Hurricane and tornado winds spin in circles, but there’s another, equally dangerous storm type where winds barrel straight ahead. They’re called derechos, and are most common in summer.
In the Southeast US, tornadoes strike at night more often than in other regions. This poses special challenges for getting early warnings to the public.
Government agencies have detailed plans for responding to disasters, like the Dec. 10-11, 2021 tornados. But one issue doesn’t get enough attention: cleaning up the mess left behind.
The usual way we calculate the economic damage of natural disasters underestimates their true toll – which is key to understanding the costs of climate change.
With hurricane season comes the usual efforts by insurance companies and government agencies to calculate the economic costs. An economist explains how they’re doing it wrong.
Evacuations and disruptions to health care during and after disasters like Hurricane Harvey are serious threats for older adults, who may need support well after relief operations end.
New research shows that older people are especially at risk during and after natural disasters, and may need medical help or other support well after relief operations end.
Tornado forecasting has greatly improved in recent decades, but these dangerous storms can still take communities by surprise. Two meteorologists explain what causes tornadoes and how to stay safe.
Disaster preparations often focus on gear and logistics, but research in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami shows that strong social ties played a key role in helping communities rebound.