As the climate warms, devastating fires are increasingly likely. The 2020 fires pushed the Southern Rockies beyond the historical average. Is there hope for the Northern Rockies?
The Welsh National Mining Memorial was unveiled in Senghenydd in 2013.
FreespiritEnvironment/Alamy
Four hundred and forty men and boys were killed in the Senghenydd colliery disaster, with the youngest victims aged just 14 years old.
Disasters affect all, human and non-human alike. It is imperative that we consider the harms to non-human life and ecosystems as both a moral obligation and a realistic effort to preserve the ecosystem services upon which we all rely.
(Jesse Brothers/Sioux City Journal via AP)
Focusing solely on humans at the expense of other life in the aftermath of train derailments limits the effectiveness of our disaster response management.
A man works his way through the rubble of buildings in Marrakesh, Morocco, after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on Sept. 8, 2023.
Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images
Research shows gender-based violence increases in the aftermath of disasters. Governments must incorporate ways of addressing it into their disaster response plans.
People without vehicles line up in Yellowknife to register for a flight to Alberta; residents were ordered to evacuate the area because of encroaching wildfire.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
As the mass evacuation of Yellowknife unfolds, the needs of minority populations will emerge. Past experiences indicate emergency officials may not be ready to meet the needs of a diverse population.
Identifying victims after a disaster can offer closure to loved ones.
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
Maui officials have asked relatives to provide DNA samples to help identify victims of the Lahaina wildfires. Time and exposure to the elements, however, can make DNA retrieval from remains difficult.
Fires burn in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 8, 2023.
Zeke Kalua/County of Maui via AP
Human exposure to wildfires in the US more than doubled in the past two decades. A climate scientist looks at who is at risk and why.
Beyond the danger to human life and economies, wildfires also present considerable danger to communities and the mental well-being of survivors.
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
To effectively address climate hazards like wildfire, we must consider the diverse experiences of people, account for longstanding institutions and create processes that empower local people.
Edward Cassano, speaking at a news conference, led the search team that found the remains of the submersible.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson)
Complex endeavours require complex risk management, and high-reliability organizations recognize this. OceanGate did not plan for the complexity of its operations, with tragic consequences.
Smoke rises from a brush fire near Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles in 2007.
Hector Mata/AFP via Getty Images
Nearly 22 million people lived within 3 miles of a US wildfire in the past two decades. A new study tracking their locations flips the script on who is at risk.
Smoke rises from destroyed railway cars that were carrying crude oil after derailing in downtown Lac-Mégantic, Que., the day after the derailment and explosion killed 47 people.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Lac-Mégantic haunts rail transportation in North America. Here’s a look at how little has changed when it comes to rail safety since the disaster in rural Québec10 years ago.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it is leading an investigation into the loss of the Titan submersible to determine what caused it to implode.
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The Titan submersible implosion shares similarities with two other historic disasters: the Titanic and the Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole.
The vessel Polar Prince towing OceanGate Expeditions submersible vessels from St. John’s, N.L., as it leaves to tour the Titanic wreck site on May 29, 2023.
(Shutterstock)
A team of rescuers has located debris from the Titan, indicating the end of search-and-rescue efforts. Risky undertakings need to assess the cost and capacity of any potential rescue needs.
Psychological debriefing usually involves counsellors providing survivors with a single counselling session soon after an event. But ‘talking through’ trauma can over-consolidate painful memories.
Wildfires can destroy hundreds of homes within hours.
PH2(AW/SW) Michael J. Pusnik, Jr / Navy Visual News Service / AFP via Getty Images
It’s not a question of if insurance will become unavailable or unaffordable in areas at high risk of wildfires, hurricanes and other damage – it’s a question of when. A disaster risk expert explains.
Renters with nowhere to go. Home owners forced into mortgage stress. If our homes are damaged by floods or fires, it damages our health for years afterwards
Yes, we need better flood warnings. But most of us don’t or can’t evacuate from floods. Safety means focusing on community resilience as well as warnings
Gordon Lightfoot was one of Canada’s most renowned folk singers.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot passed away on May 1. His legacy includes songs that memorialize tragic shipping disasters and the 1968 Detroit Uprising.
The housing crisis coupled with climate change could see more people living in the kinds of shanty towns and tent cities seen around the time of the Great Depression.