Natural Disasters

2022’s Billion-Dollar Disasters: Climate Change Helped Make It US’s 3rd Most Expensive Year on Record

Climate change seems to be making natural disasters more expensive.

  • By Stacy Morford, The Conversation

Why Florida Is Coughing Up Billions to Save Its Insurance Market

The state's insurance companies are struggling to survive an onslaught of hurricanes and litigation.

  • By Jake Bittle, Grist

Housing Advocates Worry About Civil Rights Protections in Texas Disaster Standoff

The state is under scrutiny for how it distributed billions in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development dollars to prevent future storm and flood damage. But whether the feds will take action to address discrimination concerns is an open question.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Oregon Tried to Inform Residents About Wildfire Risk. The Backlash was Explosive.

Homeowners fear the state will devalue their properties by publicizing their fire risk.

  • By Jake Bittle, Grist

Recovery From a Disaster Like Hurricane Ian Takes Years, and Nonprofits Play Many Pivotal Roles

COMMENTARY | Many government agencies help people whose lives are thrown off course, but not everyone is eligible or able to access that aid.

  • By Michelle Annette Meyer, The Conversation

The ‘Hurricane Tax’: How Ian is Pushing Florida’s Home Insurance Market Toward Collapse

The storm is poised to be one of the largest insured loss events in U.S. history.

  • By Jake Bittle, Grist

Puerto Rico Storm Victims Report Waits Over 5 Hours on Calls to FEMA

Long hold times contacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency are just one challenge emerging as the nation responds to Hurricane Fiona, which swamped the commonwealth last month, along with Hurricane Ian’s devastating hit to Florida.

  • By Kery Murakami

How Hurricane Ian and Other Disasters Are Becoming a Growing Source of Inequality

COMMENTARY | It's an issue even among the middle class, experts say.

  • By Max Besbris and Anna Rhodes, The Conversation

When the Grid Goes Out, Could Solar and Batteries Power Your Home?

COMMENTARY | Researchers explore what it would take for homes and commercial buildings to ride out long power outages, of three days or more, with solar and batteries.

  • By Galen Barbose, Bentham Paulos and Will Gorman, The Conversation

'We've Never Seen a Flood Event Like This': Ian's Devastating Hit to Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis described "historic" damage to parts of the state from the hurricane, which made landfall with winds around 150 mph and caused massive flooding.

  • By Bill Lucia

Florida Insurers Temporarily Blocked from Dropping Policies as Hurricane Ian Slams State

The state's property insurance market was facing troubles before the storm.

  • By Jim Saunders and Mike Exline

Public Health Agencies Lack Money to Combat Climate Threats

A study says climate change has worsened 58% of known infectious diseases.

  • By Alex Brown, Stateline
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Extreme Rainfall Will Be Worse and More Frequent Than We Thought

Researchers say some climate models are underestimating future floods.

  • By Zoya Teirstein, Grist

FEMA Wants to End Flood Insurance for the Nation’s Riskiest Properties

Democrats and counties oppose the idea. Properties that have been flood-damaged multiple times account for nearly half the program’s payouts over the years.

  • By Kery Murakami

Early Warning System Pinpoints Flooded Roads in Some States

Nearly a dozen states are using real-time, hyper-local monitoring to assess potential flooding at specific bridges or roads.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

FEMA Chief: Top Priority Is Ensuring Adequate Staffing For Emergencies

Employees and managers alike continue to warn lawmakers about the impact that growing demands will have on the agency's ability to respond to disasters.

  • By Eric Katz

North Carolina House That Collapsed Into the Sea is a Warning for Millions of Americans

States and the federal government can do more to protect homebuyers, like reforming flood disclosure laws.

  • By Zoya Teirstein, Grist

Katrina Survivors Were Told They Could Use Grant Money To Rebuild. Now They’re Being Sued

After Hurricane Katrina, struggling homeowners said they were told not to worry about the fine print when they received grants to elevate their homes. Now the state is going after them because they did exactly that.

  • By Richard A. Webster and David Hammer , ProPublica

The Southwest Is on Fire and Iconic Deserts and Towns Are at Risk

COMMENTARY | Fire season is getting longer, and the result is transforming desert ecosystems. The start to 2022 has been so dire that President Biden has issued a disaster declaration for one state.

  • By Molly Hunter , The Conversation

Forest Service Rushes to Hire Enough Firefighters Ahead of Wildfire Season

Stakeholders warn shortages again threaten the Biden's administration's approach to combatting the fires.

  • By Eric Katz

FEMA Maps Hugely Underestimate US Flood Damage Risk

Researchers have used artificial intelligence to predict where flood damage is likely to happen across that country.

  • By Laura Oleniacz , Futurity