natural disasters

Latest in natural disasters

a downed electricity pole after a storm
Environment

Renewable energy could be the key to hurricane-proofing Puerto Rico’s power grid

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Hurricane Ian Category 1 Carolina coast satellite image
Environment

Hurricane Ian surges back and heads for the Carolinas

By Purbita Saha

Three cows taking shelter near a house during a flash flood. A black one and a brown one are standing knee-deep in water, while a second brown one is standing on the porch.
Environment

Flash floods are rare, but deadly. Here’s how to be ready for them.

By Maria Parazo Rose

A firefighter stands holding a canister of gasoline in a snowy forest looking out over burning piles of underbrush.
Environment

Why the US Forest Service paused prescribed burns—a key wildfire prevention tool

By Philip Kiefer

Sierra Negra volcano erupting in the Galapagos Islands in 2018
Science

Volcanic eruptions are unpredictable, but these geologists cracked the code

By Rahul Rao

Elderly person in glasses and with mustache in blue shirt and brown cap standing in line with arms crossed at a mobile blood donor unit in Uvalde, Texas
Health

The best time to donate blood for a disaster is before it happens

By Purbita Saha

An aerial view of meandering frozen channels of the Copper River in Alaska.
Environment

Some rivers suddenly change course, and we may finally know why

By Rahul Rao

2022 is shaping up to be a busy year for hurricanes, NOAA predicts.
Environment

Forecasters predict an abnormally high number of storms for this hurricane season—again

By Hannah Seo

firefighter in a field
Technology

A network of 1,000 cameras is watching for Western wildfires—and you can, too

By Colleen Hagerty

Vietnamese man wading in water after flooding.
Environment

The world is on course to experience 560 major disasters each year

By Sara Kiley Watson

Flooded neighborhood in Bangladesh due to climate change and maladaptation
Environment

Why some climate change adaptations just make things worse

By Sara Kiley Watson

Flooding in Brazil has killed at least 104 people.
Environment

Historic downpours in Brazil trigger deadly mudslides and floods

By Hannah Seo

An ash cloud from the 2022 Hunga Tonga explosion over the South Pacific seen from outer space
Environment

How one major disaster can lead to another: a lack of clean drinking water

By Philip Kiefer

A volcanic Tongan island.
Health

Tonga is fighting multiple disasters after a historic volcanic explosion

By Hannah Seo

choppy waves on a beach with a sign warning people not to swim
Environment

The West Coast is under a tsunami advisory. Here’s what that means.

By Rachel Feltman

How to survive a tsunami
Environment

How to survive a tsunami

By Kate Baggaley

USGS geophysicist in a hard hat and gas mask at an erupting volcano in Hawaii
Environment

How to study a volcano when it destroys your lab

By Sarah Emerson

Red pickup truck stopped in front of a tornado in Nebraska
Environment

3 wild ideas for how to stop a tornado

By Popular Science Team

Wildfire in forest with smoke and flames.
Environment

The Dixie fire is on track to be California’s biggest ever

By Popular Science Team

satellite view of what remains of hurricane ida
Environment

Hurricane Ida’s remnants will bring record-breaking rain as it travels north

By Sara Chodosh

house destroyed in natural disaster
Environment

Our infrastructure can’t handle climate disasters. We need to build differently.

By Jake Bittle

Dauntless Fireboss
Technology

West Coast states are calling in all their best planes and helicopters to fight fires

By Dan Pimentel/Flying

satellite image of five storm systems in Atlantic September 2020
Environment

A nearly unprecedented cluster of tropical storms are brewing in the Atlantic

By Sara Chodosh

hurricane laura satellite image
Environment

Hurricane Laura is the strongest storm to hit Louisiana in more than a century

By Sara Chodosh

a lightning bolt.
Environment

Two of the largest wildfires in California’s history are burning right now

By Rachel Feltman

phone
Environment

Millions of Android phones could soon start detecting earthquakes

By Rob Verger

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, destroyed homes and lives.
Science

Earthquakes can cause serious psychological aftershocks

By Tammy Danan

flooding
Health

Natural disasters will push the US further into crisis mode

By Kat Eschner

A member of the Tahoe Hotshot crew uses a drip torch for a controlled burn at Sierra National Forest in California.
Health

COVID-19 could make this year’s wildfire season more dangerous

By April Reese

man and woman holding sign
Environment

Disinformation during a pandemic can be deadly

By Marlene Cimons/Nexus Media News

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Environment

Experts predict dozens more earthquake aftershocks in Puerto Rico

By Richard Aster/The Conversation

a house destroyed by a hurricane
Environment

Hurricanes really are becoming more destructive

By Ula Chrobak

Among Hurricane Harvey’s many bad effects: riskier childbirth for women
Health

Among Hurricane Harvey’s many bad effects: riskier childbirth for women

By Nicole Wetsman

People in cancer treatment during hurricanes have lower survival rates
Health

People in cancer treatment during hurricanes have lower survival rates

By Nicole Wetsman

Wildfire smoke is particularly bad for you—here’s why
Environment

Wildfire smoke is particularly bad for you—here’s why

By Nicole Wetsman

Connecting the dots on hurricanes and mental health issues
Environment

Connecting the dots on hurricanes and mental health issues

By Nicole Wetsman

How OnStar’s connected emergency service adapts during a disaster
Technology

How OnStar’s connected emergency service adapts during a disaster

By Jordan Golson

Even after Hurricane Sandy, many people wouldn’t prepare before a future storm
Health

Even after Hurricane Sandy, many people wouldn’t prepare before a future storm

By Nicole Wetsman

Natural disasters leave their mark on kids who live through them
Health

Natural disasters leave their mark on kids who live through them

By Nicole Wetsman

city destroyed by earthquakes
Environment

Earthquake devastation will be our fault

By Mary Beth Griggs

Wildfire from above
Environment

We need to talk about extreme weather

By Jillian Mock

19 schemes to survive climate change
Environment

19 schemes to survive climate change

By Lois Parshley

Storm damaged house
Environment

After a natural disaster, houses get bigger not better

By Eleanor Cummins

SatPaq on phone
Gear

SatPaq is Your Lifeline When Off the Grid

By Molly K. McLaughlin

How architects made California’s Getty Museum fireproof
Technology

How architects made California’s Getty Museum fireproof

By Eleanor Cummins

White house standing alone among destroyed houses on a beach.
Technology

Hurricanes destroy beachside homes, but not this one

By Eleanor Cummins

Volcano decides eruptions are boring, tries sliding into the sea instead
Environment

Volcano decides eruptions are boring, tries sliding into the sea instead

By Neel V. Patel

man holding a candle in dark room
Environment

Here’s how a photojournalist prepares to cover a hurricane

By Jeanette D. Moses

decade of hurricanes
Environment

Charted: How hurricanes are becoming more extreme

By Sara Chodosh

The Kilauea volcano is ‘speaking in a code’ we don’t yet understand
Environment

The Kilauea volcano is ‘speaking in a code’ we don’t yet understand

By Eleanor Cummins

The Montecito mudslide is a tragic reminder to respect our soil
Environment

The Montecito mudslide is a tragic reminder to respect our soil

By Eleanor Cummins

Archive Gallery: A Century of Weather Control
Environment

Archive Gallery: A Century of Weather Control

By Colin Lecher

How Science Has Battled Natural Disasters
Environment

How Science Has Battled Natural Disasters

By Denise Ngo

Where in the United States is nature most likely to kill you?
Environment

Where in the United States is nature most likely to kill you?

By Kate Baggaley

What to do if you get caught in an avalanche
Environment

What to do if you get caught in an avalanche

By Kate Baggaley

Tornado outbreaks in the United States are on the rise
Environment

Tornado outbreaks in the United States are on the rise

By Mary Beth Griggs

Hurricane Matthew Is The Most Dangerous Storm Since 2007
Environment

Hurricane Matthew Is The Most Dangerous Storm Since 2007

By Mary Beth Griggs

Rains That Caused Louisiana Flood More Likely Thanks To Climate Change
Environment

Rains That Caused Louisiana Flood More Likely Thanks To Climate Change

By Mary Beth Griggs

Hermine Is Now A Hurricane Heading For Florida
Environment

Hermine Is Now A Hurricane Heading For Florida

By Mary Beth Griggs

Strong 6.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar
Environment

Strong 6.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar

By Mary Beth Griggs

Ecuador Earthquake
Environment

Deadly Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Strikes Ecuador

By Mary Beth Griggs

Massive Earthquakes Strike Japan Two Days In A Row
Environment

Massive Earthquakes Strike Japan Two Days In A Row

By Mary Beth Griggs

Android phone on a table
Environment

You Can Now Sense Earthquakes On Your Smartphone

By Mary Beth Griggs

The Key To Predicting Volcanic Eruptions May Be Hiding In Plain Sight
Environment

The Key To Predicting Volcanic Eruptions May Be Hiding In Plain Sight

By Mary Beth Griggs