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Natural Disasters

Keeping you updated on the latest news about hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and more.

Climate
Scientists have found another alarming pattern in wildfiresScientists have found another alarming pattern in wildfires
Climate

Around the world, the conditions that brew massive blazes are...syncing up?

By Umair Irfan
America’s wildfire risk data quietly puts millions of homes in danger
Climate

Federal models keep missing homes that burn. A new AI tool zooms in.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
Why almost none of the homes burned in LA have been rebuilt since last year’s firesWhy almost none of the homes burned in LA have been rebuilt since last year’s fires
Climate

Wildfires destroyed 13,000 homes. In LA County, just 7 have been rebuilt.

By Umair Irfan
In America, surviving a disaster increasingly depends on what you can afford
Climate

Disaster capitalism isn’t theoretical anymore.

By Rebecca Egan McCarthy
Climate
Yes, you should look up your home’s disaster riskYes, you should look up your home’s disaster risk
Climate

How one community figured out how to reduce fire threats — and their insurance rates.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
3 things about Hurricane Melissa that make it so unusual and dangerous3 things about Hurricane Melissa that make it so unusual and dangerous
Climate

The Category 5 storm is an extraordinary threat — even in a season that felt unusually quiet.

By Umair Irfan
Future Perfect
The best way to help Hurricane Melissa survivors may not be what you thinkThe best way to help Hurricane Melissa survivors may not be what you think
Future Perfect

People in the Caribbean need help now — and for years to come.

By Sara Herschander
Climate
The surging price tag of wildfires, in one chartThe surging price tag of wildfires, in one chart
Climate

Wildfires are getting worse — and a lot more expensive for the rest of us.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
America’s flood insurance system is doomed to failAmerica’s flood insurance system is doomed to fail
Climate

Between Congress, property development, and climate change, there’s no easy fix.

By Umair Irfan
Future Perfect
The US stopped showing up to disasters. The results are horrifying.The US stopped showing up to disasters. The results are horrifying.
Future Perfect

Emergency response’s newfound sluggishness, explained by earthquakes and landslides.

By Sara Herschander
20 years after Katrina, New Orleans is back where it started
Climate

The walls built to protect New Orleans after Katrina are failing.

By Jake Bittle
Video
Why fire “season” is now all year longWhy fire “season” is now all year long
Play
Video

And how wildland firefighters are trying to keep up.

By Dolly Li
Climate
Erin may be the first real test of America’s hurricane readiness under TrumpErin may be the first real test of America’s hurricane readiness under Trump
Climate

Forecasts are better than ever, and far more vulnerable than they should be.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
Extreme heat can raise newborn death risk by 22 percentExtreme heat can raise newborn death risk by 22 percent
Climate

Rising temperatures are rewriting the earliest stages of life.

By Zoya Teirstein
Climate
The government is literally telling firefighters “help is not on the way”The government is literally telling firefighters “help is not on the way”
Climate

America’s wildfire strategy is falling apart when it’s needed most.

By Kylie Mohr
Future Perfect
The surprising reason fewer people are dying from extreme weatherThe surprising reason fewer people are dying from extreme weather
Future Perfect

Natural disasters may cost more money, but they claim far fewer lives than in decades past.

By Bryan Walsh
Climate
Inside the federal government’s purge of climate dataInside the federal government’s purge of climate data
Climate

Climate facts are inconvenient — so Trump is making them disappear.

By Kate Yoder
Climate
Why it’s taking LA so long to rebuildWhy it’s taking LA so long to rebuild
Climate

Reforming environmental rules is only a small step to rebuilding after wildfires.

By Umair Irfan
Do we have to take climate risks into our own hands now?
Climate

Why DIY disaster preparation matters more than ever — even if it’s not perfect.

By Heather Hansman
Climate
Why were the central Texas floods so deadly?Why were the central Texas floods so deadly?
Climate

How missed flood warnings and infrastructure gaps cost so many lives in central Texas.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
One thing we can count on to keep ruining our summersOne thing we can count on to keep ruining our summers
Climate

Sunscreen: Check. Shorts: Check. Air filters?

By Umair Irfan
Climate
Hurricane season is here. NOAA is in shambles. What could go wrong?Hurricane season is here. NOAA is in shambles. What could go wrong?
Climate

Trump could make this year’s hurricane season deadlier.

By Benji Jones
Climate
Your weather forecast is about to get a lot worseYour weather forecast is about to get a lot worse
Climate

Do you realize how many thousands of balloons it takes to predict the weather?

By Umair Irfan
Today, Explained podcast
America is a country of doomsday preppersAmerica is a country of doomsday preppers
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

The “American institution” of prepping, explained.

By Hady Mawajdeh and Noel King
The LA fires have a shocking price tag — and we’ll all have to pick up the tab
Climate

California’s last resort for fire insurance may fail. We should all pay attention to what happens next.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
5 approaches that experts say are our best shot at surviving future wildfires5 approaches that experts say are our best shot at surviving future wildfires
Climate

A policy wish list, according to water, engineering, and legislative experts.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
What makes a neighborhood resilient to fires?What makes a neighborhood resilient to fires?
Climate

The small and big things that protect homes in wildfires, explained by a fire scientist.

By Umair Irfan
Future Perfect
There are no “acts of God” anymoreThere are no “acts of God” anymore
Future Perfect

The Los Angeles wildfires show the influence of humanity in the world — and our inability to control it.

By Bryan Walsh
I evacuated when the Sunset Fire broke out. What happened next was surreal.
Climate

Thousands of Angelenos lost their homes to LA’s historic fires. Millions more are grappling with a complicated sense of loss.

By Elizabeth Price
Down to Earth
Why does Trump hate this tiny fish so much?Why does Trump hate this tiny fish so much?
Down to Earth

How a tiny fish got caught up in a misinformation storm about the LA wildfires.

By Benji Jones
Climate
What the Air Quality Index doesn’t tell us about the airWhat the Air Quality Index doesn’t tell us about the air
Climate

As Los Angeles smolders, the AQI can’t capture the full picture of wildfire smoke.

By Sam Delgado
Climate
Want to help fire victims? The best way to support Los Angeles in the short and long term.Want to help fire victims? The best way to support Los Angeles in the short and long term.
Climate

Here’s how to decide where to donate your money, time, and stuff.

By Sam Delgado
Climate
Please keep talking about famous wildfire victimsPlease keep talking about famous wildfire victims
Climate

Your parasocial relationships might be a good thing for climate change.

By Aja Romano
Future Perfect
How the Los Angeles fires highlight the challenge of disaster reliefHow the Los Angeles fires highlight the challenge of disaster relief
Future Perfect

How to help — and how not to — in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

By Kelsey Piper
An even bigger threat is looming behind California’s fires
Climate

The Los Angeles fires cast California’s water scarcity into stark view. It’s going to get worse.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
The unusually strong force behind the apocalyptic fires in Los AngelesThe unusually strong force behind the apocalyptic fires in Los Angeles
Climate

“This is not a typical Santa Ana.”

By Umair Irfan
Even Better
What homeowners and renters need to know after a wildfireWhat homeowners and renters need to know after a wildfire
Even Better

Beginning the recovery process can be overwhelming. We’re here to help.

By Allie Volpe
Climate
California overhauled its insurance system. Then Los Angeles caught fire.California overhauled its insurance system. Then Los Angeles caught fire.
Climate

Several fires in California could cause billions in damage, further straining the state’s fragile insurance market.

By Jake Bittle
I saw the Hurricane Helene response up close. This is how disaster relief actually works.
Future Perfect

Volunteers, not FEMA, are the bedrock of disaster response. How do we best support them?

By Jess Craig
Climate
It’s not normal for the East Coast to be on fireIt’s not normal for the East Coast to be on fire
Climate

Why New York’s November wildfires are so alarming.

By Paige Vega