Climate change is happening. It’s a big thing that can make us feel like there’s not much we can do to help. (That’s not true — we can all make a difference.) Sometimes hearing how it affects individual people and families can stir us to action.
People lose everything to storms that are caused or exacerbated by climate change. Imagine things being so bad that you don’t want to go back. The state of New York offered to purchase 185 homes from Oakwood Beach residents after Hurricane Sandy. All but two households accepted the offer.
Manitou Springs, Colorado, was hit with terrible wildfires, followed by unprecedented flooding. In 2013, floods damaged 1,800 homes and 900 businesses.
This woman was sitting in her living room when flash floods tore through her home and swept her away. She survived, but her house was destroyed.
Droughts in Durango, Mexico, have caused livestock to die from starvation — there’s nothing for the animals to eat because there’s not enough water for anything to grow — and people aren’t able to farm.
Unfortunately, nobody has to look far to see the devastation caused by climate change. It’s not all gloom and doom, though. People are finding ways to thrive under new conditions, and we can all help reduce our environmental impact.
