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Articles on Disaster impact

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Of course young children notice parents crying but they also notice when they’re unusually preoccupied or irritable. NinaViktoria/Shutterstock

Babies and toddlers might not know there’s a fire but disasters still take their toll

Babies and toddlers might not be able to communicate well or at all with words, but they show their distress during disasters through behaviour. Here’s how parents can help them cope.
Residents of Grantham pay their respects during the dawn memorial service after the 2011 Queensland flash floods. Research into natural disaster recovery suggests there is a long road ahead for survivors of the current bushfire crisis. AAP/PATRICK HAMILTON

Disaster recovery from Australia’s fires will be a marathon, not a sprint

Research on other natural disasters tells us there’s a long road ahead for survivors of the current bushfire crisis – but there are some key lessons.
Many houses still do not have cyclone-ready roofs, so are liable to lose them if hit by the full force of the storm. Dan Peled/AAP

Homes can be better prepared for cyclones. But first we must convince the owners

Most homes are not as cyclone-ready as they could be. It seems lower insurance premiums aren’t enough of an incentive for owners to upgrade their homes, but a new study points to some solutions.
If more people live in the Adelaide Hills, they are more likely to be exposed to bushfires. David Mariuz/AAP

Natural hazard risk: is it just going to get worse or can we do something about it?

What decisions can we make today to reduce the future risk of hazards like floods and fire? Particularly in a time of climate change, modelling various plausible futures helps us plan for uncertainty.
Residents near the burnt-out Grenfell Tower display a sign that expresses their anger at being marginalised and ignored. Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Grenfell Tower fire exposes the injustice of disasters

Marginal people become resourceless, invisible to public policies, and disempowered in public life. This increases their vulnerability to disaster.
Poorly resourced small towns like Marysville often struggle to recover from disasters like the Black Saturday bushfires. Andrew Brownbill/AAP

We can learn a lot from disasters, and we now know some areas don’t recover

Rebuilding small communities on the same site in the same way seldom works. It’s not about getting back to where you were, but rather grasping the opportunity to create a more resilient place.
Throw another one on. Researchers tested plant flammability using a blow torch and barbecue. Sarah Wyse

Low flammability plants could help our homes survive bushfires

You might think having trees around your home is the worst idea during a bushfire, but some plants can actually help repel fire.

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