Sara McTarnaghan
@sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social
All things climate change, adaptation, and affordable housing. Social policy researcher and co-lead of the Climate and Communities Program at Urban Institute.
📍DC with past lives in SF Bay Area, Santiago and Austin.
📍DC with past lives in SF Bay Area, Santiago and Austin.
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
My @urbaninstitute.bsky.social colleague @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social spoke to @npr.org's Marketplace about the importance - and fate - of hazard mitigation funding:
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
FEMA's future-proofing programs are in jeopardy
Over the last few years, FEMA’s BRIC program has awarded $4.5 billion worth of grants intended to help communities prepare for future disasters. But with the Trump administration eying the program for...
www.marketplace.org
August 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
My @urbaninstitute.bsky.social colleague @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social spoke to @npr.org's Marketplace about the importance - and fate - of hazard mitigation funding:
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social shows that federal government's sweep of homelessness in DC & other cities is a fool's errand.
Criminalization & forced relocation:
—Are an ineffective deterrent
—Disrupt resources access
—Prolong homelessness
—Cost a lot of $
What solves homelessness? Housing.
Criminalization & forced relocation:
—Are an ineffective deterrent
—Disrupt resources access
—Prolong homelessness
—Cost a lot of $
What solves homelessness? Housing.
The National Guard Won’t End Homelessness. Housing Resources Can.
Despite a nationwide trend toward criminalizing people experiencing homelessness, decades of research show that housing resources and other supports remain the best solution to helping people exit hom...
www.urban.org
August 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social shows that federal government's sweep of homelessness in DC & other cities is a fool's errand.
Criminalization & forced relocation:
—Are an ineffective deterrent
—Disrupt resources access
—Prolong homelessness
—Cost a lot of $
What solves homelessness? Housing.
Criminalization & forced relocation:
—Are an ineffective deterrent
—Disrupt resources access
—Prolong homelessness
—Cost a lot of $
What solves homelessness? Housing.
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
📢JOB ALERT 📢My department at the @ausis.bsky.social is hiring a social scientist who works on disaster!! The specific focus is open so check out the job announcement below (I'm not one the committee, so this is ALL I know) #ComeWorkwithMe!
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) - Department of Environment, Development & Health
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meani...
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
August 14, 2025 at 10:43 AM
📢JOB ALERT 📢My department at the @ausis.bsky.social is hiring a social scientist who works on disaster!! The specific focus is open so check out the job announcement below (I'm not one the committee, so this is ALL I know) #ComeWorkwithMe!
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
🚨New data-rich resource from our team at @urbaninstitute.bsky.social looks at the last 20 years of disasters and recovery across the Gulf Coast - from impacts, recovery $$, mitigation to future projected losses from climate change.
www.urban.org/stories/disa...
www.urban.org/stories/disa...
Disasters and the Gulf Coast, 20 Years after Hurricane Katrina
Place-based data about how disasters have affected the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina and the federal government’s role in managing extreme events.,On August 29th, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made lan...
www.urban.org
August 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
🚨New data-rich resource from our team at @urbaninstitute.bsky.social looks at the last 20 years of disasters and recovery across the Gulf Coast - from impacts, recovery $$, mitigation to future projected losses from climate change.
www.urban.org/stories/disa...
www.urban.org/stories/disa...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Excited to share this new piece from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social @wcurrangroome.bsky.social @andrewrumbach.bsky.social @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social and team that gives an excellent data-driven overview of the last 20 years of natural disasters and federal spending in Gulf Coast states. Lots of 📊!
August 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Excited to share this new piece from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social @wcurrangroome.bsky.social @andrewrumbach.bsky.social @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social and team that gives an excellent data-driven overview of the last 20 years of natural disasters and federal spending in Gulf Coast states. Lots of 📊!
So often research in our field tells us how the policy *did* but not how it came to be. Super excited to dig into to the findings from my colleagues @yonahfreemark.com, Annie Rosenow, and Lydia Lo.
Similar research in the hazard mitigation/climate resilience space desperately needed.
Similar research in the hazard mitigation/climate resilience space desperately needed.
What are the characteristics of successful state pro-housing land use legislation?
In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, we investigate!
We develop a database of recent bills & compare those that passed & didn’t. We interviewed 31 legislators to understand their perspectives on what worked.
In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, we investigate!
We develop a database of recent bills & compare those that passed & didn’t. We interviewed 31 legislators to understand their perspectives on what worked.
Advancing Pro-Housing Land-Use Policy at the State Level
In this report, we document the results of a process study and quantitative analysis of state housing and land-use preemption legislation nationwide.
www.urban.org
July 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
So often research in our field tells us how the policy *did* but not how it came to be. Super excited to dig into to the findings from my colleagues @yonahfreemark.com, Annie Rosenow, and Lydia Lo.
Similar research in the hazard mitigation/climate resilience space desperately needed.
Similar research in the hazard mitigation/climate resilience space desperately needed.
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Whether we call it 'reforming' or 'eliminating' FEMA, the Trump Administration intends to shrink the role of the federal government in disaster management. Do states have the fiscal capacity to take on additional responsibilities? New analysis and state-by-state data:
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
The Trump Administration Wants to Shrink the Federal Government’s Role in Disaster Management. Do States Have the Fiscal Capacity to Weather the Storm?
Taking on more disaster management responsibilities would be toughest for states at high risk of disasters with low fiscal capacity, such as Louisiana and North Carolina.
www.urban.org
July 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Whether we call it 'reforming' or 'eliminating' FEMA, the Trump Administration intends to shrink the role of the federal government in disaster management. Do states have the fiscal capacity to take on additional responsibilities? New analysis and state-by-state data:
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
#2 The administration hasn’t approved a single request for Hazard Mitigation since 2/17/25. 31 requests are either denied or pending.
July 18, 2025 at 9:07 PM
#2 The administration hasn’t approved a single request for Hazard Mitigation since 2/17/25. 31 requests are either denied or pending.
🧵👇
Most of Vienna's renters live in affordable, climate resilient social housing, and people love it. This is green economic populism in action, and a model to replicate.
This great @juliaradio.bsky.social @npr.org piece ft. our @cplusc.bsky.social work has the deets! www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
This great @juliaradio.bsky.social @npr.org piece ft. our @cplusc.bsky.social work has the deets! www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
Could this city be the model for how to tackle the housing crisis and climate change?
Vienna has a way to make affordable housing and combat climate change all at the same time. Now U.S. cities want in, and they're building their own green housing.
www.npr.org
June 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
🧵👇
Good news stories can feel few and far between, so it was pleasure to the amplify the message and share the evidence that social housing is a climate solution via @npr.org's @juliaradio.bsky.social Climate Solutions Week Sunday Story about Vienna's Green Social Housing.
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
Could this city be the model for how to tackle the housing crisis and climate change?
Vienna has a way to make affordable housing and combat climate change all at the same time. Now U.S. cities want in, and they're building their own green housing.
www.npr.org
June 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Good news stories can feel few and far between, so it was pleasure to the amplify the message and share the evidence that social housing is a climate solution via @npr.org's @juliaradio.bsky.social Climate Solutions Week Sunday Story about Vienna's Green Social Housing.
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
www.npr.org/2025/06/15/n...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Updated all-time costliest National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) events on record.
Note: Helene now sits at #4 ($6.18B), though nearly all of those payouts have come in Florida ($5.8B). North Carolina only at ~$0.2B.
Most Americans living inland from the coast have no flood insurance coverage.
Note: Helene now sits at #4 ($6.18B), though nearly all of those payouts have come in Florida ($5.8B). North Carolina only at ~$0.2B.
Most Americans living inland from the coast have no flood insurance coverage.
June 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Updated all-time costliest National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) events on record.
Note: Helene now sits at #4 ($6.18B), though nearly all of those payouts have come in Florida ($5.8B). North Carolina only at ~$0.2B.
Most Americans living inland from the coast have no flood insurance coverage.
Note: Helene now sits at #4 ($6.18B), though nearly all of those payouts have come in Florida ($5.8B). North Carolina only at ~$0.2B.
Most Americans living inland from the coast have no flood insurance coverage.
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Many close watchers of FEMA do think the agency needs a dramatic shake-up and that states should be responsible for more of the financial burden of catastrophe. This, however, is not what they meant. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Last Call at the Disaster Department
Trump has signaled an end date for FEMA.
www.theatlantic.com
June 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Many close watchers of FEMA do think the agency needs a dramatic shake-up and that states should be responsible for more of the financial burden of catastrophe. This, however, is not what they meant. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
this week's newsletter is out. it's all about trump's spending bill and how cuts to healthcare threaten the health of Americans as climate disasters make us sicker
www.possibilities.news/trump-spendi...
www.possibilities.news/trump-spendi...
An American Tragedy
The president wants to pass a spending bill that threatens health coverage Americans desperately need in a climate-ravaged world.
www.possibilities.news
May 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
this week's newsletter is out. it's all about trump's spending bill and how cuts to healthcare threaten the health of Americans as climate disasters make us sicker
www.possibilities.news/trump-spendi...
www.possibilities.news/trump-spendi...
This story illustrates post-fire moves with recent change of address data, but also relies heavily on first hand accounts from renters and homeowners alike. Appreciate the deep dive on the very human-angle of navigating loss and new beginnings
My colleague @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social is quoted in this piece about post-disaster displacement. In many communities that experience disasters, homeowners hold on while they can, but as their grip begins to loosen they have to make tough choices: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/r...
Swept by the Fires, Away From Their Lives
www.nytimes.com
May 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
This story illustrates post-fire moves with recent change of address data, but also relies heavily on first hand accounts from renters and homeowners alike. Appreciate the deep dive on the very human-angle of navigating loss and new beginnings
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Great reporting from HEATED on Hawaii's first-in-the-nation "green fee" on tourists to help fund climate resiliency efforts
heated.world/p/the-realit...
heated.world/p/the-realit...
The reality of Hawaii's tourist climate tax
A .75% tax will not destroy Hawaii's economy. But unchecked climate change will.
heated.world
May 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Great reporting from HEATED on Hawaii's first-in-the-nation "green fee" on tourists to help fund climate resiliency efforts
heated.world/p/the-realit...
heated.world/p/the-realit...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
News — David Richardson, Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, has been named the new Senior Official at FEMA.
BREAKING: FEMA’s most senior official Cameron Hamilton has been FIRED and walked out of the building, an agency source confirms.
He testified just yesterday that he didn’t think the agency should be eliminated, per Trump and DHS Sec. Kristi Noem’s wishes. Apparently the wrong answer.
He testified just yesterday that he didn’t think the agency should be eliminated, per Trump and DHS Sec. Kristi Noem’s wishes. Apparently the wrong answer.
May 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM
News — David Richardson, Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, has been named the new Senior Official at FEMA.
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
A major loss to our understanding of how extreme weather events are affecting us. There are 3 alternative databases I will be using:
Gallagher Re: www.ajg.com/gallagherre/...
Aon: img.clients.aonunited.com/Web/Aon5/%7B...
EM-DAT: www.emdat.be
Gallagher Re: www.ajg.com/gallagherre/...
Aon: img.clients.aonunited.com/Web/Aon5/%7B...
EM-DAT: www.emdat.be
NEW: NOAA retires its widely cited billion-dollar weather and climate database amid staff cuts. Unique database had been tallying disaster costs for 45 years. www.cnn.com/2025/05/08/c...
NOAA ends extreme weather database that tracked cost of disasters since 1980 | CNN
Its discontinuation is another Trump-administration blow to the public’s view into how fossil fuel pollution is changing the world around them and making extreme weather more costly.
www.cnn.com
May 8, 2025 at 4:25 PM
A major loss to our understanding of how extreme weather events are affecting us. There are 3 alternative databases I will be using:
Gallagher Re: www.ajg.com/gallagherre/...
Aon: img.clients.aonunited.com/Web/Aon5/%7B...
EM-DAT: www.emdat.be
Gallagher Re: www.ajg.com/gallagherre/...
Aon: img.clients.aonunited.com/Web/Aon5/%7B...
EM-DAT: www.emdat.be
As FEMA reforms roll out from the administration at a rapid speed, Congress has a different vision for the agency as laid out in the discussion draft bill by Graves, Larsen transportation.house.gov/uploadedfile...
transportation.house.gov
May 8, 2025 at 5:12 PM
As FEMA reforms roll out from the administration at a rapid speed, Congress has a different vision for the agency as laid out in the discussion draft bill by Graves, Larsen transportation.house.gov/uploadedfile...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
There’s so much happening right now, I thought I’d put together a running thread on the dismantling of #climate and research and knowledge infrastructure in the United States 🧵
May 7, 2025 at 12:11 PM
There’s so much happening right now, I thought I’d put together a running thread on the dismantling of #climate and research and knowledge infrastructure in the United States 🧵
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Huge & exciting progress in Chicago, where a new public social housing agency will use a low-cost revolving loan fund to support green, mixed-income housing throughout the city.
BREAKING: The Chicago City Council voted 30-18 to create a city-owned nonprofit housing developer — approving the centerpiece of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s effort to reduce Chicago’s massive affordable housing shortfall after weeks of intense debate. @wttw.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Huge & exciting progress in Chicago, where a new public social housing agency will use a low-cost revolving loan fund to support green, mixed-income housing throughout the city.
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
I was losing track of all the changes to FEMA, and decided to write them down. Hope it is useful, and please let me know what I've missed! open.substack.com/pub/andrewru...
100 Dizzying Days for FEMA
A summary of the Trump Administration 2.0's changes to the federal emergency management system
open.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I was losing track of all the changes to FEMA, and decided to write them down. Hope it is useful, and please let me know what I've missed! open.substack.com/pub/andrewru...
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
SCOOP: FEMA workers will stop knocking on doors to provide aid to survivors in disaster areas, per a memo obtained by WIRED. This comes as the agency is shifting responsibility for recovery efforts to local authorities.
Oh, and it's hurricane preparedness week, btw.
Oh, and it's hurricane preparedness week, btw.
FEMA Is Ending Door-to-Door Canvassing in Disaster Areas
As it shifts responsibility for recovery efforts to local authorities, FEMA workers will stop knocking on doors to provide aid to survivors in disaster areas, per a memo obtained by WIRED.
www.wired.com
May 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
SCOOP: FEMA workers will stop knocking on doors to provide aid to survivors in disaster areas, per a memo obtained by WIRED. This comes as the agency is shifting responsibility for recovery efforts to local authorities.
Oh, and it's hurricane preparedness week, btw.
Oh, and it's hurricane preparedness week, btw.
Wash > rinse > repeat
Trump admin: let's not try to figure out where fires, floods, and extreme temps will happen, or how bad they'll be (it gets worse -->) www.sciencenews.org/article/axin...
Losing a key U.S. climate report would hurt future disaster prep
A scientist who worked on the National Climate Assessment explains how stopping work on it may make us more vulnerable to extreme weather disasters.
www.sciencenews.org
May 5, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Wash > rinse > repeat
Reposted by Sara McTarnaghan
Curious how your state could be impacted by FEMA changing the threshold for federal disaster declarations? We provide a state-by-state analysis, based on disaster data spanning 17 years and multiple administrations: www.urban.org/urban-wire/p...
Proposed Cuts to Federal Disaster Assistance Will Hit States Just as Hurricane Season Ramps Up
In the lead up to hurricane season, the Trump administration has proposed changes to federal disaster assistance, which would result in fewer disasters qualifying for federal aid and state and local g...
www.urban.org
May 2, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Curious how your state could be impacted by FEMA changing the threshold for federal disaster declarations? We provide a state-by-state analysis, based on disaster data spanning 17 years and multiple administrations: www.urban.org/urban-wire/p...