Lauren Sommer
Climate correspondent for NPR. West Coast-based. Wildfires, water, oceans, adaptation and accountability. Signal: sommer.55
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- California communities are reducing their wildfire risk, but often, insurance companies don't take those larger efforts into account. A new effort is trying to change that. My story, part of a @npr.org series on insurance and climate change 1/ www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
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View full threadThe insurance crisis is even hitting communities that don't experience wildfires or hurricanes. Rising premiums are becoming a growing share of housing costs 3/- from @rhersher.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
- In Florida, insurance costs are squeezing out the middle class and communities are worried it could lead to a wave of home foreclosures 4/ - from @michaelcopley1.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
- We looked at three communities across the U.S. who are struggling with insurance costs and cancellations as climate-driven disasters get worse. The effects are rippling through communities 2/ - with @rhersher.bsky.social @michaelcopley1.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
- With home insurance getting pricier and millions of houses unprepared for disasters, states are starting incentive programs. Strengthen your house, get an insurance discount. Alabama has led the way, but programs in other states, like CA, aren't as popular. Here's why: www.npr.org/2025/06/11/n...
- Communities around the country were awarded billions in FEMA grants and have spent years planning infrastructure projects to prepare for future disasters. Now, the Trump Administration has cancelled the grants. Rural communities have few other options. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/05/01/n...
- Doggles! www.npr.org/2025/04/10/n...
- California just released new maps on where homes have to be built with wildfire-resistant materials. But the majority of homes destroyed in the Eaton fire won’t have to use those building codes www.npr.org/2025/03/25/n...
- After the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, some homeowners are being required to rebuild with wildfire building codes. But the majority are not. Here's why - on @npr today www.npr.org/2025/03/25/n...
- Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said she's going to eliminate FEMA at a Trump cabinet meeting today. Here's what states say is at stake for them in disasters. www.npr.org/2025/03/21/n...
- The Trump administration is pushing states to take over disaster response and preparation. Many say it wouldn't be possible without FEMA. www.npr.org/2025/03/21/n...
- The NOAA firings were done so quickly, staff that manages the central weather forecasting models were scrambling to transfer access to employees who would still remain. On @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/02/27/n...
- NOAA employees, both current and those affected by the firings, please feel free to get in touch. I'm a climate reporter at NPR who has covered NOAA a long time. I'm on Signal at sommer.55
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- Hi @wolfpackwx.bsky.social - I'm a reporter at NPR. If you're up for chatting, I'm at sommer.55 on signal.
- All probationary federal employees at NOAA’s EMC that’s responsible for keeping all US weather model systems running have been fired with 1 hours notice. And that includes me and colleagues. We will not go quietly because we care about the NOAA mission to protect the public.
- HI @rissarwx.bsky.social - I'm a reporter at NPR, if you're up for connecting. I'm on signal at sommer.55 or you can DM me.
- Great episode from @wunc.org about rebuilding after Hurricane Helene. A lot of roads need repair, but how do you design them to withstand the future climate? North Carolina is working on that, something not many communities do after a disaster. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
- As animals get close to extinction, some are brought into captivity as a last resort. It's not easy to find a way to release them again, but in Hawaii, a rare crow is making its way back to the wild again. On @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...
- SCOOP: For 25 years, FEMA has helped develop building codes that help homes survive floods and hurricanes. Now, FEMA is pulling back on that work, taking its name off recommendations its experts have written. On @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/02/20/n...
- Hey NOAA, FEMA and federal scientists and staff — I’m a climate reporter at NPR. To share info anonymously, you can reach me on Signal at sommer.55
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- There's been a lot of discussion after the Los Angeles fires about clearing brush to reduce the fire risk. It's not that simple -- Southern California's chaparral is vastly different than the state's forests. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/02/11/n...
- Bring on the rat puns... www.npr.org/2025/01/31/n...
- Many communities are struggling with where to build housing - there's a big shortage but the risk from wildfires and floods is getting worse. Los Angeles County had that debate right before these fires destroyed thousands of homes. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/01/30/n...
- I've interviewed NASA climate scientist Ben Hamlington over the years. Then I heard he lost his home in the Los Angeles wildfires. www.npr.org/2025/01/23/n...
- Even in extreme wildfires, some houses survive. A team on the ground in Los Angeles is studying those untouched houses to see what homeowners did right. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/01/17/n...
- Los Angeles has some of the toughest wildfire policies in the country when it comes to building codes and vegetation. But these fires show there’s more to do. On @npr.org today www.npr.org/2025/01/15/n...
- 2/ And thank you to all the folks sharing information @pyrogeog.bsky.social @gollnerfire.bsky.social @weatherwest.bsky.social @michaelwara.bsky.social @samlmontano.bsky.social and many others I haven’t seen on this platform yet
- Many communities are in the same situation as Pacific Palisades - few evacuation routes, lots of homes and not enough community planning. With today's wildfires, evacuation is more critical than ever -- on @npr.org today. www.npr.org/2025/01/09/n...
- Countries are debating $$ at the COP29 climate summit. What does that involve? Some of the first payments for climate damages are starting go out.
- It’s been 1 year since Maui’s fires, the US’s deadliest in last century. It’s a crucial time for the community - because it’s deciding whether to build back the same or better able to handle future disasters. Here’s my reporting from Lahaina www.npr.org/2024/08/06/n...
