Forecasting Our Future: How extreme weather impacts our communities

Across the nation, areas are living with the intense power and impacts of weather. It seems this year, Mother Nature raised the bar. Catastrophic storms, raging wildfires, historic flooding and unrelenting droughts have all combined to create new concerns. But communities are responding, fighting and innovating to reshape the future. Watch the videos below to get an in-depth look at how these impacts are creating new concerns, and see how communities are fighting back. Extreme weather events in 2022 From destructive hurricanes to life-changing tornadoes, extreme weather impacted all of us this year. Take a look back at some of the extreme weather events in 2022. Hurricane technologyScientists have been studying hurricanes for decades, but that data has come from measurements higher up in the atmosphere. Take a look at how new research is "literally" getting to the bottom of tropical systems. Military base climate change Climate change is also a threat to national security. The largest naval base in the world, located in Norfolk, Virginia, experiences frequent flooding. Flooding is disrupting daily operations and if a big enough storm strikes, it can shut off operations for weeks. Take a look at how the naval base is taking action to mitigate the damage caused by flooding. Containing climate-fueled floodwatersTo stay ahead of a disastrous flood in Madison, Wisconsin, the county uses hydraulic and mechanical dredges to remove sediment from the bottom of the Yahara River to make room for more torrential rain.In Hoboken, New Jersey, resiliency parks have been built to defend against rainfall flooding. The majority of the park's surfaces are permeable, allowing stormwater to collect and be treated in a massive, underground, million-gallon tank–and not in nearby streets.Take a look at how communities are working to protect homes and businesses from future catastrophic floods. Intense drought conditionsIt's the grim reality in communities all across the country: the ground dried up and cracked, farm fields filled with shriveled, dead crops and rivers and reservoirs drained of their critical resource. This year's drought has been one of the worst on record for much of the country. Take a look at how states are fighting, and attempting to outsmart drought conditions.Climate change impacts on wildlifeClimate change is also impacting wildlife. Warming ocean water is making food sources more scarce and forcing whales closer to the shore to feed. On the East Coast, warming water is also changing the migration schedule of right and humpback whales. Take a look at how climate change is impacting other animals in the wild. Solar panelsWith record-breaking heat and power grids strained to the max, this is where solar shines. Solar is renewable energy, which means fewer pollutants are being put into the air. Solar energy lowers the stress on the electricity grid because most solar energy stays in the area where it's generated. That means it doesn't need to be transmitted long distances. Take a look at how it can help and how much it will impact you financially. Climate careersOrganizations and companies across the nation are creating jobs to help the climate. Better Futures Minnesota is a non-profit organization that gives green jobs to those who used to wear that color, and other dark hues, in prison. Homes are deconstructed and the materials are resold and reused. Meanwhile, the island of Hawaiʻi has launched a training school to build a renewable energy workforce. Take a look at how other groups are increasing climate change education and creating jobs. Solutions roundup From cleaning up trash to clearing pollutants from the air and water, we can all pitch in to help climate change by simply being good stewards of the environment. Take a look at how some people are doing their part to help. Below are links to more stories about people across the nation doing their part to help climate change. Missouri: Lake recreation may be tied to climate changeVermont: Ben & Jerry's commits to lowering greenhouse gas emissionsMaine: Not your typical farm: Maine aquaponics farm uses less water, landOhio: Cincinnati startup aims to make water cleanup easierFlorida: Florida engineer working towards zero-carbon emission flights using hydrogenMaryland: Building owners hoping to create a literal 'BUZZ' around BaltimoreOklahoma: Oklahoma researchers work to determine role aerosols play in cloud formation