PREVENTING "DOUBLE DISASTERS"

The document identifies a critical gap in U.S. federal regulations regarding 'natech' (natural hazard-induced technological) disasters, where climate-driven events like floods and wildfires trigger catastrophic chemical releases. Analysis shows that approximately one-third of the 12,331 RMP-regulated facilities in the U.S. face increasing risks from climate change. The authors highlight severe environmental justice disparities, noting that people of color are disproportionately located near these facilities and that facilities in communities of color are nearly twice as likely to experience disasters. The brief proposes seven key reforms for the EPA, including mandatory natech risk assessments, real-time fenceline monitoring, expanded RMP coverage, and enhanced community emergency response planning.

• Approximately one-third of the roughly 12,331 RMP facilities in the U.S. are at risk of climate-related natech events, including wildfires, flooding, hurricane storm surge, and coastal flooding.
• Chemical disasters disproportionately affect marginalized populations; people of color make up 36% of the U.S. population but nearly half (47%) of those living within one mile of RMP facilities.
• Industrial facilities located near communities of color are almost twice as likely to suffer disasters compared to those in predominantly white neighborhoods.
• The Gulf Coast is a highly vulnerable region with over 2,500 facilities facing elevated natural disaster risks, and 633 RMP incidents were recorded within five miles of the coast as of March 2021.
• The Arkema Inc. plant disaster in Crosby, Texas, serves as a primary example of a 'double disaster' where inadequate preparation for flooding and power loss led to the ignition of organic peroxides and toxic air emissions.
• Current EPA RMP regulations are insufficient because they do not require facilities to assess or implement specific practices to mitigate climate- and natural disaster-related hazards.
• The European Union provides a regulatory model through the Seveso III Directive, which requires member states to ensure industrial operators issue safety reports on how natural causes might impact chemical accidents.
• The authors recommend that the EPA implement real-time fenceline air monitoring and multilingual community alerts to ensure early detection and notification of chemical releases during disasters.
• The brief urges the EPA to expand RMP coverage to include more facilities in at-risk areas and to broaden the list of hazardous chemicals that trigger RMP requirements.

APA

Flores, D., Kalman, C., Mabson, M., & Minovi, D. (2021). PREVENTING "DOUBLE DISASTERS". Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/preventing-double-disasters%20FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Flores, David, Casey Kalman, Michelle Mabson, and Darya Minovi. PREVENTING "DOUBLE DISASTERS". Union of Concerned Scientists, 2021. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/preventing-double-disasters%20FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Flores |first1=David |last2=Kalman |first2=Casey |last3=Mabson |first3=Michelle |last4=Minovi |first4=Darya |title=PREVENTING "DOUBLE DISASTERS" |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=July 2021 |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/preventing-double-disasters%20FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{flores2021preventing, author = {Flores, David and Kalman, Casey and Mabson, Michelle and Minovi, Darya}, title = {{PREVENTING "DOUBLE DISASTERS"}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/preventing-double-disasters%20FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }