Dear Washington State Government, first responders, and all residents fighting on the front lines of the atmospheric river disaster:

This Christmas is not a quiet one.

Some are moving through wind and rain; some keep watch through the night. Some have been forced to leave the homes they know so well; others stay awake through the darkness, simply to keep a shelter open and safe. Government agencies and rescue teams are battling on the front lines, while the Red Cross, United Way, churches, and volunteers extend helping hands—distributing supplies, arranging shelter, and holding steady lives shaken by uncertainty with acts of goodwill.

There are tears, and there are embraces; there is the pain of loss, and there is still the warmth that reminds us Christmas has not disappeared. At this moment, together with countless others who care deeply about you, I turn my thoughts toward you and place my heart and hope with you—may this Christmas become your most difficult, yet also your most unforgettable moment.

At present, Washington State as a whole has passed through the most dangerous peak of the flooding. In some areas, waters are beginning to recede; the risk of large-scale casualties has declined significantly, and rescue and emergency systems are operating in an orderly manner. This reflects the effective coordination and sense of responsibility demonstrated by the federal government, state and local authorities, and nonprofit organizations in times of crisis. The rapid opening of shelters, orderly distribution of supplies, and careful protection of seniors, children, and vulnerable populations demonstrate the strength of institutions—and the warmth of humanity.

Yet this disaster also delivers a sobering and clarifying reminder of a reality now taking shape:

Atmospheric rivers are no longer rare, isolated extremes; they are becoming a recurring winter risk that must be faced over the long term.

At the same time, the impact of this event reveals an unavoidable truth: what has been exposed is not merely accidental damage caused by a single extreme weather event, but structural vulnerability at the infrastructure level. The rapid damage to multiple critical transportation corridors reflects deeper issues—flood-control and engineering designs still largely based on past climate statistics; levees and drainage systems lacking sufficient redundancy under sustained heavy rainfall; and low-lying communities that have borne accumulated risk for decades without systematic intervention due to historical planning decisions.

This means that even if current repairs are completed smoothly, without forward-looking structural upgrades, society may continue to fall into a recurring cycle of “repair–damage–repair,” consuming public resources and eroding public confidence.

Therefore, what truly deserves our collective attention is not only whether the floodwaters recede, but whether—after the flood—we are willing, and have the courage, to choose change. The key lies in whether we can seize this disaster as an opportunity to advance systemic upgrades in flood-control standards and climate-resilient infrastructure; whether we can develop more scientific, integrated, and forward-looking strategies to weaken the conditions that give rise to atmospheric river storms and their risk-amplifying effects; and whether we can move toward a new era of flood resilience—one that gradually replaces heavy reliance on manpower and temporary emergency measures with modular, engineered, and system-based flood defenses.

These choices will determine whether this disaster remains merely a natural event endured passively, or becomes a historic turning point that drives long-term governance transformation and strengthens societal resilience.

To all residents of Washington State, I also wish to say from the heart:

What you are experiencing is not only a flood, but a test of courage, patience, and the spirit of mutual care. Floodwaters may destroy roads and homes, but they cannot wash away community solidarity, neighborly trust, the sense of responsibility shown by governments and nonprofit organizations, or people’s hope for the future.

Please believe that your safety and dignity have never been overlooked; your perseverance is being seen by the entire nation. We will draw lessons from this flood, transform pain into action, and turn loss into the motivation for change. May this land, after the waters recede, not merely return to what it was, but grow stronger; may your communities, after rebuilding, not only stand again, but stand firmer and endure longer.

Yesterday, I donated 150 dollars to the American Red Cross. I want the people in the disaster-stricken areas of Washington State to know that in this difficult time, you are not alone—we stand with you. In this difficult time, we are not only offering support, but also making a solemn commitment to seek and develop technologies that can prevent atmospheric river disasters at their source, reducing future suffering and loss. In this difficult time, I sincerely hope to inspire more people to focus on the affected areas, show concern for human suffering, and actively participate in relief efforts.

May this Christmas bring hope, warmth, and the strength to begin anew.

Wishing the Washington State government, all rescue personnel, and everyone bravely confronting the atmospheric river storm—

Merry Christmas, and may safety and peace walk with you.

Best regards,
Chunhua Yu

Date: December 25, 2025

Letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Natural Disasters

Dear Speaker McCarthy,

For thousands of years, humans believed the moon was a distant, mystical object that quietly climbed the night sky, surrounded by stars-beautiful but unreachable. Yet, in the last century, brave Americans made the impossible possible by walking on the moon. That historic achievement was driven by powerful imagination, unwavering determination, advanced technology, and substantial investment.

If we apply that same spirit to the challenge of overcoming natural disasters, I believe the United States has the capacity to develop transformative technologies, resilient infrastructures, and proactive strategies to reshape our relationship with nature. We must embrace the belief that humanity can rise to meet even the most formidable forces of nature. We are not destined to be victims of disasters—we are capable of mastering them.

In recent correspondence, I have shared more than a dozen technological initiatives that span space, oceans, and Earth. These ideas envision a world of breathtaking possibilities. Imagine generating rain on the moon. Imagine living on the moon by moderating its extreme temperatures—127°C during the day and -173°C at night. Imagine revolutionizing maritime transportation so that global shipping takes hours or even minutes instead of weeks. Imagine solving the crisis of global warming by directly cooling the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Most importantly, imagine an America where new technologies can actively control and mitigate devastating natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, snowstorms, and more.

My strategies for addressing natural disasters are not just about technological conquest—they represent a step toward a new phase of coexistence between humanity and the natural environment. Today’s disaster-prevention systems are largely reactive: early warning, emergency response, and recovery. While important, these are no longer sufficient for the scale and frequency of modern climate-related disasters. My initiatives aim to shift from passive response to proactive control, integrating innovations in meteorology, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, high-altitude engineering, and other advanced fields.

These proposals represent cutting-edge innovation and offer fresh thinking, new perspectives, and forward-looking strategies for 21st-century disaster management. They could elevate the United States to a global leadership position in this emerging frontier. The technologies I propose have the potential to save lives and protect property—not only in America but across the world. The potential economic and humanitarian benefits could reach hundreds of trillions of dollars.

Dear Speaker McCarthy, do you believe these initiatives are worthy of your support and promotion?

Best regards,
Chunhua Yu

Date: May 30, 2025