Lessons from Hurricane Helene on the Impact of Climate Change on Every Aspect of Our Lives, Including Our Household Finances
1. September's Hurricane Helene dumped 3 months-worth of rainfall in 3 days in the Southeastern part of the U.S., and even devastated inland, high-elevation areas once considered "climate-change proof." Several million people are without power, and large areas are unreachable to those trying to help. In its 2023 report on the impact of climate change on household finances, the U.S. Department of Treasury (DoT) encourages people to take the climate crisis seriously and take steps to prepare for climate impacts. The department reports that 13% of Americans reported climate-induced economic hardship, and that was pre-Hurricane Helene. DoT calculates that in 2022, the cost of climate and weather disasters in the U.S. totaled more than $176 billion, the third most costly year on record. The DoT report identifies awareness-raising about local and regional climate risks as a first step toward preparedness in knowing which dangers are most likely to impact your specific area. While flood exposure in Appalachia, wildfire exposure in the West, and heat exposure in the plains and Mississippi River areas have thus far not affected Minnesota as drastically, the state is being warned that wildfire hazards are very real right now, especially in northern Minnesota. The "Climate Mapping for Resilience & Adaptation" website (resilience.climate.gov) helps you understand climate risks for your own area using their address research tool to get historical data and find major climate risks for your household. Then contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and urge them to work on eliminating atmospheric carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels (coal,oil and gas), the main drivers of climate change.
2. Even before September's devastating Hurricane Helene, the U.S. Department of Treasury (DoT) had released its "US Climate Resiliency Toolkit" (toolkit.climate.gov), which offers resources like nationwide climate mapping, case studies of community resilience projects, and guides for boosting climate readiness skills. Ready.gov provides an entire "Make a Plan" section for building financial readiness, assembling a physical preparedness kit for your home, and planning for an evacuation if needed. Property, auto, and flood insurance can provide a safety net in the event of a future climate hazard, but they often do not cover flooding, earthquakes, or landslides and other disasters. Find out what may be missing in your policies by going to The Insurance Information Institute (iii.org), an insurance industry association that provides helpful resources for consumers. The federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has created tax incentives for eco-friendly home upgrades, for example installing solar panels or upgrading heating and cooling systems to reduce energy and utility bills. These upgrades help mitigate rising greenhouse gas emissions at the same time that the cost savings help you build your financial resilience. See "Eco-friendly Home Improvement at a Discount" at greenamerica.org/home-improvement) that summarizes the many incentives the IRA provides. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) also provides financial assistance for energy upgrades to qualified households (liheap.org). Find the complete DoT report at home.treasury.gov.
3.The deadly effects of Hurricane Helene have put a renewed emphasis on global warming (climate change) caused by the emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas). While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes billions of dollars in funding for emission-reduction strategies, the U.S. EPA reports that the production of methane, a particularly powerful greenhouse gas, has ramped up significantly, making the U.S. the world's leading gas producer and exporter. With the costs of climate and weather disasters in the U.S. totaling more than $176 billion in 2022 (according to a report by the U.S. Department of Treasury), states like Minnesota are motivated to mitigate the effects of climate change by investing in creating healthier soils that can absorb carbon and retain water, efficient buffers against flooding and drought. Minnesotans voted in 1988 to approve a constitutional amendment to establish the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) that has benefited all Minnesotans by protecting ecosystems and wildlife habitat, bolstering outdoor recreation, aiding local communities, improving health outcomes, promoting environmental equity, boosting agricultural resilience, and supporting successful business and well-paying jobs. The ENRFT has funded projects from peatland restoration research to development of new campsites and trails for all to enjoy, and in 2023 funding was used to restore and protect habitat and preserve land for parks and recreation. Learn more at MNGreatOutdoors.org and be a part of a community that advocates and works for a healthier, more life-sustaining world.
4. The southeastern part of the U.S. was devastated by Hurricane Helene, even the inland, high-elevation areas once considered "climate-change proof," but here in Minnesota, Lee E. Frelich, director of the U of M Center for Forest Ecology, warns us that as summers have become wetter with precipitation unevenly distributed, insect infestations, wind storms and fire are expected to become more common, all a result of the effects of climate change. An example of impending changes can be seen in Itasca State Park, which Frelich describes as a "convergence of three biomes: boreal forest, temperate forest and prairie." Summer mean temperatures, precipitation and CO2 emissions could alter Itasca's landscape by 2070, with the possibility that all tree species could shift their ranges north by 300 miles. If CO2 emissions are modestly higher, more prairie will push into Minnesota and the boreal forests will recede. With higher CO2 emissions, Minnesota will become about 90% prairie, with Itasca Park losing boreal species like black spruce, white spruce, balsam fir, jack pine, red pine, quaking aspen and paper birch. Frelich says that temperate forests (bur oak, red oak, basswood, sugar maple, red maple and yellow birch) are already "invading the understory of boreal forests" in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Because of the inability of trees to acclimate to increased insect infestations, earlier springs and fluctuating moisture, fire risks are anticipated to increase 600% in northeastern Minnesota. In Canada, 45 million acres burned during the 2023 fire season, according to Natural Resources Canada, which was 5% of all forest in that country. Frelich says it is not too late to decrease CO2 emissions by doing the following: eat more plants, use more energy-efficient cars and buildings, stop deforestation, plant trees and restore the natural ecosystem.

Laura Raedeke
EcoFaith Network NE MN Team
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, MN
Northeastern Minnesota Synod