• DISASTER EESPONSETrump Denies Disaster Aid, Tells States to Do More

    By Alex Brown

    In the wake of recent natural disasters, state leaders across the country are finding that emergency support from the federal government is no longer a given, as the White House says states must have an ‘appetite to own the problem.’

  • SEARCH & RESCUENext-Gen UAVs Enhance Search and Rescue Efficiency

    Search and rescue operations often face difficulties due to unpredictable weather, rugged terrain, and limited resources. UAVs offer a promising approach to search and rescue missions, but there is a need for improved Aerial Person Detection (APD) technologies to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of UAV-based rescue efforts.

  • DISASTER RESPONSEFEMA Moves to End One of Its Biggest Disaster Adaptation Programs

    By Zoya Teirstein and Jake Bittle

    In an internal FEMA memorandum obtained by Grist, the Trump administration announced its plans to dismantle the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program.

  • DISASTER RESPONSEIf FEMA Didn’t Exist, Could States Handle the Disaster Response on Their Own?

    By Ming Xie

    Coordinating disaster response is complex, the paperwork for federal assistance can be frustrating, and the agency does draw criticism. However, it also fills an important role. As the frequency of natural disasters continues to rise due to climate change, ask yourself: How prepared is your state for a disaster, and could it get by without federal aid?

  • DISASTER RECOVERYTemporary Accommodation, Affordable Modular Housing Can Help Communities Recover from Natural Disasters

    By Tuan Ngo

    The scale of the wildfires which swept through Los Angeles, leaving a trail of devastation and destroying thousands of homes, underscores the urgent need for rapid and sustainable housing that supports displaced people and their families in times of crisis. One promising approach is modular housing.

  • POST-DISASTER RECOVERYWhat It Takes to Regrow a Community After Wildfire

    By Kylie Mohr

    As it recovers, Altadena finds inspiration in other wildfire-devastated communities that have replanted lawns, gardens, and green spaces with fire-resistant native species.

  • DISASTER RESPONSETrump Wants States to Handle Disasters without FEMA. They Say They Can’t.

    By Alex Brown and Kevin Hardy

    Trump has called the FEMA a “disaster” and suggested it might “go away.” He said states would best take care of hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires on their own, with the federal government reimbursing some of the costs. But emergency managers say the federal agency’s role is irreplaceable.

  • DISASTER RESPONSEGet Rid of FEMA? Trump-appointed Group to Look at Shifting Disaster Response to States.

    By Jennifer Shutt

    Governors and state legislatures may have to bolster their natural disaster response and recovery efforts in the coming years as President Donald Trump looks for ways to shift the federal government’s role onto states.

  • RESILIENCEAmidst Compounding Disasters, Resilient Housing Can Anchor Communities

    By Benjamin Ulrich

    Back-to-back hurricanes wreaking havoc across huge swaths of the Southeast were yet another sign of the intensifying impacts of climate change. The nationwide shortage of reliable, affordable housing and the increasing tempo of extreme weather events are separate crises that overlap and magnify each other’s impacts. 

  • DISASTERS3 Innovative Ways to Help Countries Hit by Climate Disasters, Beyond a Loss and Damage Fund

    By Erin Coughlan de Perez

    The usual sources of disaster aid funding haven’t come close to meeting the need in hard-hit countries in recent years. So, groups are developing new ways to meet the need more effectively. In some cases, they are getting aid to countries before the damage occurs.

  • GRID RESILIENCETransformers: Cooler Side of the Grid

    Failures in transformers cause widespread disruptions across electrical networks, severely affecting grid stability. The financial impact of such failures often goes beyond just the cost of replacing the transformer. Simulations on NSF-funded Stampede2 provide models for a resilient and sustainable electric grid.

  • BRIDGE SAFETYMajor Bridge Accidents Caused by Ships and Barges

    Experts say there is much to be done in improving bridges which were built for smaller vessels in a different era, even with modern regulations and design codes in place. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed in 2021, which includes $110 billion for roads, bridges and major infrastructure projects, was a step in the right direction, but that it is far from the $4.5 trillion that studies have suggested are needed to upgrade American infrastructure to the target level of safety and efficiency.

  • DISATSER PREPAREDNESS & RECOVERYDisasters Expo USA: The Latest in Disaster Preparedness and Recovery

    Disasters Expo USA will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center on 6-7 March 2024. Leading disaster mitigation experts will share with the thousands of participants the latest information and insights on the most innovative, cost-effective, and efficient solutions which aim to help communities prepare for, cope with, and recover from destructive and costly disasters.

  • RESILIENCEReport Details 2023 State Policy Trends in Disaster Resilience

    By Lucia Bragg

    As the world continues to grapple with the growing impacts of climate change, we will need to take clear steps to reduce the consequences of ongoing and forecasted catastrophes. It is important to understand what is happening at the state level and how climate adaptation and disaster resilience priorities are appearing in state laws that govern our approaches and underwrite our resilience efforts.

  • DISASTER RESILIENCEBolstering Disaster Resilience

    NIST and NSF have awarded nearly $7.1 million in grants to fund research that will improve the ability of buildings, infrastructure and communities to withstand severe natural hazards.