Historic Flooding in North Carolina Has Significant Impacts on Black Communities in the State

Three in five Black voters across battleground states believe addressing climate change should be a priority in the upcoming election for president. 

Raleigh, N.C. — This week’s historic once-in-1000-year flooding in North Carolina is yet another example of the ongoing toll of climate change in the state. In North Carolina, extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires continue to threaten the lives, homes, and finances of North Carolina families. Black and Brown communities located in flood-prone areas in eastern NC are facing some of the worst impacts of climate change with every storm. Nationally, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that Black communities will face the largest increases in flood risk from 2020 to 2050. In the southeastern US, almost 17% of Black-owned homes will be at risk of storm damage by 2050. 

“North Carolina’s devastating flooding isn’t an accident — Big Oil’s harmful toxic pollution has polluted the state and made flooding events worse, with Black communities facing the brunt of extreme weather events,” says Markeya Thomas, Senior Advisor for Black Engagement at Climate Power. “While Kamala Harris is running to protect our freedom to clean air and water and holding Big Oil accountable for their rampant profiteering, Donald Trump is campaigning to give Big Oil a blank check to pollute our communities. His Project 2025 plan will worsen extreme weather events, while our families will be forced to clean up the mess.” 

Kamala Harris has championed the freedom to have clean air and water throughout her career. As California’s attorney general, she made corporate polluters pay $50 million in damages, as U.S. Senator she pushed for legislation to replace lead pipes that helped shape the clean energy plan, and as Vice President, spearheaded the Justice40 Initiative. 

Here are the facts on Trump’s record and his Project 2025 plan: 

• Donald Trump’s Project 2025 plan will gut the clean energy plan, which has helped create nearly 12,000 new clean energy jobs in North Carolina.

• Trump rolled back critical flood protections that protected Americans from rising sea levels. 
• Trump failed to adequately prepare the country for hurricanes by leaving disaster response positions open months into his term.
• Donald Trump’s Project 2025 plan will gut the Clean Air Act, and stymie the EPA’s ability to protect our air and water.