Disaster
Viewfinder: Looking Back at the Remains of Messina, the Italian City Destroyed by an Earthquake 120 Years Ago
A view of Messina on December 28th, 1908, shortly after the terrible earthquake that destroyed two-thirds of the Italian town. There were 126,000 victims, more than 66,000 from the town itself.
Viewfinder: Bodies Are Pulled From an Indonesian Plane Crash
Search and rescue personnel carry a body bag containing remains of a passenger from Lion Air Flight 610 at the Tanjung Priok port on October 30th, 2018, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Viewfinder: A Massive Wildfire Outside Athens, Greece
A firefighting helicopter flies over a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina near Athens, on July 23rd, 2018.
California's Ominous Earthquake Drought
A major seismic event in the state is an inevitability, but is the government doing enough to prepare for the disaster?
The Enormous Consequences of America's Catastrophic Weather This Year
Record-breaking droughts, fires, and hurricanes have made the near-term effects of climate change a front-and-center issue across America.
Viewfinder: A Moment of Silence in West London
People light candles as they observe a vigil outside Notting hill Methodist Church following the blaze at Grenfell Tower.
One Month Later, Is the Oroville Dam Safe for California Residents?
The last few months have seen heavy rainfall in the Golden State, which could spell trouble for California’s dams.
How to See Disaster Coming
Researchers analyze mathematics of rapid change in complex systems and find room for improvement—and hints at mitigation.
Why So Many Flood Maps Are Still Out of Date
An interview with professor David Maidment on what makes today’s maps 10 times more accurate than the ones much of the country is still stuck with.
What Happens When Austerity Measures Cut Out Your Emergency Services
An inside look at what it's like when austerity measures lead to direct cuts in your city's emergency services.
As Need for New Flood Maps Rises, Congress and Obama Cut Funding
FEMA maps that dictate insurance premiums for millions of Americans are dangerously outdated. Can we get them ready before another Katrina or Sandy?
Do (Cheap) Mid-Century Schoolhouses Worsen Disasters Like the Moore Tornado?
At least seven children died in Oklahoma this past week when two elementary schools were destroyed. Is shoddy construction to blame?
A Survivor of the Deadliest Tornado in U.S. History Tells Her Tale
At 70, Lela Hartman believed we would one day use technology to prevent disasters like the Tri-State Tornado she witnessed as a small child. Are we getting any closer?