The scenes of destruction and sorrow emanating from Hurricane Helene’s path are a harsh reminder of the incredible power of Mother Nature to wreak havoc. As of this writing, the death toll stands at 215. However, that number is likely to rise as rescue workers struggle to reach communities cut off from the outside world by Helene’s destructive force.
The loss of life is clearly the greatest tragedy in the storm’s wake. But the Hurricane also shows how natural disasters harm irreplaceable cultural resources. The National Park Service is reporting significant damage to historic sites, including “catastrophic damage” to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Asheville’s Biltmore Estate remains closed as damage is assessed. And numerous historic communities in North Carolina and beyond face wide-scale destruction.
While the debate over climate change grinds on, there is little doubt that the number and frequency of major natural disasters is increasing, with 2023 seeing a record 28 disasters that cost a billion dollars or more (see NOAA chart, below, and here).
As the country contemplates ways to adapt to the threats of extreme weather, the impact on cultural resources should not be ignored. ACRA is working with its preservation partners to identify ways to protect cultural resources, and we welcome your ideas on how best to address the impacts of a changing climate.
In the meantime, if you want to help the people affected by Hurricane Helene, NBC news has published a list of vetted charities that are on the ground assisting victims.
Congress Punts Spending Until December
Racing against two clocks – the end of the fiscal year on September 30 and their own re-elections on November 5 – members of Congress passed a short-term spending bill at the end of last month and sent it to the President, who signed it into law. The so-called continuing resolution (CR) keeps agencies running through December 20, setting up another government funding deadline in 85 days.
The move was needed because Congress had failed to pass any of the 12 appropriations bills that fund federal agencies by the start of the new fiscal year. With the election only a month away, lawmakers decided to kick the can until after the vote, leaving the task of finalizing agency budgets to a lame-duck session.
Whether Congress actually passes those bills in December will depend in no small part on the election’s outcome. If former President Donald Trump wins, Republicans may try to delay final action on the budget until he is in the White House. If Vice President Harris prevails, Democrats may want to finish the appropriations bills to “clear the decks” of old business before she is sworn in. But with the race a virtual toss-up, not to mention control of both chambers of Congress up in the air, it’s anyone’s guess how a lame-duck session will play out. Stay tuned…
Last Chance to Comment on ACHP’s Program Comment on Climate and Communities
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has released a Proposed Program Comment on Accessible, Climate-Resilient, Connected Communities and is inviting public comments.
The ACHP says that “the intent of the Program Comment is to help accelerate the review of federal agency actions to rehabilitate existing housing or create new housing in existing buildings, to maintain and update buildings and their immediate environs in response to climate concerns, and to rehabilitate or create new climate-friendly transportation infrastructure. It would apply to all agencies proposing to carry out, license, permit, or fund the covered undertakings which elect to use it.”
The Program Comment would provide all federal agencies with an alternative to Section 106 for a wide range of undertakings.
Comments can be submitted to the ACHP by Wednesday, October 9, by email to program_alternatives@achp.gov.
ACRA is finalizing its comments to ACHP based on feedback from members.
On Demand: Q&A with National NAGPRA Program Manager Melanie O’Brien
In late August, National NAGPRA Program Manager Melanie O’Brien took part in a Q&A session with ACRA members about the new NAGPRA rules.
If you missed it, the recording is now available: ACRA members can log in and view the recording here. The password to view can be found on the Members-Only Webinars on Demand page.