genuinely curious to know how our legislators view this crisis and what they believe our government should be doing to address it. More importantly, I would like to know how they intend to respond.
Alis Headlam
Rutland, Vt.
