The disastrous wildfire chewing through Yosemite National Park won’t be the last blaze of a hot, dry summer in the West. Why there are more fires to come
Disasters
Aftershocks Could Raise Earthquake Risks for Vulnerable Cities
Tokyo escaped damage in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. But a new study indicates that aftershocks from the quake may have increased the seismic danger the Japanese megacity faces
Population Plus Climate: Why Coastal Cities Will Face Increased Risks From Floods
A new study names the global cities most at risk at coastal flooding—both today, and in a warmer future.
10 Years After the Great Blackout, the Grid Is Stronger — but Vulnerable to Extreme Weather
More than 50 million people throughout the Northeast lost power in the great blackout of 2003. Could it happen again to the grid?
How Shoddily Constructed Buildings Become Weapons of Mass Destruction
We tend to focus on the size of an earthquake, but death toll has more to do with the quality of buildings. A new study shows that countries in south-central Asia are on the wrong side of the disaster divide — and the costs …
When It Comes to Disaster Resilience, Washington Is Leaving City Officials Out to Dry
Cities have become the laboratories of democracy and the engines of economic growth. But a disengaged, miserly national government is making it harder for mayors to prepare for the next catastrophe
The Costs of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Are Passing the High-Water Mark
Hurricane Sandy made it clear: as the climate warms, population grows and sea level rises, extreme weather will hurt more. That’s why we need to fix flood insurance
Climate Change Could Make Hurricanes Stronger—and More Frequent
Existing research suggests that hurricanes could become stronger but less frequent thanks to climate change. But a new study says both could happen.
How Earthquakes Heal Themselves — and Why That’s Important
A new study shows how fractures in rock can reknit just like fractures in bones
The (Virtually) Tornado-Proof Hospital: What Moore Can Learn From Joplin
There is perhaps no crueler irony during a natural disaster than when the destruction comes to a haven for the injured. That’s what happened on May 20, when an EF-5 tornado tore through Moore, Oklahoma and destroyed its …