The Climate Crisis is Here, but Is the U.S. Government Ready? Lessons from LA and Florida

Abstract

The escalating climate disasters in the United States, including the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the 2024 Florida hurricanes, have revealed significant deficiencies in the nation's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from environmental catastrophes. This study investigates whether U.S. climate policies adequately safeguard vulnerable communities or if political inaction, misinformation, and partisanship have left the country exposed to climate threats. This study employs a multi-method approach, including policy analysis, case studies, and international comparisons. It examines federal and state disaster response strategies, evaluates legislative efforts such as the Inflation Reduction Act, and assesses the climate policies of recent presidential administrations, including Obama, Trump, and Biden. Additionally, the research incorporates global climate adaptation strategies, drawing lessons from the Netherlands’ flood resilience system and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Findings indicate systemic delays in response, inadequate resource distribution, and insufficient investment in proactive climate adaptation. Federal initiatives like FEMA disaster relief and the Inflation Reduction Act provide short-term assistance but lack long-term cohesion. Comparative analysis highlights that while other nations invest heavily in climate-resilient infrastructure, the U.S. remains fragmented in its approach. This article argues that the U.S. remains reactive rather than proactive in addressing climate change-induced crises. Without urgent and systemic reforms, the U.S. will continue to face escalating economic, environmental, and human costs from climate disasters, leaving millions unprotected and exacerbating socio-economic inequalities.