It's Time to Rethink How We Fight Forest Fires
Americans learned long ago how to keep cities from burning. And then, it seems, we forgot.
Natural Disaster
How to Create an Effective Earthquake Warning System
The United States is still without a proper early warning system for alerting citizens about an earthquake, but that is about to change.
Harris County Officials Failed to Implement Their Own Disaster Plan After Hurricane Harvey
Much of the blame for the poor response to the disaster fell on the Red Cross, but Houston-area officials are not exempt from responsibility.
After Montecito, We Need to Get Serious About Landslide Zoning
To avoid repeating California's recent devastation, susceptible regions must prepare for future disasters.
How California Can Mitigate Future Wildfire Damage
We have a pretty good idea of why some structures are more vulnerable to fire than others, but will those in power act on that information?
Scenes From the Wildfires Raging Through Southern California
The Thomas Fire had burned an estimated at 65,500 acres and destroyed hundreds of structures as of mid-morning Wednesday.
Volcanic Personalities: How Scientists Determine When a Volcano Will Erupt
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to discerning when a volcano may explode; they all have their own individual characteristics.
Viewfinder: Praying at a Volcano in Bali
Balinese Hindus take part in a ceremony, where they pray near Mount Agung in hope of preventing a volcanic eruption, on November 26th, 2017.
Florida's Dependence on Gas Has Repeatedly Left the State Vulnerable During Natural Disasters
Fuel shortages linked to the two recent hurricanes hindered evacuation and now recovery, highlighting our dependency on a fragile resource.
A Look at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Efforts After Hurricane Harvey
Wildlife rehabilitators rescued numerous species after the storm, from common animals like beavers and deer to rarer wildlife like alligator snapping turtles.
What Hurricane Katrina Exposed About New Orleans in 2005—and What's Changed Since
Last year, 2016, was the first year since Hurricane Katrina that more people left New Orleans than moved in domestically—that has a lot to do with the dismal job market that continues to repel young professionals.
Viewfinder: Rescue Efforts Continue as Hurricane Harvey Drowns Houston
People walk to a Harris County Sheriff air boat while escaping a flooded neighborhood during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 29th, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
Viewfinder: A National Fire Emergency in Greece
A man runs away from flames as fire burns the land, east of the Greek capital of Athens on August 15th, 2017.
Building Weather Resilience in the Face of Growing Natural Disasters
Why do Americans choose to live in areas that are risky and sometimes downright inhospitable?
How Can We Improve Our Policy on Natural Disasters?
In his new book, Disaster Citizenship: Survivors, Solidarity, and Power in the Progressive Era, Jacob Remes argues that solutions start with the locals.
Burning Budgets: The Out-of-Control Cost of Fighting Wildfires
The cost of fighting wildfires this year is predicted to go over budget by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Nuclear Mess at Fukushima
The Tokyo Electric Power company is apologizing to nearby residents once again as tons of radioactive water leak from its busted tanks.