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Articles on Natural disasters

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The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church lies in ruins after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2020. AP Photo/Carlos Giusti

Earthquake forecast for Puerto Rico: Dozens more large aftershocks are likely

Puerto Rico’s January earthquakes came after many foreshocks and have been followed by numerous aftershocks. Scientists are studying these sequences to improve earthquake forecasting.
The ruins of Nepal’s Gorkha district after the 2015 earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people and injured 22,000. Tourism helped lead the way back. EU/ECHO/Pierre Prakash

Holidaying in a disaster zone isn’t as crazy as it might seem

It isn’t always good advice for tourists to stay away. Often their money can help, as well as their skills.
A collapsed building in Mayfield, Ky., after a tornado hit the town on Dec. 11, 2021. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Smashed cars, burnt trees, soggy insulation: Post-disaster cleanup is expensive, time-consuming and wasteful

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.
Dale Palmer prepares his home in NSW for the bushfires. The decision to stay and defend one’s property requires a person to be mentally, as well as physically, prepared. AAP/Darren Pateman

It’s hard to breathe and you can’t think clearly – if you defend your home against a bushfire, be mentally prepared

In catastrophic fire conditions, leaving early is the only safe option. But in other conditions, one thing that’s often overlooked in decisions to stay or go is how mentally tough you need to be.
It’s difficult to recall what you might need as you’re preparing to evacuate, so have your kit ready to go. New Africa/Shutterstock

Evacuating with a baby? Here’s what to put in your emergency kit

Babies are particularly vulnerable in emergencies, especially in hot weather. Here’s what your emergency kit needs to ensure they stay hydrated if you have to evacuate or you lose power or water.
Women and children are 14 times more likely than men to die in a disaster. AAP Image/Darren Pateman

Domestic violence will spike in the bushfire aftermath, and governments can no longer ignore it

Natural disasters amplify the conditions leading to domestic violence. Yet Australia’s disaster policies are “gender blind”.
Climate change is expected to increase the severity of natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region, straining Australia’s ability to respond through humanitarian missions and fuelling more climate migration. Vlad Sokhin/UNICEF handout

Climate change poses a ‘direct threat’ to Australia’s national security. It must be a political priority

A Senate report recommended several measures the government should take to prepare for climate-fuelled migration, natural disasters and conflicts. The response so far has been underwhelming.

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