Western New York disaster preparedness funding frozen

Disaster preparedness efforts in Western New York have come to a halt due to a freeze on $20 million in federal funding. This funding was awarded to local organizations under the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act. It was meant to help communities prepare for extreme weather events, which have become more frequent due to climate change. The funding freeze, initiated by an executive order from former President Trump, has left organizations in a state of uncertainty. They were planning to establish neighborhood hubs equipped to respond to disasters like blizzards and tornadoes. The portal for the grant funding is currently down, and meetings with EPA officials have been canceled, leaving groups without guidance. Local leaders, such as Rahwa Ghirmatzion from People United for Sustainable Housing, expressed frustration over being in limbo despite Congress approving the funds. Similar concerns were raised by the Clean Air Coalition, which relied on the grant for operating expenses and was forced to seek emergency funding. Their plans to expand staff and services are now on hold. Multiple senators from New York condemned the funding freeze, calling it illegal and detrimental to community safety. They emphasized that the funds were intended for disaster preparedness and clean energy job training. Without this support, many local initiatives may be significantly impacted. The funding situation also affects other environmental projects in the region. For example, plans to plant thousands of trees in Buffalo are also stalled due to the freeze on Inflation Reduction Act funds. A federal judge had previously ruled that freezing these funds may be unlawful, but the Trump administration has not complied with the court's order. Local leaders are pushing for a resolution, emphasizing the need for these resources to protect their communities from future disasters.