Findings across disasters pool messaging from Core Democratic Officials only — whether each review scores Disaster Mention, Climate Connection, and Mentioned Republican Obstruction of Climate Action.
Coding used Cursor and ChatGPT — see How we code.
These findings are based on:
19 of 26 disasters with a completed impact pass 774 deaths $226.3 billion
Deaths and dollars sum each disaster’s latest completed impact pass (six-month or two-year). 7 disasters do not yet have a six-month pass, so they are not in these totals. See Methods.
Findings tallies pool messaging from Core Democratic Officials across 26 disasters that met the catalog inclusion criteria. Each count uses only public statements in that disaster's seven-day observation window.
Disaster Mention, Climate Connection, and Mentioned Republican Obstruction of Climate Action are each a share of all official–disaster reviews. A climate or obstruction yes still requires naming this disaster in the window. Full rules: Methods.
Findings tallies across published disasters. Open a specific disaster for the full record — impacts, attribution, framing, and sources.
Tallies pool 1,363 official–disaster reviews across 26 disasters.
For what this pattern reflects about the two parties, see Conclusion.
Three months after the disaster 2 deaths $489.7 million
Three months after the disaster $38.2 billion
Three months after the disaster 44 deaths
Six months after the disaster 139 deaths $18 billion
Six months after the disaster 32 deaths Unknown
Six months after the disaster 24 deaths $4.1 billion
Six months after the disaster 19 deaths $28 billion
Six months after the disaster 12 deaths $37 billion
Two years after the disaster 39 deaths $34.3 billion
Two years after the disaster 250 deaths $78.7 billion
Two years after the disaster 0 deaths $1.3 billion
Two years after the disaster 48 deaths $7.2 billion
Two years after the disaster 2 deaths $1.8 billion (NCEI, New Mexico wildfires June 2024)
Two years after the disaster 2 deaths $123 million
Two years after the disaster 0 deaths $450 million
Two years after the disaster 4 deaths $50 million
Two years after the disaster 12 deaths $3.6 billion
Two years after the disaster 1 death $900 million
Two years after the disaster 102 deaths $7 billion
Two years after the disaster 2 deaths $620 million
Two years after the disaster 86 deaths $2.1 billion
Two years after the disaster 0 deaths $1.1 billion
In-window statements from Core Democratic Officials only — quotable evidence behind the tallies above.
September 13, 2026: Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, with Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, asked President Trump to approve major disaster declarations after Hurricane Lowell and Hurricane Lala. “Hurricane Lowell had extreme impacts on Kaua‘i and Maui Counties’ basic infrastru…
September 13, 2026: Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, with Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, asked President Trump to approve major disaster declarations after Hurricane Lowell and Hurricane Lala. “Hurricane Lowell had extreme impacts on Kaua‘i and Maui Counties’ basic infrastru…
August 19, 2026: Sen. Schatz announced $6 million in DOT Emergency Relief funds. “Lala brought devastating flooding, damaged roads and bridges, knocked out power, and left communities isolated.”
August 18, 2026, Hawaii News Now Spotlight Now: Schatz discussed Lala damage and a federal disaster declaration. The station paraphrased him on worsening weather and long-term climate resilience. Quoted: “The federal government is going to have to come to the table and help not …
August 17, 2026, on X, quoted by Newsweek: “My team and I have been closely monitoring the damage from Lala. As we begin our recovery efforts, I’m committed to assisting state and county partners in identifying and accessing any federal resources that are needed to help impacted…
August 16, 2026: Sen. Brian Schatz said he spoke with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy about federal support as Hawaii recovered from Tropical Storm Lala. “Clearing and restoring roads is a top priority, and we’re working closely with state and federal agencies to deliver the…
August 4, 2026: “My heart goes out to the people of Washington who are dealing with this across our state, particularly in Spokane, and in the Lake Chelan area as well.” Cantwell said Washington and Oregon had hit a record for acres burned. She talked about fire-weather forecast…
August 4, 2026, Senate floor: “This weekend, three fast-moving wildfires exploded across Spokane County.” Murray said more than 65,000 people had been told to leave and at least 700 buildings had been destroyed. She asked for firefighting resources and long-term recovery money. …
August 3, 2026, Senate floor: “I cannot come to the Senate floor without acknowledging the heartbreaking devastation we are seeing in Spokane and across Eastern Washington.” Murray asked the President to approve the emergency declaration and said she would work for firefighting …
August 3, 2026: Sen. Maria Cantwell signed the Washington delegation letter asking President Trump to approve an emergency declaration for wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington, including Spokane.
August 3, 2026, Sen. Patty Murray led Washington’s congressional delegation in a letter to President Trump asking him to approve Gov. Ferguson’s emergency declaration for wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington, including the Spokane fires. “Large and fast-moving wildfires a…
August 2, 2026, Spokane briefing: “Today, it is the top fire in our nation.” Cantwell said the Forest Service had made the Spokane fires the highest-priority fire in the country and that Washington and Oregon had hit a record for acres burned.
July 18, 2026: Sen. Ed Markey wrote EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about “the ongoing U.S.-Canada cross-border emergency that has prompted air quality alerts, public health harm, and economic losses across the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard of the …
July 9, 2025, Commerce Committee: Hickenlooper spoke about flood warnings, then: “our heart goes out to the people in Texas and New Mexico. Unbelievable, the tragedy that happened there.”
July 9, 2025, Commerce Committee: Baldwin named Cruz’s visit to Camp Mystic and Hunt, then: “our prayers, my prayers, go out to all the folks impacted by the tragedy in Kerr County and throughout Central Texas.” She later asked about restoring NOAA staffing for Wisconsin.
July 9, 2025, Commerce Committee: “I just want to start by just expressing my deep sadness for the tragedy in Texas.” He asked about early warning and flood sirens. A later question on human influence and extreme weather did not name this flood as climate-driven.
July 9, 2025, Commerce Committee: Luján offered condolences “to my brothers from Texas” for the lives lost, then: “I just had constituents die in New Mexico. We had constituents die in Texas.”
July 9, 2025, Commerce Committee: “this hearing comes at an incredible time of human loss from the floods in Texas.” She offered condolences and said there is a time and a place to figure out what transpired. Later she discussed NOAA budget cuts, with examples from Pendleton, Or…
July 9, 2025, Commerce Committee: “We all are heartbroken over the loss of life, the kids at the camps, the people in both Senator Cruz’s and Senator Luján’s state. And I think that we all know this is not an isolated incident. We can pretend it is, but it is not. Extreme weathe…
July 8, 2025, video: “There are some serious questions about the impact of President Trump’s assault on NOAA, the National Weather Service, and FEMA, and whether it made these floods more deadly.” July 9: “It’s possible that Donald Trump’s policies had something to do with the l…
July 8, 2025, Senate floor: “I know I speak for millions of Americans when I say we are heartbroken over the flash floods that devastated Central Texas this past weekend. Early Friday morning, while most were fast asleep, a foot of rain fell onto Texas Hill Country. This deluge …
July 7, 2025, DNC Chair Ken Martin: “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We pray for every family suffering from the devastating flash floods in Central Texas.” Later: “He was warned this could happen, he was told in clear terms that his weather service cuts could lead to needless …
July 7, 2025, letter to the Commerce Department acting inspector general: Schumer asked for an investigation into whether staffing shortfalls at National Weather Service offices “played a role in exacerbating the impact of this deadly flooding event,” including vacancies at the …
July 5, 2025: “My prayers are with everyone in the path of the horrific floods in the Hill Country of Texas, particularly with the parents and families of the girls from Camp Mystic. I join the nation in mourning for those who have been lost. House Democrats stand ready to suppo…
January 14, 2025, House Democratic Caucus press conference, quoted by Spectrum: Aguilar said, “We will not support conditions to disaster assistance.” He added, “Representative Rivas and I stood at an intersection in Altadena and saw…two churches that had been completely burned …
January 13, 2025 letter to President-elect Trump: “The Eaton Fire has burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed over 7,000 structures, left 20,000 homeless, forced numerous health centers to close, and burned several schools to the ground.” Padilla and Schiff signed.
January 13, 2025 letter to President-elect Trump: “The Eaton Fire has burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed over 7,000 structures, left 20,000 homeless, forced numerous health centers to close, and burned several schools to the ground.” Padilla and Schiff signed.
January 8, 2025: House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar signed the California delegation letter naming the Palisades, Eaton, Franklin, and Hurst fires.
January 8, 2025: Schiff co-led the California delegation letter naming the Palisades, Eaton, Franklin, and Hurst fires.
January 8, 2025, statement titled “Sen. Schiff on Palisades Fire and Fires Across Los Angeles County”: “Overnight, multiple massive fires tore through Los Angeles County, devastating communities and destroying countless homes and small businesses. Families woke up this morning t…
January 8, 2025, California delegation letter: “We write in support of the State of California’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in response to the Palisades, Eaton, Franklin, and Hurst Fires and the ongoing windstorm event.”
October 11, 2024: Sanders is named as a co-signer of Warren’s letter to the FTC on price gouging in states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, posted on Warren’s official Senate site.
October 11, 2024: Warren led a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan on price gouging in states hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The release is titled on Helene and Milton. Quoted: “A federal price gouging law, enforced by the FTC, would help consumers, particularly during disasters…
September 30, 2024, Agriculture Committee release: Stabenow called for emergency assistance for farmers “who suffered devastating losses in the wake of Hurricane Helene.” Quoted: “This was a horrible blow to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the Southeast just as t…
September 30, 2024: Kaine met Virginians, first responders, and local officials in Damascus, Marion, and Galax “to hear directly about the damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.” He said his heart broke for everyone affected and that he would keep working for a full …
September 30, 2024, Warner, Kaine, and Rep. Morgan Griffith to President Biden: “We write today to express our strong support for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia due to the impacts of Hurrica…
In Augusta on September 30, 2024, Warnock said: “My heart is with the people of Augusta and this entire region. Much of the southeast has been devastated in the wake of Hurricane Helene. It’s the human toll I am focused on most of all.” He said he was working to deliver federal …
September 30, 2024, Georgia delegation letter: “We write to convey full support for Governor Brian Kemp’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration for the counties in the State of Georgia significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
September 29, 2024: after surveying Hurricane Helene damage in South Georgia, Ossoff told FEMA Administrator Criswell about property damage, power outages, fuel shortages, communications disruption, and agricultural losses “as a result of Hurricane Helene.”
September 26, 2024: Ossoff “continues urging all Georgians to use caution and to finalize preparations now for Hurricane Helene, which is forecast soon to make landfall in Florida and move into Georgia.” He spoke with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about deploying federal re…
September 11, 2024, Senate floor (office release dated September 12: “last night”). Welch named this storm: “Louisiana right now is bracing for the worst as Hurricane Francine moves onshore, and our prayers in Vermont are with the people of Louisiana.” After listing a year and a…
July 12, 2024, “Vermont Suffers Another Flood”: this week’s flooding in Barre, Plainfield, Lyndonville, Richmond, Williamstown, Bolton, Moretown, and other towns; more than 100 rescues; at least two dead. He said his office was in touch with FEMA, Gov. Scott, Sen. Welch, and Rep…
On July 12, 2024, Welch toured flood damage in Moretown, Plainfield, and Barre “from the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl.” He said, “our hearts go out to every Vermonter who is impacted by this week’s flooding.” He named Dylan Kempton and John Rice, who died in the flood.
July 11, 2024 hearing lede: the hearing fell “on a day when areas across Vermont received more torrential rain and flooding as the remnants of Hurricane Beryl hit the state.” Quoted remarks are about the 2023 flood and the Rural Recovery Act.
July 11, 2024, in reaction to overnight floods: “It is beyond heartbreaking to see more devastating floods in the same communities exactly one year later—yet, this is our new reality. So many homeowners, farms, businesses, and communities are still working to recover from last J…
On July 10, 2024, Welch marked the one-year anniversary of the 2023 Vermont floods on the Senate floor. He also named this storm: “We’re expecting more rain this week. The remnants of Hurricane Beryl could cause flooding again tonight.” The hundred-year-to-ten-year line in that …
June 21, 2024, in Ruidoso: “Today, Senator Heinrich and I stood shoulder to shoulder with our community in Southeastern New Mexico. Not only did we see the heart-wrenching destruction these fires have caused, we saw a community in action.” He said the wildfires had “upended the …
June 21, 2024, after visiting shelters and the Ruidoso emergency operations center: “These fires have already had devastating impacts on thousands of New Mexicans and continue to threaten beloved communities.” He said rain had not ended the danger: “Despite the moisture we have …
June 19, 2024, New Mexico delegation letter to President Biden: “Since June 17, 2024, the South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire in New Mexico have destroyed over 1400 homes and businesses, and more than 8,000 New Mexicans have been forced to evacuate their communities, often with li…
June 19, 2024, New Mexico delegation letter to President Biden: “Since June 17, 2024, the South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire in New Mexico have destroyed over 1400 homes and businesses, and more than 8,000 New Mexicans have been forced to evacuate their communities, often with li…
June 18, 2024, 4:17 p.m., Senate floor: “I want to start by acknowledging the South Fork and Salt Fires that have forced thousands to flee their homes in Lincoln County, New Mexico and the Mescalero Apache Nation over the last 24 hours.” He said he had just discussed the fires a…
August 31, 2023 letter to President Biden: “We are grateful to all law enforcement officers, first responders, and emergency officials in the State of Georgia working tirelessly in response to Hurricane Idalia.” “Georgia farmers and growers have reported widespread damage, inclu…
August 31, 2023 letter to President Biden: “We are grateful to all law enforcement officers, first responders, and emergency officials in the State of Georgia working tirelessly in response to Hurricane Idalia.” “Georgia farmers and growers have reported widespread damage, inclu…
August 22, 2023: “After an unprecedented storm, Inland Empire residents are counting on a swift federal response to help our community rebuild,” Rep. Aguilar said. “I’m grateful to Governor Newsom, our state officials and local first responders for the work they did to keep resi…
August 15, 2023: “Before I get started, I just wanted to say my heart goes out to everyone who’s been impacted by the fires in Maui and the families who have lost loved ones. I’ve spoken to Senators Schatz and Hirono about the fires. I committed to them to have the Senate do eve…
August 13, 2023, CNN State of the Union. Asked whether disasters like this are becoming more common because of climate change, and whether President Biden should declare a climate emergency: “I think that we very much need to acknowledge that climate change is upon us. There are…
August 10, 2023, NPR All Things Considered. Hirono said Lahaina, “a very historic, culturally very important town,” was “pretty much burned to the ground.” She talked about search and rescue, the disaster declaration, and long-term federal help. No climate-cause sentence in this…
August 9, 2023, letter to President Biden: “We request your help to expedite all federal assistance possible to help the state recover from devastating fires in Maui and Hawaii counties. Communities in both counties will need substantial support to recover from fires that are de…
August 9, 2023: “These fires are absolutely devastating, and we will not know the full extent of the damage for a while. In the meantime, the highest priority is the safety of the people.” Schatz said he had been in touch with the White House, Homeland Security, and Hawaii offic…
July 15, 2023, same southern Vermont tour. “The whole debate about climate change in the denialism those days is behind us. The real challenge is a lot of folks who are in the status quo are fighting to hang on and obviously we can’t afford it … what might have been a 3-inch sto…
July 15, 2023, Weston / Londonderry / Ludlow. Asked about climate change: “We are facing an existential threat to the planet. The United States, China and other countries need to come together in the very near future to radically transform our energy system away from fossil fuel…
Senate floor after touring flood damage with FEMA Administrator Criswell, Sen. Sanders, and Rep. Balint. Up to nine inches of rain. Catastrophic flooding. “Vermont needs help now.” Federal resources for a weather emergency. No climate-cause sentence in these remarks.
July 10, 2023: “These storms are dangerous for folks throughout our state.” Stay out of flood water. Follow the National Weather Service and Vermont Emergency Management. First responders and federal help.
July 10, 2023: “In the midst of the terrible flooding we are seeing, I want to thank all the emergency crews who have been working tirelessly to protect the lives and property of Vermonters.” Dangerous rain and flooding; damage to homes, public buildings, dams, and roads; stay o…
June 12, 2023 Senate floor: “Republicans’ latest proposal will also gut billions in clean energy investments essential for lowering our carbon emissions… the Inflation Reduction Act has helped create over 142,000 new good-paying jobs… but Republicans want to gut those investment…
June 9, 2023: smoke from Canadian wildfires over Rhode Island and the East Coast. “We’ve got to keep people safe from this degraded air quality and we’ve got to take action to prevent climate change from making this a common occurrence.” “Climate change is causing drier, hotter …
June 8, 2023: Cantwell “noted the wildfire smoke hovering over the East Coast this week” and said the current East Coast smoke originates in Quebec. Faster wildfire response and working with Canada. No climate-cause sentence in the scored remarks.
June 8, 2023: “As much of the country feels the impacts of Canadian wildfires,” King pressed Interior to increase federal forest harvest. CO2 from catastrophic fires / more cutting — not a climate-cause sentence for this plume.
June 8, 2023: “As it so happens, wildfire smoke from the wildfires burning right now in Canada has been affecting the skies here Washington, DC this week.” Broader remarks on climate conditions and forest mismanagement are about U.S. forests generally, not a climate-cause senten…
June 8, 2023: “Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Is Creating Dangerous Air Quality Conditions Across New York State.” “New Yorkers should take the threat posed by severe air pollution seriously.” Called on the Forest Service to help Canada suppress Quebec fires.
June 8, 2023 CNN Amanpour: “The vast wildfires out of control in Canada are impacting the entire East Coast of the United States.” “This is a real public health challenge and a reminder that climate change has dramatic consequences.”
June 8, 2023 Senate floor: “Mr. President, go outside. It is hard to breathe.” East Coast smoke. Climate change made the pattern “more frequent and more intense.” “This isn’t just a forest fire. This is a climate fire because our entire climate is on fire.”
June 8, 2023 Senate floor: “This week, the United States has suffered through some of the worst wildfire air pollution in the history of our country.” Quebec fires sending smoke into U.S. cities. “To walk through New York City yesterday was to walk on another planet — the orange…
June 7, 2023, Capitol Hill, as East Coast encounters wildfire smoke from Canada: “Those of us in the West are used to this… This is the result of 100 years of burning fossil fuels and it means we’re now burning our forests because the planet is a warmer place.” Reprinted on hein…
June 7, 2023: “Our City is currently experiencing poor and unhealthy air quality levels due to smoke from wildfires in Canada.” Safety guidance, then: “The increase in extreme weather events–from flooding to wildfires–is a stark reminder of the drastic effects of climate change.…