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Articles on Hurricane Harvey

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Seabirds forage on an oyster shell island on the Texas Gulf Coast. Jon G. Fuller/VW Pics/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Hurricane Harvey more than doubled the acidity of Texas’ Galveston Bay, threatening oyster reefs

Climate change is making oceans more acidic globally. Now, scientists are finding that large storms can send pulses of acidic water into bays and estuaries, further stressing fish and shellfish.
Ian resulted in the deaths of at least 44 people in Florida and tens of billions of dollars in damage. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

How Hurricane Ian and other disasters are becoming a growing source of inequality – even among the middle class

Research on Hurricane Harvey found that flood insurance and strong social networks were key factors in determining how quickly people recovered, regardless of socioeconomic status.
The nursing home in Hollywood Hills, Fla., where 12 people died after the center lost power from Hurricane Irma in 2017. mpi122/MediaPunch/IPX/AP Photo

Hurricane evacuation of nursing home residents still an unsolved challenge

Hurricane season presents special dangers for elders, particularly for those in nursing homes and assisted living. Research indicates sheltering-in-place may actually be less risky than evacuating, at times.
Flooding in La Platte and other cities in Nebraska have so far caused an estimated $1 billion in damages. Reuters/Drone Base

Why flood insurance needs an overhaul: 6 questions answered

The Trump administration has proposed a major revamp of the National Flood Insurance Program since its inception in 1968. Here’s why it needs fixing.
Roberto Clemente State Park employees in New York, with donated bottled water bottles bound for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Want to help after hurricanes? Give cash, not diapers

If you would like to assist from afar, let the professionals procure goods and services.
Hurricane Harvey flooded one-third of Houston and displaced more then 30,000 people in the region. Janelle Rios

How Texas is ‘building back better’ from Hurricane Harvey

After disasters, communities often push to rebuild as quickly as possible. A public health expert says they should aim higher and fix problems that exist pre-storm.
People in the U.S. and the Caribbean share vulnerability to climate change-related disasters, but only in the Caribbean is the public truly worried. Why? US Navy

Caribbean residents see climate change as a severe threat but most in US don’t — here’s why

New research suggests politics and risk perception may explain why the US and Caribbean see climate change so differently, though both places are ever more vulnerable to powerful hurricanes.
People collect water piped in from a mountain creek in Utuado, Puerto Rico on Oct. 14, 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans were still without running water. AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Why climate change is worsening public health problems

Climate change threatens to widen the health gap between the haves and have-nots. Here’s why addressing environmental issues that drive poor health is a starting point.
Trees and power lines in Puerto Rico, damaged by Hurricane Maria in September. REUTERS/Alvin Baez

2017: the year in extreme weather

2017 brought wild, wacky and even deadly weather. Australia was hit by heatwaves and torrential rains, plus some surprisingly cool spells. Hurricanes hit America, and a killer monsoon lashed Asia.
The intensity of heavy downpours in Houston has increased dramatically since the 1950s, leading some people to argue the city’s disaster planning and infrastructure are not up-to-date. AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Can cities get smarter about extreme weather?

It’s not just about rebuilding infrastructure after storms: Cities need to systematically rethink their knowledge systems which are at the heart of urban resilience.
Crews clean up debris in a neighborhood flooded by Hurricane Harvey in Beaumont, Texas, Sept. 26, 2017. AP Photo/David Goldman

Scientist at work: Measuring public health impacts after disasters

Epidemiologists study disease outbreaks in populations to determine who gets sick and why. In the wake of this year’s hurricanes, they are assessing impacts from mold, toxic leaks and other threats.

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