Natural DisastersMay 8, 2019
States at Risk from Climate Disasters Rank Low in Emergency Readiness
An evaluation of U.S. health security finds only modest improvement in recent years
Stories by Daniel Cusick
Daniel Cusick covers climate change adaptation and resilience. He joined E&E News in 2003 and has filed news stories from South Florida to Northern Minnesota. He has reported from more than a half dozen hurricane recovery zones and documented climate change impacts, resilience and energy transitions in East Africa. He lives in Minneapolis.
Natural DisastersMay 3, 2019
Rising Mississippi River Tests a City’s Adaptation Plan
Record-wet weather in the Midwest has brought some of the worst flooding in decades
Natural DisastersApril 23, 2019
Tech Offers a Virtual Window into Future Climate Change Risk
AI and supercomputing are rapidly shifting the way disaster planners, regulators and insurers gauge climate hazards
Natural DisastersMarch 25, 2019
Along the Mighty Mississippi, Cities Swap Sandbags for Marshes
Several towns have restored natural wetlands to absorb floodwaters
PolicyMarch 21, 2019
U.S. Communities Urged to Boost Immunity to “Shock Events”
Past disasters point to steps cities and counties can take to bolster their resilience
Natural DisastersMarch 19, 2019
Record Floods Could “Test the Limits” of Midwest Defenses
Rains and melting snow have caused rivers to breach levees from Minnesota to Missouri
Natural DisastersMarch 5, 2019
Tornado Activity Is Shifting, but Is It Due to Warming?
The timing and frequency of tornadoes has changed, and events are becoming costlier
PolicyFebruary 28, 2019
Leave No House Behind in Flood Buyout Programs, Group Says
Buyouts in flood-prone areas should be more proactive and target homes near environmental assets like streams
PolicyFebruary 19, 2019
FEMA’s Panel of Flood Experts Unable to Meet as Losses Mount
A key report on needed improvements to flood maps has been stalled since September
Natural DisastersJanuary 23, 2019
4 Climate-Influenced Disasters Cost the U.S. $53 Billion in 2018
Two wildfires and two hurricanes were among the costliest disasters worldwide
PolicyJanuary 14, 2019
Disaster Response Projects Could Lose Funding to Border Wall
The White House has been looking at reallocating money earmarked to address flood risks
PolicyJanuary 7, 2019
From Dams to Coastal Barriers: How the U.S. Is Fighting Flooding in 2019
Several projects face opposition from local residents and environmental groups
Climate ChangeDecember 26, 2018
Reduced Snow Pack Could Alter Crystal-Clear Mountain Lakes
Changes in phytoplankton growth, and nutrients, could affect famous mirror-like clarity
Climate ChangeDecember 13, 2018
People Living on Mountains Face Avalanche of Climate Risks
As higher elevations warm, melting glaciers and disappearing snow will create major challenges
EnergyNovember 21, 2018
Puerto Rico Pledges to Go All-Renewable by 2050
A new climate plan also includes measures to make the hurricane-battered island more climate resilient
PolicyNovember 12, 2018
Blue Wave in Midwest Could Resurrect Climate Compact
A 2007 agreement aimed to reduce regional emissions, then political winds shifted
EnvironmentNovember 8, 2018
Index Ranks U.S. Cities Based on Climate Risk and Readiness
The evaluation aims to help authorities better plan and prepare for the impacts of climate change
Climate ChangeOctober 24, 2018
Oil Spill Settlement Pays for Climate Curriculum in Gulf States
Grants will focus on education around sea level rise, water quality, and air pollution
Climate ChangeOctober 22, 2018
Trump Administration Places Want Ads for Climate Scientists
Five positions are open to lead centers aimed at studying regional climate change effects
Natural DisastersOctober 15, 2018
The Buildings That Survived Michael Hold the Key to Adaptation
Houses that survived were mostly built after Florida’s stringent building code was passed
WeatherOctober 10, 2018
Hurricane Michael Could Do Billions of Dollars of Damage
Some 84,000 homes are at risk from the major storm, one analytics firm projects
Natural DisastersOctober 1, 2018
2 Hurricanes Lay Bare the Vulnerability of America's Poor
For disadvantaged communities in low-lying areas, post-storm living is precarious
Climate ChangeSeptember 28, 2018
Higher Rainfall Estimates Could Alter Construction Plans
Major storms in Texas produce more rain than previously thought, increasing flood risks
Natural DisastersSeptember 25, 2018
Navy Leaders Need to Better Prepare for Climate Change, Experts Say
Flooding from Florence, exacerbated by sea level rise, demonstrates the vulnerability of military infrastructure