What are the CNN Presidential Debate candidates' stances on natural disasters?

Wisconsin DNR

Biden on natural disasters

President Biden has spearheaded significant spending on climate infrastructure, which his administration believes will mitigate some of the effects of natural disasters.

The president has pushed an environmental agenda that includes decreasing carbon output over several years, often attributing “unprecedented wildfires, … extreme flooding, … [and] record breaking hurricanes” to “the climate crisis.” He has also pushed for additional funding for disaster relief in spending bills. 

Trump on natural disasters

Meanwhile, former president Trump has been critical of Biden’s spending on climate initiatives and has suggested he will attempt to end various grants made available by legislation Biden championed. In some disaster instances, Trump has called out states for not taking proper precautions. In 2020, the former president blasted California for allegedly mismanaging its land and failing to do the necessary maintenance to avoid disastrous wildfires. 

“Maybe we’re just going to have to make them pay for it because they don’t listen to us,” he said at the time. “I’ve been telling them this now for three years, but they don’t want to listen … ‘The environment, the environment,’ but they have massive fires again.”