US: Climate data now key to disaster preparedness, first responders say

Emergency response organizations like FEMA are using climate forecasts to prepare for the increase in weather-related disasters, reports Inside Climate News.

By using climate forecasts created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), FEMA has begun pre-positioning resources before a disaster strikes. 'In terms of preparedness and response, intelligence is the currency of the realm. Climate projections are a piece of the puzzle as valuable as any communications intelligence, or first-person intelligence. Without them, we won't have the full picture,' said Richard Spinrad, the chief scientist for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.