Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…
Recent emergencies/disasters
Major U.S. winter storm claims at least 24 lives in 14 states, leaves over 1 million customers without power https://watchers.news/2026/01/26/major-us-winter-storm-claims-at-least-24-lives-in-14-states-leaves-over-1-million-customers-without-power/
Landslide claims 9 lives and leaves over 80 missing in West Bandung, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2026/01/24/landslide-claims-9-lives-and-leaves-over-80-missing-in-west-bandung-indonesia/
Victorians urged to evacuate as massive fire burns through the Otways, Australia https://watchers.news/2026/01/26/victorians-urged-to-evacuate-as-massive-fire-burns-through-the-otways-australia/
Over 1 000 evacuated after large coastal landslide in Sicily as Storm Harry damage exceeds USD 1 billion https://watchers.news/2026/01/26/over-1-000-evacuated-after-large-coastal-landslide-in-sicily-as-storm-harry-damage-exceeds-usd-1-billion/
Another Arctic blast forecast for the weekend as life-threatening cold continues across the Eastern U.S. https://watchers.news/2026/01/27/another-arctic-blast-forecast-for-the-weekend-as-life-threatening-cold-continues-across-the-eastern-u-s/
Sheveluch eruption produces ash to 9 km (30 000 feet) a.s.l., possible light ashfall in nearby districts, Russia https://watchers.news/2026/01/28/sheveluch-eruption-produces-ash-to-9-km-30-000-feet-a-s-l-possible-light-ashfall-in-nearby-districts-russia/
Storm Kristin kills 2 in Portugal as rare sting jet intensifies winds across the Iberian Peninsula https://watchers.news/2026/01/28/storm-kristin-kills-2-in-portugal-as-rare-sting-jet-intensifies-winds-across-the-iberian-peninsula/
Huge landslide in Sicily after Storm Harry https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cql4p6w2gl5o
Volcanic activity worldwide 27 Jan 2026: Santiaguito volcano, Fuego, Popocatépetl, Merapi, Semeru https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/293121/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-27-Jan-2026-Santiaguito-volcano-Fuego-Popocatepetl-Merapi-Semeru-.html
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Energy demand and decarbonization in 2025 and beyond https://www.nature.com/articles/s44359-025-00139-w
The Arctic Has Entered a New Era of ‘Extreme Weather’, Scientists Warn https://www.sciencealert.com/the-arctic-has-entered-a-new-era-of-extreme-weather-scientists-warn
Climate change eclipses La Niña cooling in Australia to drive extreme heatwave and heightened fire risk https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-eclipses-la-nina-cooling-in-australia-to-drive-extreme-heatwave-and-heightened-fire-risk/
A new look at trends in human deaths due to climate extremes https://phys.org/news/2026-01-trends-human-deaths-due-climate.html
How the polar vortex and warm ocean intensified a major US winter storm https://theconversation.com/how-the-polar-vortex-and-warm-ocean-intensified-a-major-us-winter-storm-274243
Number of people living in extreme heat to double by 2050 if 2C rise occurs, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/26/number-of-people-living-in-extreme-heat-to-double-by-2050-if-2c-rise-occurs-study-finds
Australia’s heatwave smashes temperature records with some places nearing 50C https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-28/australia-heatwave-smashes-temperature-records/106275472
Sea level rise could drown iconic Easter Island statues by 2080, warns study https://www.preventionweb.net/news/sea-level-rise-could-drown-iconic-easter-island-statues-2080-warns-study
As we breach 1.5 °C, we must replace temperature limits with clean-energy targets https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00246-z
“Extraordinary:” Renewables to the rescue as state smashes demand records in unprecedented heatwave https://reneweconomy.com.au/extraordinary-renewables-to-the-rescue-as-state-smashes-demand-records-in-unprecedented-heatwave/
Overshoot: The World Is Hitting Point of No Return on Climate https://e360.yale.edu/features/1.5-degrees-tipping-points
Australia hits power demand record as renewables pass 50pc milestone https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-29/australia-hits-power-demand-record-as-renewables-pass-50pc/106280246
Where did southern Australia’s record-breaking heatwave come from? https://theconversation.com/where-did-southern-australias-record-breaking-heatwave-come-from-274417
Disaster risk reduction
Understanding multi-hazard risk for U.S. coastal cities https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/documents-and-publications/understanding-multi-hazard-risk-us-coastal-cities
Canada’s wildfire paradox: fewer fires, greater destruction highlighted in new analysis https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-wildfires-fewer-fires-more-damage-study-9.7051171
Recurrent risk and the disaster loop: A forensic approach to urban flooding https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/documents-and-publications/recurrent-risk-and-disaster-loop-forensic-approach-urban
Assessing and optimizing urban dynamic resilience to extreme rainfall from shock to recovery https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/documents-and-publications/assessing-and-optimizing-urban-dynamic-resilience-extreme
The Mount Maunganui tragedy reminds us landslides are NZ’s deadliest natural hazard https://theconversation.com/the-mount-maunganui-tragedy-reminds-us-landslides-are-nzs-deadliest-natural-hazard-274201
Landfalling tropical cyclones accelerate due to land–sea thermal and roughness contrasts https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01891-1
Earthquake sensors buried in the quietest spot on Earth https://www.science.org/content/article/earthquake-sensors-buried-quietest-spot-earth
Words into Action guidelines: The Science–Policy–Society ecosystem for disaster risk reduction https://www.undrr.org/publication/words-action-guidelines-science-policy-society-ecosystem-disaster-risk-reduction
Hurricane and flood resilience should matter to every Floridian https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2026/01/27/hurricane-flood-resilience-florida-council-of-100-disaster-preparedness-protection-mitigation-jobs/
NOAA Launches Wildfire Data Portal, Expanding Public Access to Satellite Fire Information https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/noaa-launches-wildfire-data-portal-expanding-public-access-satellite-fire-information
Gallagher Re Natural Catastrophe and Climate Report 2025 https://www.ajg.com/gallagherre/news-and-insights/gallagherre-natural-catastrophe-and-climate-report-2025/
Emergency Management
Victoria on high alert amid extreme bushfire danger and soaring temperatures https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-27/victoria-bushfires-otways-heatwave-soaring-temperatures/106270362
Rising from the Ashes: How Saint Vincent is Rebuilding After a Volcanic Eruption https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/01/20/rising-from-the-ashes-how-saint-vincent-is-rebuilding-after-a-volcanic-eruption
Business recovery of female-owned enterprises after urban floods: A propensity score matching analysis in the Bangkok metropolitan region https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/documents-and-publications/business-recovery-female-owned-enterprises-after-urban
Disaster Education, Communications and Engagement
No Natural Disasters, featuring Professor Ilan Kelman https://uclpress.co.uk/podcast/no-natural-disasters-professor-ilan-kelman/
The Floodport app for interactive coastal flood risk training https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/documents-and-publications/floodport-app-interactive-coastal-flood-risk-training
Community engagement for disaster preparedness in rural areas of Mount Merapi, Indonesia https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/documents-and-publications/community-engagement-disaster-preparedness-rural-areas-mount
Did You Feel It? Expanding use of an earthquake crowdsourcing tool https://phys.org/news/2026-01-earthquake-crowdsourcing-tool.html
Social media for managing disasters triggered by natural hazards: a critical review of data collection strategies and actionable insights https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/26/215/2026/
Disaster psychology
The emotional depth of flood experience: the role of positive emotions in shaping perceptions and action on climate change https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622725000085
Sociology and disasters
Uprooted by Disaster: A Phenomenological Study of 2023 Earthquake Survivors’ Relocation Experiences in Türkiye https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jcop.70085
How leaders can deliver the social connection most of us crave https://bigthink.com/business/how-leaders-can-deliver-the-social-connection-most-of-us-crave/
Disaster Resilience News 