News Breaking �鶹��ý Channel: Natural Disasters

New Computer Model Can Predict the Length of a Household's Displacement in Any U.S. Community After a Disaster

Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:10:00 EST

In a new study published by Risk Analysis uses recent, disaster-related data from the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) to train a computer model to predict the length of household displacement and return outcomes after a disaster. The study is the first to use state-by-state data from the U.S. Census Bureau to quantify the contribution of different factors (including household size, tenure status, educational attainment, and income per household member) on household displacement and return.

Beyond the Burn: Harvesting Dead Wood to Reduce Wildfires and Store Carbon

Florida Atlantic University — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:30:23 EST

A century of fire suppression, climate change, and drought has worsened wildfires in the Western U.S. While prescribed burns help reduce fuel, a "fire deficit" increases wildfire risks, with significant health and environmental impacts. Deforestation and pests further limit carbon storage. Emulating Indigenous practices, a new study shows that combining physical harvesting of dead wood with thinning reduces wildfire risks, lowers carbon emissions, and boosts carbon storage through products like biochar.

Sudden Oil Supply Outages Creating Turbulence for Airline Industry

University of South Australia — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 18:15:22 EST

Unplanned oil supply outages caused by geopolitical instability, military conflicts, natural disasters and technical issues are throwing airline stock markets into chaos and making it more expensive to fly.

UIowa Researcher Studies Why So Many Homeowners Turn Down Low Interest Loans to Help Recover From Fires, Floods, and Other Natural Disasters.

University of Iowa Tippie College of Business — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:53 EST

Wildfires in California and floods in the Southeast have damaged thousands of homes in recent months, with many homeowners eligible for low-interest loans from the federal government to help repair damage and get back on their feet.

After the Flames: Expert Explains Why Heavy Rain Brings a New Disaster Risk

Virginia Tech — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 09:10:14 EST

Heavy rain might seem like a welcome relief after a blazing wildfire, but scorched earth is susceptible to mudslides. Wildfire destroys vegetation like trees and shrubs, whose roots fortify soil and protect against these dangerous, natural events. Alba Yerro-Colom, assistant professor in the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, researches how vegetation and rainfall can predict and prevent mudslides.

What to Say--and What Not to Say--to Kids Experiencing Loss

Children's Hospital Los Angeles — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:00:54 EST

It can be difficult to know what to say to those experiencing a crisis, and whether what you say is helping the person cope--but there's no need to wing it.

Expert Q&A: Improving the Home Buyout Process

University at Albany, State University of New York — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:20:56 EST

Employee-Led Giving at Ornl Nets Over $1.1M for Area Nonprofits, Disaster Relief in 2024

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:50:21 EST

Employees of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and its managing contractor, UT-Battelle, donated $1,104,866 in the 2024 ORNL Gives campaign, an annual employee-led effort to address needs throughout East Tennessee.

How Do Emotions Influence How People Deal with Natural Disasters?

Universite de Montreal — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:40:18 EST

Researchers led by an UdeM architecture professor look at how fear, anger and pride combine to shape responses to climate risks in four Latin American communities.

GW Report on Wildfire Resilience: Unprecedented LA Wildfires Highlight Urgency of New Resilience Framework

George Washington University — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 19:30:42 EST

Fueled by extreme winds, dry conditions, and the mounting effects of climate change, wildfires have left behind devastation in communities across Los Angeles. ...

Expert Available: Fires Continue to Rage in California as Wind Picks Up

George Washington University — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:00:02 EST

Across Southern California, fighting wildfires will remain a challenge especially with the threat of high wind gusts. The National Weather Service predicts wind gusts of up to 65 mph. ...

How to Access Safe Drinking Water During a Natural Disaster

Children's Hospital Los Angeles — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 09:00:45 EST

During a natural disaster such as a wildfire, storm, or earthquake, you may see reports on the news or social media that the water in your home may not be safe to drink. Sometimes, this information can be confusing and possibly conflicting. How can you confirm if the water in your area has been affected, and if so, what are the steps you can take to ensure you have water that is safe to use?Bradley Goldberg, MD, Medical Director of Emergency Management and the Pediatric Disaster Resource Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, explains: "When there is a disaster, such as a wildfire, there is a huge strain on an area's public water system.

Coping With the Wildfires: 5 Tips for Supporting Kids With Developmental and Behavioral Health Issues

Children's Hospital Los Angeles — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 09:00:56 EST

The wildfires have unsettled families across Los Angeles County, posing a distinct problem for parents of children with autism and other behavioral health conditions. School closures and home evacuations have undone basic routines, which can create great distress in kids who don't function well without regimen and structure.

Wildfire Hazards Don't Stop When the Fire Goes Out

Tufts University — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:30:00 EST

"Wildfires can set off a cascade of events that can cause significant damage to buildings, natural environment, and people, and they can be deadly. They will happen quickly with the first rain, and that would be another disaster," he said, citing the massive volume of debris flow following the 2018 Montecito fire that filled houses with mud.

Protective Actions Need Regulatory Support to Fully Defend Homeowners and Coastal Communities, Study Finds

University of Notre Dame — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:30:27 EST

As climate change drives increasingly severe hurricanes, U.S. coastal communities are bearing the brunt of mounting losses. With regulations failing to curb the damage, homeowners have become the front line of defense -- but their efforts often fall short, according to research from the University of Notre Dame.

Risk Matters: Killer Bees, Black Swans and Gray Rhinos

University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:10:30 EST

"Unprecedented" often is used to describe low-probability, severe-risk events - from the Los Angeles wildfires to the more benign. All of which should not catch us off guard. Yet they do, writes risk management expert Clifford Rossi. Organizations most susceptible to a major risk event would do well to think of these not as Black Swans or Gray Rhinos but as "Killer Bees."

Expert Available: Wildfires Trigger Baseless Claims Blaming DEI and "Wokeism" for L.A. Devastation

George Washington University — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:25:50 EST

As California battles its deadliest wildfires in history, conservative figures are blaming diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for the devastation, despite overwhelming evidence pointing to climate change and natural factors.

L.A. Wildfires: Mask Up to Protect Against Poor Air Quality

Cedars-Sinai — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:50:09 EST

As wildfires rage throughout Los Angeles County, the air quality is unhealthy--even if the Air Quality Index listed on smartphone weather reports indicates otherwise.

Coping with the Emotional Toll of Wildfires

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:45:16 EST

Experts warn the deadly, destructive LA County fires could have lasting effects on mental health. Here's how to navigate the emotional fallout.

Paleoclimatologist Predicts California Fires Will Become 'More Extreme, More Frequent, More Widespread

West Virginia University — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:35:58 EST