Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…
Recent emergencies/disasters
Wildfires in California claim 24 lives, destroy over 12 000 structures https://watchers.news/2025/01/12/wildfires-in-california-claim-16-lives-destroy-over-12-000-structures/
Earthquake in Tibet kills more than 120, striking near holy Buddhist city https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/china-reports-69-magnitude-earthquake-tibets-shigatse-city-2025-01-07/
Cyclone Dikeledi makes landfall over Madagascar, Mayotte braces for another cyclone https://watchers.news/2025/01/11/cyclone-dikeledi-makes-landfall-over-madagascar-mayotte-braces-for-another-cyclone/
Intense rains and floods claim 17 lives in Bolivia https://watchers.news/2025/01/11/intense-rains-and-floods-claim-17-lives-in-bolivia/
Significant damage reported, two injured as intense seismo-volcanic crisis hits Main Ethiopian Rift https://watchers.news/2025/01/13/significant-damage-reported-two-injured-as-intense-seismo-volcanic-crisis-hits-main-ethiopian-rift/
Extreme rainfall leaves 10 dead in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil https://watchers.news/2025/01/13/extreme-rainfall-leaves-10-dead-in-ipatinga-minas-gerais-brazil/
Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi hits Mozambique after leaving 3 dead in Madagascar https://watchers.news/2025/01/14/tropical-cyclone-dikeledi-hits-mozambique-after-leaving-3-dead-in-madagascar/
One dead, 200 000 homes without power as severe thunderstorms with large hail hit New South Wales, Australia https://watchers.news/2025/01/15/one-dead-200-000-homes-without-power-as-severe-thunderstorms-with-large-hail-hit-new-south-wales-australia/
Volcanic activity worldwide 15 Jan 2025: Santiaguito volcano, Fuego, Semeru, Ibu, Dukono, Reventador https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/262421/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-15-Jan-2025-Santiaguito-volcano-Fuego-Semeru-Ibu-Dukono-Reventador.html
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
This catastrophe was waiting to happen https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-01-10/whats-to-blame-for-this-historic-destruction-we-wont-like-the-answer-essential-california
2024 was the hottest year on record, NASA and NOAA confirm https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-01-10/2024-hottest-year-ever
In 2024 global warming topped 1.5C. Have we failed the Paris Agreement? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-13/a-year-above-1-5c-what-does-it-really-mean/104774364
Climate change projected fire weather sensitivity: California Santa Ana wind occurrence https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2006GL025808
Climate change is showing its claws: The world is getting hotter, resulting in severe hurricanes, thunderstorms and floods https://www.munichre.com/en/company/media-relations/media-information-and-corporate-news/media-information/2025/natural-disaster-figures-2024.html
Record-breaking heat putting UK public health at risk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/259833/record-breaking-heat-putting-uk-public-health/
Global temperatures passed critical 1.5°C milestone for the first time in 2024 – new report https://theconversation.com/global-temperatures-passed-critical-1-5-c-milestone-for-the-first-time-in-2024-new-report-246821
Climate ‘whiplash’ linked to raging LA fires https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ewe4p9128o
Arctic Sea Ice Decline Triggering Worsening Fires in Western US https://www.newsweek.com/arctic-sea-ice-decline-triggering-worsening-fires-us-2014526
What Madagascar Fishing Communities Can Teach Us about Climate Survival https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/what-madagascar-fishing-communities-can-teach-us-about-climate-survival
An assessment of current policy scenarios over the 21st century and the reduced plausibility of high-emissions pathways https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/29768659241304854
Global economy could face 50% loss in GDP between 2070 and 2090 from climate shocks, say actuaries https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/16/economic-growth-could-fall-50-over-20-years-from-climate-shocks-say-actuaries
Global Climate Highlights 2024 https://climate.copernicus.eu/global-climate-highlights-2024
Disaster risk reduction
Variation in slip behaviour along megathrusts controlled by multiple physical properties https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01617-9
Insured LA wildfire losses ‘to notably’ exceed $10bn: Gallagher Re https://www.reinsurancene.ws/insured-la-wildfire-losses-to-notably-exceed-10bn-gallagher-re/
How will calamity change Los Angeles? https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/01/13/how-will-calamity-change-los-angeles
A Disaster Expert Explains Why the L.A. Fires Have Been So Catastrophic https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2025/01/09/a-disaster-expert-explains-why-the-la-fires-have-been-so-catastrophic/
Floods, droughts, then fires: Hydroclimate whiplash is speeding up globally https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/floods-droughts-fires-hydroclimate-whiplash-speeding-up-globally
What do the LA wildfires mean for home insurance? https://www.context.news/climate-risks/what-do-the-la-wildfires-mean-for-home-insurance
One in 10 Australian homes could become uninsurable by 2035, analyst warns https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/insurance-premiums-rising-uninsurable-homes-climate-change/104814932
Can system dynamics explain long-term hydrological behaviors? The role of endogenous linking structure https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/159/2025/
Multi criteria evaluation of downscaled CMIP6 models in predicting precipitation extremes https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169809525000134
Affordable insurance should not be our ultimate goal. We need to address the underlying risk https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2025/01/14/property-insurance-florida-hurricanes-flooding-climate-change-resilience-risk-mitigation-citizens/
Global Risks Report 2025 https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/
‘What the hell is going on?’: Top firefighter’s warning for Australian cities after LA fires https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/what-the-hell-is-going-on-top-firefighters-warning-for-australian-cities-after-la-fires/7az9gydpj
When Risks Become Reality: Extreme Weather In 2024 https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/when-risks-become-reality-extreme-weather-in-2024/
Emergency Management
California fires live: Los Angeles prepared for severe winds expected in coming days, mayor says https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/jan/12/california-fires-death-toll-expected-rise-ucla-threatened-winds-latest-updates
How Do You Stop a Hurricane Made of Fire? California fights wildfires like wars, but this one may be unwinnable https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/california-wildfires-technology-war.html
COVID 5 years later: Learning from a pandemic many are forgetting https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-5-years-later-learning-pandemic-many-are-forgetting
Real-time aircraft tracking shows firefighting efforts on the massive Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County https://watchers.news/2025/01/12/real-time-aircraft-tracking-shows-firefighting-efforts-on-the-massive-palisades-fire-los-angeles-county/
California wildfire disaster: State’s insurance industry could see ‘catastrophic failures’ in the coming days https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/01/10/california-fires-insurance-industry/
Oregon fire survivors share message of hope, resilience with Los Angeles community https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/oregon-almeda-fire-veterinary-hospital/283-fbce7e59-3b09-46dc-b809-025372b1433e
Understanding Polycrisis: Definitions, Applications, and Responses https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4593383
Weather Service struggles to convey fire warnings to public https://www.axios.com/2025/01/14/la-fires-forecasts-red-flag-warnings
Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement
Simple changes to social media messaging can help persuade people to heed wildfire evacuation orders https://news.nd.edu/news/simple-changes-to-social-media-messaging-can-help-persuade-people-to-heed-wildfire-evacuation-orders/
Speak with One Voice? Examining Content Coordination and Social Media Engagement During Disasters https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/isre.2022.0121
How do mountains grow? https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00630-1
Risks from ash and air pollution remain for people returning after wildfires. Here’s how to stay safe https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/13/health/la-wildfires-air-pollution-symptoms-safety/index.html
Disaster psychology
As the world burns, young Australians are feeling disbelief – and looking for answers https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/13/as-the-world-burns-young-australians-are-feeling-disbelief-and-looking-for-answers
Evacuees describe emotional toll of devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California https://watchers.news/2025/01/09/evacuees-describe-emotional-toll-of-devastating-palisades-fire-in-los-angeles-county-california/
The psychological toll of California’s catastrophic fires https://www.axios.com/2025/01/12/california-wildfires-loss-mental-health
Sociology and disasters
Unequal Effects of the Lockdown on Mental Health in Shanghai: The Moderating and Mediating Role of Neighborhood Environment and Online Social Connections https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jcop.23177
As thousands flee LA fires, disaster poses unique challenges for the unhoused https://www.marketplace.org/2025/01/10/los-angeles-wildfires-homeless-residents/
The California wildfires could be leaving deeper inequality in their wake https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfire-pacific-palisades-pasadena-altadena-inequality-63ea76d186740359f7f5dd188896354f
Networks of Inclusive Exclusion: Social Capital and Resilient Rural Livelihoods in the Southern Great Plains (SGP) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10745-025-00565-1
The role of social capital in strengthening community resilience against floods: A case study of Mumbai, India https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212096324001025
One and the Same or Worlds Apart? Linking Transformative Regional Resilience and Just Transitions Through Welfare State Policies https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/637
Disaster Resilience News 