disasters

Storms and Rising Seas Threaten Coastal Ecosystems—Here’s What We Can Do

By Jeffrey Peterson / On November 22nd, 2019

We’ve made little progress in preparing our communities and vital ecosystems for storms and sea-level rise, but there are tools we can use if government agencies and nonprofits take action.

Forgotten First Responders: Caregivers for Sick and Elderly

By Denise Fairchild, Monica Russo / On October 7th, 2019

Caregivers are underappreciated and underutilized partners in disaster response. But with proper recognition and support, they could become a linchpin of successful disaster response.

To Prevent Disaster, Rethink Development

By Laurie Mazur, Edward Thomas / On October 13th, 2017

Three ways better building practices can reduce the risks of hurricanes like Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Bounce Forward: Building Resilience for Dangerous Times

By Laurie Mazur / On May 24th, 2016

When Superstorm Sandy came ashore in 2012, thousands of New Yorkers were plunged into what seemed like an earlier century. No lights. No heat. No refrigeration. No elevators. On the upper floors of high-rise apartment buildings, the taps went dry and toilets would not flush.

Disaster assistance (finally!) takes nature into account

By Laurie Mazur / On February 23rd, 2016

If a tree falls in the forest, what does it cost? From the perspective of federal disaster assistance, the answer traditionally has been “not much.” But now — thanks to improved number-crunching — the federal government is taking nature into account when it tallies the cost of disasters.

What happens when disaster strikes during gridlock?

By Laurie Mazur / On January 13th, 2016

I was late for an appointment, sitting in traffic on one of the major arteries out of Washington DC. It was miserable, barely moving traffic of the kind that makes you whimper with frustration as yet another green light turns yellow, then red, as you inch along

The Coastal Triple Threat of Natural Hazards

By Jaimie Hicks Masterson / On January 10th, 2016

Have you ever been to a community that was exposed to inland flooding, hurricane surge, and future sea level rise? A community that is exposed to such poor air quality that a 2005 Houston Chronicle report compared it to "sitting in traffic 24/7"? Welcome to the super neighborhoods of Manchester, Harrisburg, and Magnolia Park, adjacent to oil refineries and the Houston Ship Channel in East Houston, Texas.