Lauren Sommer
Climate correspondent for NPR. West Coast-based. Wildfires, water, oceans, adaptation and accountability. Signal: sommer.55
- Reposted by Lauren SommerDo you need a climate or decarbonization coach? Enough people are having trouble making climate-friendly purchases that companies, nonprofits and agencies are stepping in to help. Here's my @npr.org story: www.npr.org/2025/05/07/n...
- Communities around the country were awarded billions in FEMA grants and have spent years planning infrastructure projects to prepare for future disasters. Now, the Trump Administration has cancelled the grants. Rural communities have few other options. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/05/01/n...
- Doggles! www.npr.org/2025/04/10/n...
- California just released new maps on where homes have to be built with wildfire-resistant materials. But the majority of homes destroyed in the Eaton fire won’t have to use those building codes www.npr.org/2025/03/25/n...
- After the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, some homeowners are being required to rebuild with wildfire building codes. But the majority are not. Here's why - on @npr today www.npr.org/2025/03/25/n...
- Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said she's going to eliminate FEMA at a Trump cabinet meeting today. Here's what states say is at stake for them in disasters. www.npr.org/2025/03/21/n...
- Reposted by Lauren SommerPresident Trump says he's thinking of getting rid of the country's disaster response agency, FEMA. States say they can't replicate what FEMA does on their own.
- The Trump administration is pushing states to take over disaster response and preparation. Many say it wouldn't be possible without FEMA. www.npr.org/2025/03/21/n...
- The NOAA firings were done so quickly, staff that manages the central weather forecasting models were scrambling to transfer access to employees who would still remain. On @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/02/27/n...
- NOAA employees, both current and those affected by the firings, please feel free to get in touch. I'm a climate reporter at NPR who has covered NOAA a long time. I'm on Signal at sommer.55
- Great episode from @wunc.org about rebuilding after Hurricane Helene. A lot of roads need repair, but how do you design them to withstand the future climate? North Carolina is working on that, something not many communities do after a disaster. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
- Reposted by Lauren SommerWATCH, READ, LISTEN: @npr.org explained the importance of California’s native chaparral brush and how clearing it will not reduce the risk of wildfires.
- As animals get close to extinction, some are brought into captivity as a last resort. It's not easy to find a way to release them again, but in Hawaii, a rare crow is making its way back to the wild again. On @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...
- Reposted by Lauren SommerI am collecting instances of California-based wildfire mitigation projects delayed because of layoffs at US Forest Service, Park Service, BLM. Pls reach out to me if you have tales of certain projects to share: d venton at kqed dot org. Signal: DVenton.09
- Reposted by Lauren SommerTo help homes survive more intense disasters, FEMA has been developing recommendations for stronger building codes. The Trump Administration has pulled them back.
- SCOOP: For 25 years, FEMA has helped develop building codes that help homes survive floods and hurricanes. Now, FEMA is pulling back on that work, taking its name off recommendations its experts have written. On @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/02/20/n...
- Hey NOAA, FEMA and federal scientists and staff — I’m a climate reporter at NPR. To share info anonymously, you can reach me on Signal at sommer.55
- There's been a lot of discussion after the Los Angeles fires about clearing brush to reduce the fire risk. It's not that simple -- Southern California's chaparral is vastly different than the state's forests. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/02/11/n...
- Reposted by Lauren SommerIn an email obtained by NPR, employees at EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights were told they were on administrative leave, effective immediately.
- Reposted by Lauren SommerThis is what happens when you go to rural.gov which used to be the site the Biden admin used to connect/discuss federal programs targeting rural communities. USDA is the only fed agency with the specific rural mandate, including housing, internet, + infrastructure
- Bring on the rat puns... www.npr.org/2025/01/31/n...
- Reposted by Lauren SommerThoughtful piece on rebuilding Altadena.
- Many communities are struggling with where to build housing - there's a big shortage but the risk from wildfires and floods is getting worse. Los Angeles County had that debate right before these fires destroyed thousands of homes. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/01/30/n...
- I've interviewed NASA climate scientist Ben Hamlington over the years. Then I heard he lost his home in the Los Angeles wildfires. www.npr.org/2025/01/23/n...
- Even in extreme wildfires, some houses survive. A team on the ground in Los Angeles is studying those untouched houses to see what homeowners did right. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/01/17/n...
- Los Angeles has some of the toughest wildfire policies in the country when it comes to building codes and vegetation. But these fires show there’s more to do. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/01/15/n...
- Reposted by Lauren SommerLos Angeles has wildfire policies that are far tougher than many of those in Western states. The destruction from the recent fires shows there are still major gaps to address. via @lsommer.bsky.social
