What's happening 

It happened fast. People looked at their phones and saw warning messages. 

For some people, it was already too late. Streets and basements were already full of water. Thousands of homes were ruined. 

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Storm Ida arrived on land on 29 August. It was the fifth-largest hurricane ever in the USA. 

On Wednesday, it arrived in New York City. It caused floods on roads. Cars were washed away. People living in basement flats had water pouring through their windows. 

President Biden said it was down to global warming. "The climate crisis is here", he said. 

This storm is not the first extreme weather event this summer. In June, towns in Canada reached 49.5C in a heatwave. In Greece, the weather led to wildfires. In China, floods made 10,000 people homeless. 

Experts say weather like this is more likely with global warming. President Biden says it is time to act. But only 51% of Americans think we need to change how we live. 

Is this the summer we finally wake up? 

Some say

No. The news is scary but that will not make us change. Instead, we need things to hope for. Good news is more helpful. For example, the rise in electric cars or more countries using wind power. This will motivate us more!

Others think 

Yes, of course! We cannot ignore climate change when it affects so many of us. Now it is affecting rich countries that can do something about it. This will force us to make a big change!