On this day a year ago, New Englanders braced themselves for Hurricane Ida. As a category 4 storm, Ida tied with Hurricane Laura of August 2020 and the Last Island Hurricane of August 1856 for the strongest on record to make landfall in Louisiana. Before Ida would make its exit to the Atlantic, it would devastate the Northeastern seaboard. In New York City alone, an hour-long storm that produced three inches of rain incapacitated the City's sewer system. Thousands of people lost their homes in the resulting flood. Government disaster preparedness agencies are not prepared to help people piece back together their lives. The average FEMA claim pays out $2500 and, just last week, the NYC comptroller's office denied all 4703 claims against the City for negligence in not maintaining its century-old sewer system. In addition to our core grants, The Solutions Project took action by releasing $1.53 million in rapid response funds for 53 organizations across the country and purchased 780 solar kits to be distributed across the gulf south. Where public infrastructure failed, community organizers successfully distributed supplies through mutual aid networks that brought immediate relief to thousands of people. As climate change worsens, cities will continue to be waylaid by overcharged natural disasters. Today is a stark reminder that the climate crisis is the epic challenge of our lives. Thankfully, we know that we can solve it. By working to amplify and fund solutions championed by frontline communities and through supporting innovative leaders that reject the status-quo, we are bringing everyone into the fight for climate justice. You should join us. Let's create the future we want. 📸: Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Sipa via AP Images