Good Communication Is a Key Part of Disaster Response
Behind the scenes during hurricanes and other disasters, scores of public information officers in state and local government agencies are fixed to their screens – often in 24-hour shifts –…
Author: The Conversation
Hurricane Dorian: Where It Hit, Where It’s Headed, and Why It’s So Destructive
At the time of writing, Dorian has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm and is currently tracking northward parallel to the US coast. Where Dorian decides to travel next…
Why Forecasting Floods Should Be a Global Collaborative Effort
The number of people exposed to the risk of floods is rising. More and expanding human settlements are being built in flood-prone areas, especially in Africa, Asia and South America.…
UK – Britain’s Coastal Towns and Villages Face a Design Challenge to Cope With Climate Emergency
As an island nation, Britain has vulnerable communities that must be prepared for the impact of the climate emergency. And while much has been said about homes at risk from…
As Flood Risks Increase Across the US, It’s Time to Recognize the Limits of Levees
New Orleans averted disaster this month when tropical storm Barry delivered less rain in the Crescent City than forecasters originally feared. But Barry’s slog through Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri…
Climate Crisis: Migration Cannot Be the Only Option for People Living on ‘Drowning’ Islands
The evidence of the climate crisis is now undeniable. But state responses to climate change often have social and political motivations, rather than addressing the realities of this threat. Since…
It Takes Years to Fully Recover From Big Storms Like Sandy
The 2012 hurricane widely known as Superstorm Sandy left at least an estimated 325,000 New Jersey homes damaged or destroyed. Nearly seven years later, many of the New Jersey residents…
Heatwave ‘Completely Obliterated’ the Record for Europe’s Hottest Ever June
June was hot. Really hot. That much we knew. What we didn’t know was just how hot it was – not just in parts of Europe, but around the world.…
Circular Cities of the World: What Can Green Infrastructure Do?
More than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities while projections show an increase to two thirds by 2050. Many people living in small areas means large amounts…
Why People in a Flooded British Town Were Told to Stop Flushing the Toilet
The British town of Wainfleet in Lincolnshire is underwater. After two months rain in two days, the River Steeping burst its banks, and 580 homes were evacuated. Curiously, the advice…
The Economic Cost of Devastating Hurricanes and Other Extreme Weather Events Is Even Worse Than We Thought
The economic cost of devastating hurricanes and other extreme weather events is even worse than we thought, writes Gary W. Yohe, Wesleyan University for The Conversation. June marks the official…
Coral Reefs Provide Flood Protection Worth $1.8 Billion Every Year – It’s Time to Protect Them
Coral reefs provide flood protection worth $1.8 billion every year – it’s time to protect them, writes Michael Beck, University of California, Santa Cruz, for The Conversation. The news is…
Online Tools Can Help People in Disasters, but Do They Represent Everyone?
Online tools can help people in disasters, but do they represent everyone?, by Billy Tusker Haworth, University of Manchester; Christine Eriksen, University of Wollongong, and Scott McKinnon, University of Wollongong…
How Our Floating Homes Will Help People in Flood-Prone Countries
How our floating homes will help people in flood-prone countries, by Nandan Mukherjee, University of Dundee for Conversation. Around 40% of the global population live in coastal areas less than…
Climate Change Is Driving Rapid Shifts Between High and Low Water Levels on the Great Lakes
The North American Great Lakes contain about one-fifth of the world’s surface fresh water. In May, new high water level records were set on Lakes Erie and Superior, and there…
Could Floating Cities Help People Adapt to Rising Sea Levels?
Article by Nathalie Mezza-Garcia for The Conversation. By end of the century, rising seas will flood more than 500 coastal cities, affecting 1.5 billion people worldwide. Some estimates predict surging…
