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| Here’s How Coronavirus Could Raise Cities’ Risk for Climate Disasters | Here’s How Coronavirus Could Raise Cities’ Risk for Climate Disasters |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The economic toll of the coronavirus is forcing cities and states to redirect money away from projects that provide climate resilience, in a shift that threatens to tackle one crisis at the expense of another. | WASHINGTON — The economic toll of the coronavirus is forcing cities and states to redirect money away from projects that provide climate resilience, in a shift that threatens to tackle one crisis at the expense of another. |
| Officials in San Francisco, Miami Beach and New York City have said they are likely to delay climate-related projects like sea walls because of the virus, which has slashed tax revenue and increased demands for emergency services, housing and other immediate needs. Washington State has cut funding for resilience projects, and people who work on climate adaptation in other cities and states said they worried about similar cuts. | Officials in San Francisco, Miami Beach and New York City have said they are likely to delay climate-related projects like sea walls because of the virus, which has slashed tax revenue and increased demands for emergency services, housing and other immediate needs. Washington State has cut funding for resilience projects, and people who work on climate adaptation in other cities and states said they worried about similar cuts. |
| The delays, which officials described as a necessary response to the fiscal straits that many cities are experiencing, come as the cost of natural disasters continue to rise. That threat remains every bit as urgent as it was before the pandemic, experts warned, even if climate change is not in the forefront of the public’s attention. | The delays, which officials described as a necessary response to the fiscal straits that many cities are experiencing, come as the cost of natural disasters continue to rise. That threat remains every bit as urgent as it was before the pandemic, experts warned, even if climate change is not in the forefront of the public’s attention. |
| “I have not seen any projections of sea level rise slowing down as a result of the Covid crisis,” said Brian Strong, chief resilience officer for San Francisco, which is trying to balance the growing cost of the virus with a $5 billion upgrade to its sea wall. At the same time, “there’s only so much money to go around.” | “I have not seen any projections of sea level rise slowing down as a result of the Covid crisis,” said Brian Strong, chief resilience officer for San Francisco, which is trying to balance the growing cost of the virus with a $5 billion upgrade to its sea wall. At the same time, “there’s only so much money to go around.” |
| The virus shifting attention away from climate change has surfaced in other ways as well. | The virus shifting attention away from climate change has surfaced in other ways as well. |
| Environmental nonprofit groups are bracing for big drops in donations, cutting pay and freezing hiring. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is focused more on critiquing President Trump’s response to the virus than on climate change. And a Gallup poll this week showed a drop in support for prioritizing the environment over the economy, especially among independent voters. | Environmental nonprofit groups are bracing for big drops in donations, cutting pay and freezing hiring. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is focused more on critiquing President Trump’s response to the virus than on climate change. And a Gallup poll this week showed a drop in support for prioritizing the environment over the economy, especially among independent voters. |
| While public opinion and charitable donations may bounce back once the economy recovers, delaying or canceling infrastructure projects will have long-term effects. Yet the pressure to do so is overwhelming, according to Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, which works with cities around the world. | While public opinion and charitable donations may bounce back once the economy recovers, delaying or canceling infrastructure projects will have long-term effects. Yet the pressure to do so is overwhelming, according to Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, which works with cities around the world. |
| “Revenue projections are dropping like crazy,” Ms. McLeod said. “Capital projects are going to be wiped off the books of local governments around the country.” | “Revenue projections are dropping like crazy,” Ms. McLeod said. “Capital projects are going to be wiped off the books of local governments around the country.” |
| One of the places facing particular pressure is San Francisco, which was one of the first cities to be shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. The city expects a budget shortfall of as much as $1.7 billion. “The mayor issued an order to hold off on all projects that haven’t started,” Mr. Strong said. “We’re going over our capital budget right now and looking at what’s essential.” | One of the places facing particular pressure is San Francisco, which was one of the first cities to be shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. The city expects a budget shortfall of as much as $1.7 billion. “The mayor issued an order to hold off on all projects that haven’t started,” Mr. Strong said. “We’re going over our capital budget right now and looking at what’s essential.” |
| The sea wall project is not on hold, Mr. Strong noted. But as tax revenue shrinks, there will be more demands on the money that remains, such as finding ways to help protect the city’s homeless population from the virus. | The sea wall project is not on hold, Mr. Strong noted. But as tax revenue shrinks, there will be more demands on the money that remains, such as finding ways to help protect the city’s homeless population from the virus. |
| Mr. Strong said San Francisco’s challenge was to figure out how much it has to spend now on climate adaptation projects, without sacrificing the city’s fight against the virus. And both needs keep growing, along with the budget shortfall. | Mr. Strong said San Francisco’s challenge was to figure out how much it has to spend now on climate adaptation projects, without sacrificing the city’s fight against the virus. And both needs keep growing, along with the budget shortfall. |
| If San Francisco can’t protect its residents and its economy from the coronavirus now, Mr. Strong added, then it will be harder to raise money later for the infrastructure projects it needs to defend against climate change. | If San Francisco can’t protect its residents and its economy from the coronavirus now, Mr. Strong added, then it will be harder to raise money later for the infrastructure projects it needs to defend against climate change. |
| Another city where the coronavirus has collided with the demands of climate change is Miami Beach. In 2015, the city began the process of elevating roads that frequently flood because of rising seas, and installing new pumps to control the water. | Another city where the coronavirus has collided with the demands of climate change is Miami Beach. In 2015, the city began the process of elevating roads that frequently flood because of rising seas, and installing new pumps to control the water. |
| Miami Beach has done about 20 percent of the neighborhoods on its list, according to Roy Coley, the city’s public works director, and had planned to issue bonds to pay for the next set of projects. | Miami Beach has done about 20 percent of the neighborhoods on its list, according to Roy Coley, the city’s public works director, and had planned to issue bonds to pay for the next set of projects. |
| Then the coronavirus hit, shutting down the tourism industry that makes up much of Miami Beach’s economy. The virus is costing the city $3.6 million in lost tax revenue each week. That loss equals more than one-quarter of the city’s total revenue. | Then the coronavirus hit, shutting down the tourism industry that makes up much of Miami Beach’s economy. The virus is costing the city $3.6 million in lost tax revenue each week. That loss equals more than one-quarter of the city’s total revenue. |
| Mr. Coley said this was the wrong time to take on more debt, which would mean higher bills on local businesses just when they can least afford it, if they survive at all. “We’re very concerned that some of our businesses will not be able to return,” he said. | Mr. Coley said this was the wrong time to take on more debt, which would mean higher bills on local businesses just when they can least afford it, if they survive at all. “We’re very concerned that some of our businesses will not be able to return,” he said. |
| Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, said he did not think the fallout from the virus would permanently stop the work of protecting his city from climate change. | Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, said he did not think the fallout from the virus would permanently stop the work of protecting his city from climate change. |
| “What we do going forward is going to depend to a great extent on our financial capacity,” Mr. Gelber said. “That’s a little uncertain right now.” | “What we do going forward is going to depend to a great extent on our financial capacity,” Mr. Gelber said. “That’s a little uncertain right now.” |
| Updated June 12, 2020 | Updated June 12, 2020 |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. | Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. |
| Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home. | Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home. |
| States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. | States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. | Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. |
| The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. | The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. | If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. |
| That pressure is playing out around the country. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, who last year sought the Democratic presidential nomination on the strength of his record on climate change, announced this month that he would strip $50 million in climate resilience funding from the state’s budget, along with other cuts. | That pressure is playing out around the country. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, who last year sought the Democratic presidential nomination on the strength of his record on climate change, announced this month that he would strip $50 million in climate resilience funding from the state’s budget, along with other cuts. |
| “None of these were easy decisions,” Tara Lee, a spokeswoman for Governor Inslee, said by email. “None were ones he would have made in a normal situation.” | “None of these were easy decisions,” Tara Lee, a spokeswoman for Governor Inslee, said by email. “None were ones he would have made in a normal situation.” |
| In New York City, which was crippled in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy, the budget crunch will force some projects to get pushed back, according to Phil Ortiz, a spokesman for the Mayor’s Office of Resiliency. “We expect delays to be inevitable, however at this time it’s premature to predict specific impacts,” Mr. Ortiz said by email. | In New York City, which was crippled in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy, the budget crunch will force some projects to get pushed back, according to Phil Ortiz, a spokesman for the Mayor’s Office of Resiliency. “We expect delays to be inevitable, however at this time it’s premature to predict specific impacts,” Mr. Ortiz said by email. |
| Many of those interviewed said that if anything was likely to salvage their climate agendas, it would be the federal government, in the form of dedicated infrastructure funds aimed at restarting the economy. Large-scale resilience projects entail hiring large numbers of workers, they said, which is a core goal now that some 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the last five weeks. | Many of those interviewed said that if anything was likely to salvage their climate agendas, it would be the federal government, in the form of dedicated infrastructure funds aimed at restarting the economy. Large-scale resilience projects entail hiring large numbers of workers, they said, which is a core goal now that some 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the last five weeks. |
| Shalini Vajjhala, a former Obama administration official who now advises cities on defending against the effects of climate change, said she was already fielding calls from local officials looking to put together “shovel-ready” resilience projects that could start hiring workers right away and that might qualify for a future stimulus package. | Shalini Vajjhala, a former Obama administration official who now advises cities on defending against the effects of climate change, said she was already fielding calls from local officials looking to put together “shovel-ready” resilience projects that could start hiring workers right away and that might qualify for a future stimulus package. |
| “If we wait until the money is available, it’s going to be oversubscribed,” Ms. Vajjhala said. | “If we wait until the money is available, it’s going to be oversubscribed,” Ms. Vajjhala said. |
| If cities and states don’t find a way to continue their work on resilience, they will set themselves up for even worse consequences later, warned Laura Lightbody, head of the Flood-Prepared Communities project for the Pew Charitable Trusts. | If cities and states don’t find a way to continue their work on resilience, they will set themselves up for even worse consequences later, warned Laura Lightbody, head of the Flood-Prepared Communities project for the Pew Charitable Trusts. |
| “Without resilience planning, systems and infrastructure already spread thin may not be able to respond effectively to the next big flood,” Ms. Lightbody said. “Natural disasters won’t wait until this pandemic has run its course.” | “Without resilience planning, systems and infrastructure already spread thin may not be able to respond effectively to the next big flood,” Ms. Lightbody said. “Natural disasters won’t wait until this pandemic has run its course.” |
| Lisa Friedman contributed reporting. | Lisa Friedman contributed reporting. |