Rob Moore
robnrdc.bsky.social
Rob Moore
@robnrdc.bsky.social
Works at the Natural Resources Defense Council on issues related to climate adaptation, insurance, policy, and escalating disaster risks due to climate change. Also a real downer at cocktail parties.
Illinois AG's seeking information about State Farm's huge rate increases in Illinois. That may turn up other factors, but I told @Law360 why premiums may rise for years to come.

"If our homes aren't built for the future, then homes won't be insurable in the future."
www.law360.com/insurance-au...
Illinois Seeking Transparency With State Farm Suit, Pros Say - Law360 Insurance Authority
In suing State Farm for homeowners insurance data, the state of Illinois is taking an approach to regulating carriers with transparency in mind that could be replicated elsewhere, but lowering climate...
www.law360.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Headquartered in Illinois, State Farm is not interested on providing data to the Illinois Department of Insurance about its insurance business.

Illinois AG is going to have State Farm explain this to the courts.

www.chicagobusiness.com/insurance/il...
State Farm faces lawsuit from Illinois amid scrutiny over rate increases
The suit alleges State Farm refused to comply with a Department of Insurance examination into its homeowners business.
www.chicagobusiness.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
My op-ed was published today in @crainschicago.bsky.social re: whyt Illinois must do more on risk reduction and climate resilience in order to keep homeowners insurance prices stable. One need only look to LA, CA, and FL for what happens if you don't. www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/illi...
Opinion: Illinois faces an insurability crisis — not just an insurance crisis
Rising premiums show Illinois faces an insurability crisis fueled by climate risk — and price regulation alone won’t keep coverage affordable.
www.chicagobusiness.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Gilbert Gaul's recent piece in @yalee360.bsky.social should be required reading for state insurance regulators and officials who are responsible for bldg codes and land use.

Where, what, and how we build today define tomorrow's problems.

e360.yale.edu/features/cli...
How Climate Risks Are Putting Home Insurance Out of Reach
After years underestimating the risks posed by climate-fueled disasters, the U.S. home insurance industry is in turmoil. In vulnerable areas, rising insurance costs are upending housing markets and co...
e360.yale.edu
September 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
good inspiration

50 States, 50 Fixes www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
50 States, 50 Fixes
A series about local solutions, and the people behind them, to environmental problems.
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Time to circle the firing squad up.

www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Shutdown Looms as Senate Democrats Block Bill to Extend Funding
www.nytimes.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The administration's dismantling of risk reduction and disaster resilience programs will cost the nation dearly. My colleague, Anna Weber, makes a good case for keeping these programs.
progressive.org/op-eds/disas...
Disaster Resilience Planning Saves Money and Lives
Instead of cutting funds for disaster planning, the Trump Administration needs to prioritize risk reduction.
progressive.org
September 2, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Story on "beach nourishment" project in South Carolina contains all-too-predictable sentiments that illustrate the futility of these projects

1) you can't just spray sand and expect it to stick
2) identical project done in 2014 and 2018 (see 1 above)

www.postandcourier.com/charleston_s...
As peak hurricane season nears, how much sand is left after Folly Beach's $23M renourishment?
Nearly all of the new sand is still on Folly Beach a year after Army Corps began 2024 renourishment project, a good sign ahead of peak hurricane season.
www.postandcourier.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:54 PM
It's quiet out there...thank goodness.
July 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
If you missed Columbia University's Climate Mobility conference in June, you can learn more about it on @americaadapts.bsky.social.
www.americaadapts.org/episodes/ins...
Inside the MR2025 Conference: Planning for Adaptation, Mobility and Relocation in a Warming World — AMERICA ADAPTS The Climate Change Podcast
Inside the MR2025 Conference: Planning for Adaptation, Mobility and Relocation in a Warming World. Ep. 233.
www.americaadapts.org
July 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Does that make sense to anyone? In the aftermath of a flash flood that led to 120+ fatalities?

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
NOAA was developing a tool to help communities prepare for future rainfall. Trump officials stopped it.
The tool would have projected how climate change could affect rainfall frequency and intensity in communities across the nation.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Rob Moore
Beautiful Spending Bill That Makes Climate Change Worse Protects Chickens From Climate Change
🐔🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Senator Raises Climate Warning Amid Texas Floods and Trump’s Tax Bill
Sheldon Whitehouse will give his 300th floor speech on climate on Wednesday, less than a week after Congress rolled back clean energy incentives.
www.bloomberg.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Put down you Rolex Sec. Noem.

Times Up!

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/c...
FEMA Didn’t Answer Thousands of Calls From Flood Survivors, Documents Show
www.nytimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 11:57 PM
As President Trump heads to Texas, let's reflect on some of his previous disaster site visits, as told in this book.
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Whose-...
July 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
I think that's what's so troubling

“Without any official action,” the official said, “you’re already seeing the theory” of the administration’s new approach “taking place in Texas.”

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump administration backs away from abolishing FEMA
As Trump heads to Texas to see the impact of last week’s deadly flash floods, the White House has backed away from plans to abolish FEMA, officials said.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 11, 2025 at 1:23 PM
FEMA Administrator...I mean Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator (kinda)...nowhere to be seen.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
E&E News: FEMA leader is a no-show after deadly Texas flooding
David Richardson hasn't made public appearances, statements or social media postings since last week's flood. Former FEMA officials say that's concerning.
subscriber.politicopro.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Conspiracy theorists certain that weather radars operated by local
tv stations are weather control devices.

Not sure how we win this war of the minds. How does one correct such an amazingly off-kilter belief?
people who think the gvt controls the weather are a faction that is quickly gaining power on the right — and MTG says she's planning to introduce legislation on this soon

@davidgilbert.bsky.social & i looked at how these conspiracy theories got supercharged after the tx floods this weekend:
Conspiracy Theories About the Texas Floods Lead to Death Threats
Disinformation around a “weather weapon” and cloud seeding is being widely promoted by everyone from anti-government extremists to GOP influencers—leading to real-world consequences.
www.wired.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Sec Noem's personally approving any expenses in excess of $100,000 at DHS and FEMA

In the wake of disasters in TX and NC, that's a lot of reviewing and not much delivery of much needed services.

www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/p...
In Texas flood response, FEMA slowed by Noem’s cost controls | CNN Politics
As monstrous floodwaters surged across central Texas late last week, officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency leapt into action, preparing to deploy critical search and rescue teams and li...
www.cnn.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:19 PM
At the fireworks...people pulling in and setting up chairs and insist on leaving their headlights on.

me: "Can you please turn off your headlights?"

"Oh yeah, they'll turn off in a few minutes."

me: "How about you turn them off now...using the switch?
July 5, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Some much appreciated good news. Congratulations and thank you to @conservationfnd.bsky.social @selc.bsky.social and all who kept this mine from happening and saved one of the truly wild places in Georgia.

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Land deal ends controversial mining fight near Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp
The landmark deal ends a years-long fight over a proposed mine next to one of the South’s last truly wild places.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 20, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Rob Moore
Like I've said before, if you have any doubts about climate change, just go to a super-boring insurance conference and listen to the super-boring panels where they dryly talk about the growing threat of disasters so catastrophic and unpredictable in scope they simply cannot be insured at any price.
Wild how the Fed chair saying that *entire regions of the United States* won’t be able to get a mortgage in the next decade barely registered as a news event
June 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
If states want to follow the lead of FL, LA, and CA...they're well on their way.

Risk reduction is their only way out of this downward spiral.

And states could demonstrate a new model for insurance, via their FAIR plans.

www.nrdc.org/bio/alfonso-...
June 19, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Reposted by Rob Moore
Wild how the Fed chair saying that *entire regions of the United States* won’t be able to get a mortgage in the next decade barely registered as a news event
June 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM
File under "short-sighted", "small-minded", and "predictable"

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/c...
Why Rooftop Solar Could Crash Under the G.O.P. Tax Bill
www.nytimes.com
June 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM