Mayor Ed GaineyTakes Action on Climate Resilience Following Devastating April 29th Storm
Pittsburgh, PA – In response to the destructive storm that struck on Tuesday, April 29th, Mayor Ed Gainey has signed an Executive Order directing the City’s Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (OEMHS) to produce a public report assessing the City’s response and recovery efforts, as well as charging OEMHS and the Department of City Planning (DCP) to establish a mitigation plan to better prepare the City for increasingly severe, increasingly frequent storms resulting from climate change. This new initiative aims to strengthen the city’s infrastructure and neighborhoods against the growing threats posed by climate change.
The powerful storm, which brought heavy rains and strong winds, revealed serious vulnerabilities within the city’s infrastructure. Thousands of trees were downed, many damaging power lines and blocking roadways, leaving large portions of the city without power and access. While the storm itself was extraordinary, it underscored longstanding challenges, including deferred maintenance and insufficient investment in critical infrastructure—especially the urban tree canopy.
“This recent storm is a wake-up call,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “It’s clear that climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is here, it is now. We must act to protect our community, our environment, and our future. Through this Executive Order, we are creating a comprehensive response that will help us become more resilient and better prepared for future storms and climate events.”
Earlier this year, the City began efforts to establish a Hazard Mitigation Plan to address a wide range of threats like fires, train accidents and landslides. In light of last week’s storm and as a result of the Mayor’s Executive Order, that effort will now be expanded to account for the increasing frequency and severity of storms exacerbated by climate change. Mayor Gainey is confident that with the leadership of key experts, such as Fire Chief Darryl Jones, PhD, and City Planning Director Jamil Bey, PhD, the city will be able to develop an effective strategy for climate resilience.
“We are lucky to have two great experts in Chief Jones and Dr. Bey, who bring immense knowledge and experience to this critical effort,” said Mayor Gainey. “Together, they will help lead the charge in ensuring that we’re prepared for what’s ahead.”
Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones, PhD, echoed the urgency of the situation: “Our work is about more than just addressing immediate threats. It’s about long-term solutions that will ensure the safety and well-being of our residents for generations to come. This storm was a reminder that climate change impacts are here to stay, and we need to be proactive in fortifying our city.”
Jamil Bey, PhD, City Planning Director, added, “Building climate resilience is not just about protecting our infrastructure—it’s about protecting people. From public health to housing to emergency response, our goal is to ensure that every system in our city can withstand and thrive in the face of changing environmental conditions.”
As part of this process, the city will host a Zoom Webinar to allow residents to learn more about the plan and how they can get involved in shaping the city’s future climate resilience strategy.
All residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient city.
Call for Community Involvement: CERT Training Now Open
In addition to participating in the planning process, residents are urged to take an active role in community preparedness by signing up for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. This free training, offered through the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, equips citizens with essential skills to respond to emergencies and support their neighborhoods during disasters.
To learn more or register, email OEMHS at oemhs@pittsburghpa.gov.
About the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan (AHMP)
The city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan will address a range of climate-related threats, including storms, wildfires, landslides, and more. It aims to ensure that our systems—public health, infrastructure, housing, energy, and emergency response—are resilient and can continue to serve the community in the face of climate change. This plan will also focus on equity, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in the city’s resilience efforts.
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