Atlas of Disaster
Objective
Transformed climate disaster data and legislative research into actionable, state-specific policy tools—driving new funding mechanisms for resilience in New Jersey, Vermont, and Massachusetts, and supporting efforts to replicate New York State’s $4.2B Environmental Bond Act.
Tags
Challenge
States and communities faced repeated climate disasters, but lacked clear, accessible data to advocate for proactive funding—especially outside major cities. Key information was siloed in dense government reports, making it difficult to humanize risk or drive legislative action.
Solution
Led research and mapping for the Atlas of Disaster, synthesizing FEMA data, local news, and state adaptation plans to deliver county-level analysis across New Jersey, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Mapped disaster frequency, funding, and social vulnerability by legislative district—creating tools that empower advocates and lawmakers to pursue equitable, state-specific climate resilience funding.
View the Atlas of Disaster: New Jersey →
Workflow
- Research & Synthesis: Analyzed FEMA disaster counts, state legislation, and adaptation plans for trends and policy gaps
- Data Engineering: Cleaned and mapped data by county, house, senate, and congressional district
- Local Storytelling: Matched FEMA data with news stories to humanize disaster risk across urban and rural communities
- Policy Collaboration: Co-created reports and workshops with local partners and coalitions
- Advocacy: Supported campaigns for major funding tools such as the NYS $4.2B Environmental Bond Act, insurance surcharges, and climate superfunds
Tools & Skills
QGIS · Python/R · Data Wrangling · Policy Research · Report Writing · Adobe Illustrator · Adobe InDesign · Stakeholder Engagement · Project Management
Impact
- Helped launch the NJ Coalition for a Stronger New Jersey, using Atlas of Disaster findings to unite advocates, community organizations, and policymakers.
- Reports are actively used by colleagues to drive strategy discussions with state legislatures and on-the-ground partners in both New Jersey, Vermont and Massachusetts.
- Serve as the primary data analyst for ongoing inquiries and additional research, providing technical support to amplify coalition and legislative efforts.
- Featured in the following media outlets:
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- Aug 3, 2023 – Seven Days Vermont: Report Catalogs Vermont’s Growing Litany of Disasters
- Aug 5, 2024 – The New York Times: Federal disasters declared in NJ, 2011-2023
