climate change – Page 5 – Disaster Resilience News

Today in disaster resilience (7 March 2025)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

24 missing, 16 rescued after avalanche buries BRO workers in Uttarakhand, India https://watchers.news/2025/03/01/24-missing-16-rescued-after-avalanche-buries-bro-workers-in-uttarakhand-india/

Japan hit by largest wildfire in over 30 years https://watchers.news/2025/03/01/japan-hit-by-largest-wildfire-in-over-30-years/

Tropical Cyclone Garance kills four and leaves over 180 000 without power, Réunion https://watchers.news/2025/03/01/tropical-cyclone-garance-kills-four-and-leaves-over-180-000-without-power-reunion/

Tropical Cyclone Alfred intensifies to category 2 system ahead of turn towards Queensland coast today https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-04/tropical-cyclone-alfred-category-2-bom-warnings-queensland/105004708

Forced evacuations and burn ban as wildfires spread across North and South Carolina https://watchers.news/2025/03/02/forced-evacuations-and-burn-ban-as-wildfires-spread-across-north-and-south-carolina/

Seven tornadoes strike Oklahoma and Louisiana https://watchers.news/2025/03/05/seven-tornadoes-strike-oklahoma-and-louisiana/

Heavy rain and reservoir burst trigger severe flooding in Telde, Gran Canaria https://watchers.news/2025/03/04/heavy-rain-and-reservoir-burst-trigger-severe-flooding-in-telde-gran-canaria/

Severe floods hit Indonesia, weather modification underway to reduce rainfall https://watchers.news/2025/03/05/severe-floods-hit-indonesia-weather-modification-underway-to-reduce-rainfall/

A day-by-day breakdown of what to expect from Tropical Cyclone Alfred https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-06/breakdown-expect-tropical-cyclone-alfred/105014154

6 fatalities and over 500 crashes reported as winter storm sweeps through the U.S. https://watchers.news/2025/03/06/6-fatalities-and-over-500-crashes-reported-as-winter-storm-sweeps-through-the-u-s/

Storms claim 3 lives and injure 6 in Mississippi https://watchers.news/2025/03/06/storms-claim-3-lives-and-injure-6-in-mississippi/

Volcanic activity worldwide 5 Mar 2025: Santiaguito volcano, Popocatépetl, Semeru, Ibu, Marapi https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/266437/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-5-Mar-2025-Santiaguito-volcano-Popocatepetl-Semeru-Ibu-Marapi-Kil.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Australia’s second-hottest summer in 2024-25 ‘not possible without climate change’, scientist says https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/01/bureau-of-meteorology-data-shows-second-hottest-summer-on-record

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions: September 2024 quarterly update https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/au-greenhouse-gas-emissions-september-2024-quarterly-update

Coastal erosion threatens this ancient city — and others much closer to home https://today.usc.edu/coastal-erosion-threatens-this-ancient-city-and-others/

Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit southeast Queensland – the first in 50 years to strike so far south https://theconversation.com/cyclone-alfred-is-expected-to-hit-southeast-queensland-the-first-in-50-years-to-strike-so-far-south-251241

Artificial intelligence for modeling and understanding extreme weather and climate events https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/artificial-intelligence-modeling-and-understanding-extreme-weather-and-climate-events

Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from 36 fossil fuel firms, study shows https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/05/half-of-worlds-co2-emissions-come-from-36-fossil-fuel-firms-study-shows

Visualizing daily global temperatures https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/visualizing-daily-global-temperatures

Warming Brings Heavy Snowfall to Greenland, Replenishing Some Lost Ice https://e360.yale.edu/digest/atmospheric-rivers-greenland-ice-sheet-snow-climate-change

Is climate change supercharging Tropical Cyclone Alfred as it powers towards Australia? https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/06/is-climate-change-supercharging-tropical-cyclone-alfred-as-it-powers-towards-australia

Cyclone Alfred is slowing – and that could make it more destructive. Here’s how climate change might have influenced it https://theconversation.com/cyclone-alfred-is-slowing-and-that-could-make-it-more-destructive-heres-how-climate-change-might-have-influenced-it-251594

Global sea ice levels just hit a new record low https://www.newscientist.com/article/2471049-global-sea-ice-levels-just-hit-a-new-record-low/

Fires used to terrify city residents. New research suggests climate change could see this fear return https://theconversation.com/fires-used-to-terrify-city-residents-new-research-suggests-climate-change-could-see-this-fear-return-251056

Weakening currents in the Atlantic may mean a wetter northern Australia and drier New Zealand https://theconversation.com/weakening-currents-in-the-atlantic-may-mean-a-wetter-northern-australia-and-drier-new-zealand-248679

Enhancing climate resilience with smarter data: the role of dynamic social registries https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/nasikiliza/afw-enhancing-climate-resilience-with-smarter-data-dynamic-social-registries

Disaster risk reduction

Next-generation forecasting tool for volcanic eruptions https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-events/news/2025/next-generation-forecasting-tool-for-volcanic-eruptions

America’s urban wildfire crisis: More than 1,100 communities at risk https://headwaterseconomics.org/wildfire/more-than-1100-communities-urban-wildfire-risk/

All hazards are multihazards, few of them are natural https://www.nature.com/articles/s44304-025-00071-w

Tree planting begins to protect flood-prone areas https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly81kkv0pyo

Compound climate events are on the rise. It’s time for action https://zcralliance.org/blogs/compound-climate-events/

New parameterization schemes enhance the prediction accuracy of typhoon intensity https://phys.org/news/2025-03-parameterization-schemes-accuracy-typhoon-intensity.html

New Zealand and Japan Collaborate on Smart Disaster Resilience https://opengovasia.com/2025/03/06/new-zealand-and-japan-collaborate-on-smart-disaster-resilience/

Emergency Management

EU Civil Protection Mechanism https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en

The facility allows firefighters to practice in live-burn simulations https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/lees-summit-mo-fire-dept-opens-live-burn-training-facility

Thailand’s Ineffective Disaster Response System Exacerbates Flood Crisis https://www.thailand-business-news.com/opinion/193250-thailands-ineffective-disaster-response-system-exacerbates-flood-crisis

In many of Appalachia’s flood-ravaged areas, residents have little choice but rebuild in risky locations https://theconversation.com/in-many-of-appalachias-flood-ravaged-areas-residents-have-little-choice-but-rebuild-in-risky-locations-240429

New computer model can predict the length of a household’s displacement in any U.S. community after a disaster https://www.preventionweb.net/news/new-computer-model-can-predict-length-households-displacement-any-us-community-after-disaster

Chicagoans need FEMA — not to write checks but to coordinate aid https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/05/opinion-fema-emergency-response-chicago/

US Forest Service firings decimate already understaffed agency: ‘It’s catastrophic’ https://grist.org/politics/forest-service-firings-decimate-already-understaffed-agency/

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Book Review: Connecting After Chaos: Social Media and the Extended Aftermath of Disaster by Stephen F. Ostertag https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00016993251320205

Fiji communities impacted by cyclone Rae say memories of past natural disasters acted as a good reminder to people to be prepared https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacific-prepared/pacific-prepared/104970066

Get Ready Queensland https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/

An information network analysis approach to assessing the processes of issuing evacuation instructions: a study of evacuation cases in Japan https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13669877.2025.2466537

Disaster psychology

The Right to Stay, Migrate and Return: Conceptualizing Freedom, Examining Diverse National Contexts and Exploring Policy Implications https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23315024251316473

Sociology and disasters

Building community resilience to enhance Climate Smart Villages in the global south: A review https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0376835X.2025.2464614

Life after Kenya’s floods of 2024 https://dialogue.earth/en/climate/life-after-kenyas-floods-of-2024/

India: extreme inequality in numbers https://www.oxfam.org/en/india-extreme-inequality-numbers

Ready for the worst: awaiting disaster in ageing rural Japan https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11866464/

Spatial Assessment of Territorial Resilience to Floods Using Comprehensive Indicators: Application to Greater Papeete (French Polynesia) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.70005

Community-Level Characteristics Associated With Resilience After Adversity: A Scoping Review of Research in Urban Locales https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15248380241309374

The DANA disaster: unraveling the political and economic determinants for Valencia’s floods devastation https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-025-02435-0

Today in disaster resilience (28 February 2025)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

At least nine dead after severe flooding and landslides hit KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa https://watchers.news/2025/02/22/at-least-nine-dead-after-severe-flooding-and-landslides-hit-kwazulu-natal-kzn-south-africa/

Tropical Cyclone Alfred forms off the coast of Queensland, Australia https://watchers.news/2025/02/23/tropical-cylone-alfred-forms-off-the-coast-of-queensland-australia/

Historic floods claim 21 lives in Kentucky https://watchers.news/2025/02/23/historic-floods-claim-21-lives-in-kentucky/

Severe floods claim 11 lives in Madagascar https://watchers.news/2025/02/25/severe-floods-claim-11-lives-in-madagascar/

Severe floods leave at least 26 dead in Helmand and Farah, Afghanistan https://watchers.news/2025/02/26/severe-floods-leave-at-least-26-dead-in-helmand-and-farah-afghanistan/

Volcanic activity worldwide 26 Feb 2025: Etna volcano, Santiaguito, Semeru, Ibu, Dukono, Reventador https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/265945/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-26-Feb-2025-Etna-volcano-Santiaguito-Semeru-Ibu-Dukono-Reventador.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Rising seas are already toppling coastal cities https://www.earth.com/news/rising-seas-are-already-toppling-coastal-cities/

Extreme heat more frequent in Sydney than reported, new research suggests https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-23/extreme-heat-greater-sydney-cities-australia/104961478

Waves are getting bigger. Is the world ready? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/22/waves-are-getting-bigger-is-the-world-ready

Micro-climate of nature-based solutions in stockholm royal seaport https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772411524000971

Australia’s main grid sets new solar output record before rooftop PV takes centre stage https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-main-grid-sets-new-solar-output-record-before-rooftop-pv-takes-centre-stage/

Scientists identify tipping point for Greenland’s ice sheet — and it’s not far off https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/scientists-identify-tipping-point-for-greenlands-ice-sheet-and-its-not-far-off

Calculating the economic cost of climate change is tricky, even futile – it’s also a distraction https://theconversation.com/calculating-the-economic-cost-of-climate-change-is-tricky-even-futile-its-also-a-distraction-248862

Sea ice levels drop to record lows on both poles as scientists issue warning https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-levels-drop-to-record-lows-on-both-poles-as-scientists-issue-warning/

Frontiers in attributing climate extremes and associated impacts https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/climate/articles/10.3389/fclim.2024.1455023/full

Past hydroclimate extremes in Europe driven by Atlantic jet stream and recurrent weather patterns https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01654-y

Farmers, investors, miners and parents: how unconventional climate advocates can reach new audiences https://theconversation.com/farmers-investors-miners-and-parents-how-unconventional-climate-advocates-can-reach-new-audiences-249949

Australia’s main grid ends summer with a new big solar output record https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-main-grid-ends-summer-with-a-new-big-solar-output-record/

Computer simulations show nightmare Atlantic current shutdown less likely this century https://phys.org/news/2025-02-simulations-nightmare-atlantic-current-shutdown.html

Intense heat changes our biology and can make us age significantly faster: study https://theconversation.com/intense-heat-changes-our-biology-and-can-make-us-age-significantly-faster-study-250784

Disaster risk reduction

Amid flood of complaints, Florida insurance regulator warns insurers to follow the law https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/state/2025/02/21/insurer-disputes-with-consumers-has-regulator-issuing-warning/79311406007/

Flood defences are the first line of protection against climate change in the UK https://www.floodre.co.uk/uk-flood-defences/

Understanding Past Earthquakes – an open access book https://paleoseismicity.org/understanding-past-earthquakes-an-open-access-book/

Improving early warnings of thunderstorms https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-global/news/article/5732/improving-early-warnings-of-thunderstorms

Understanding the Community Rating System (CRS): How FloodMapp Helps Communities Earn Points https://www.floodmapp.com/post/understanding-the-community-rating-system-crs-how-floodmapp-helps-communities-earn-points

Insurance industry calls for $30b flood defence fund as fees cripple households https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-26/insurance-cost-calls-for-30b-flood-fund-as-election-looms/104978284

Combining Multisite Tsunami and Deformation Modeling to Constrain Slip Distributions for the 1700 C.E. Cascadia Earthquake https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/bssa/article-abstract/doi/10.1785/0120240218/651488/Combining-Multisite-Tsunami-and-Deformation

Seeing Earth through AI: New initiative tackles global sustainability challenges https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/latest-news/seeing-earth-through-ai-new-initiative-tackles-global-sustainability-challenges

Enablers and barriers to implementing effective disaster risk management according to good governance principles: Lessons from Central Vietnam https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420925001682

New study explores the future of ‘living with water’ https://www.deltares.nl/en/news/new-study-explores-the-future-of-living-with-water

Scientists hope their model will enable risk assessments to more holistically capture the human impact of disasters https://www.sra.org/2025/02/10/new-computer-model-can-predict-the-length-of-a-households-displacement-in-any-u-s-community-after-a-disaster/

Emergency Management

Delta’s handling of air crash victims https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/with-just-3-words-delta-air-lines-taught-a-powerful-lesson-in-handling-a-crisis/91150646

Statewide insurance costs may rise as California grapples with post-fire financial strain https://kmph.com/news/local/statewide-insurance-costs-may-rise-as-california-grapples-with-post-fire-financial-strain

Evacuations failed and 85 people died during California’s deadliest wildfire. What are lessons for L.A.? https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-25/evacuations-were-botched-during-the-deadliest-fire-in-california-history-heres-what-one-local-sheriff-learned

FEMA workers and disaster survivors open up about Donald Trump’s call for “fundamentally reforming or overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA” https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/fema-dismantling-trump-reaction-1235273891/

Product to protect homes from wildfires born from BC wildfires https://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/220182/news/product-to-protect-homes-from-wildfires-born-from-bc-wildfires/

Why people rebuild in Appalachia’s flood-ravaged areas despite the risks https://theconversation.com/why-people-rebuild-in-appalachias-flood-ravaged-areas-despite-the-risks-240429

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

How do basin and range mountains and valleys form? https://www.iris.edu/hq/inclass/animation/basin__range_structural_evolution

Western Sydney high school students to learn about extreme heat effects https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-18/western-sydney-subjects-to-learn-urban-heat-subject/104945006

‘Strong Kids’: Effects of drama therapy on child resilience after the 2021 German flood disaster https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197455625000073

Connecting After Chaos tells the story of how people restored their lives and society in the months and years after disaster, focusing on how New Orleanians used social media to cope with trauma following Hurricane Katrina https://nyupress.org/9781479815319/connecting-after-chaos/

Disaster psychology

Reciprocity: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Natural World https://e360.yale.edu/features/robin-kimmerer-interview

Sociology and disasters

Disaster and political trust: Evidence from the 2017 Mexico city earthquake https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X25000105

Mapping the Vulnerability of Older-Adult Neighborhoods: An Ecological Study of New York State https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/3/332

Relationship of social capital, community identity, and perceived safety resilience during public emergencies in Shanghai https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-86990-0

Today in disaster resilience (21 February 2025)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Severe floods and landslides hit Kefalonia, Greece https://watchers.news/2025/02/15/severe-floods-and-landslides-hit-kefalonia-greece/

Severe winter storm leaves 10 dead, triggers widespread flooding across Kentucky and southeastern U.S. https://watchers.news/2025/02/17/severe-winter-storm-leaves-10-dead-triggers-widespread-flooding-across-kentucky-and-southeastern-u-s/

Ex-tropical cyclone Zelia causes ‘significant’ damage to De Grey station as remote communities evacuated https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-15/tropical-cyclone-zelia-update-flood-marble-bar-dfes/104940154

Life-threatening flash floods hit Rives, Tennessee after levee collapse https://watchers.news/2025/02/17/life-threatening-flash-floods-hit-rives-tennessee-after-levee-collapse/

Greek earthquakes: New earthquake of 5 magnitude recorded between islands of Santorini, Amorgos https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/greek-earthquakes-new-earthquake-of-5-magnitude-recorded-between-islands-of-santorini-amorgos/3485032

More dry lightning in Tasmania is sparking bushfires – challenging fire fighters and land managers https://theconversation.com/more-dry-lightning-in-tasmania-is-sparking-bushfires-challenging-fire-fighters-and-land-managers-250063

Eight people rescued on Mount Etna as lava spectators cause traffic jams, Italy https://watchers.news/2025/02/19/eight-people-rescued-on-mount-etna-as-lava-spectators-cause-traffic-jams-italy/

Volcanic activity worldwide 19 Feb 2025: Semeru volcano, Ibu, Dukono, Marapi, Reventador, Lewotolo https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/265476/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-19-Feb-2025-Semeru-volcano-Ibu-Dukono-Marapi-Reventador-Lewotolo-.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Deep ice quakes detected in Greenland’s largest ice stream https://watchers.news/2025/02/15/deep-ice-quakes-detected-in-greenlands-largest-ice-stream/

Millions in India Vulnerable to Glacial Lake Floods https://eos.org/articles/millions-in-india-vulnerable-to-glacial-lake-floods

Antarctica in 2025: Drivers of deep uncertainty in projected ice loss https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt9619

China’s Disastrous Summer Floods Linked to Unusually Warm Spring in Tibet https://e360.yale.edu/digest/2024-china-floods-climate

Climate extremes walking together: Evidence from recent compounding climate hazards after Remal https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420924007362

People in a Changing Climate: From Vulnerability to Action https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/publication/people-in-a-changing-climate-from-vulnerability-to-action

Trees Can Cool Cities, But Only with a Little Help https://eos.org/research-spotlights/trees-can-cool-cities-but-only-with-a-little-help

PolyU and international scientists utilise satellite positioning data to unveil ice sheet melt behaviour in Greenland, aiding in the assessment of sea-level rise https://www.polyu.edu.hk/media/media-releases/2025/0217_polyu-and-international-scientists-utilise-satellite-positioning-data/

Increasing heat and rainfall extremes now far outside the historical climate https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-021-00202-w

Melting glaciers caused almost 2cm of sea level rise this century, study reveals https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/19/melting-glaciers-cause-almost-2cm-of-sea-level-rise-this-century-study-reveals

Flood risk on the rise: Climate change causes more persistent heavy rainfall https://www.uni-graz.at/en/news/flood-risk-on-the-rise-climate-change-causes-more-persistent-heavy-rainfall/

Yes, Australia needs new homes – but they must be built to withstand disasters in a warmer world https://theconversation.com/yes-australia-needs-new-homes-but-they-must-be-built-to-withstand-disasters-in-a-warmer-world-249702

The climate crisis is a cost-of-living issue for Australia. My generation will be the first to pay for it https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/20/the-climate-crisis-is-a-cost-of-living-issue-for-australia-my-generation-will-be-the-first-to-pay-for-it

Disaster risk reduction

Researchers introduce new way to study, help prevent landslides https://www.rit.edu/news/researchers-introduce-new-way-study-help-prevent-landslides

Tracking funding for life-saving early warning systems https://www.undrr.org/news/tracking-funding-life-saving-early-warning-systems

Twelve months of smart solutions to reduce disaster risks https://www.preventionweb.net/news/twelve-months-smart-solutions-reduce-disaster-risks

Bracing for a monster: Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on WA. Here’s what to expect https://theconversation.com/bracing-for-a-monster-tropical-cyclone-zelia-is-bearing-down-on-wa-heres-what-to-expect-249947

Strengthening redundancy for the early warning system in Hue City, Vietnam https://www.i-s-e-t.org/single-post/strengthening-redundancy-for-the-early-warning-system-in-thua-thien-hue-vietnam

Florida program to elevate houses seeks to stop insurance claims before they happen https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/state/2025/02/15/home-improvement-grants-promise-a-flood-of-federal-money-coming-faster/78244331007/

Extreme weather is our new reality. We must accept it and begin planning https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2025/feb/15/extreme-weather-new-reality-wildfires-floods-droughts

The earthquake that changed the course of history https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0ckfxtn/the-earthquake-that-changed-the-course-of-history

Council urged to drop flood defence project funding https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgnwl070ero

Japanese and African Researchers Join Forces to Tackle Wildfire Threats https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/news/university_news/japanese_and_african_researchers_join_forces_to_tackle_wildfire_threats.html

Santorini ongoing earthquake swarm https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/santorini-ongoing-earthquake-swarm

How to protect more Australian homes from the growing risks of floods, fires and other climate disasters https://theconversation.com/how-to-protect-more-australian-homes-from-the-growing-risks-of-floods-fires-and-other-climate-disasters-249860

More than half of Australia’s homes were built before fire standards came in. Here are 5 ways to retrofit them https://theconversation.com/more-than-half-of-australias-homes-were-built-before-fire-standards-came-in-here-are-5-ways-to-retrofit-them-249490

New report reveals skyrocketing economic losses from natural catastrophes: ‘The consequences are devastating’ https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/insured-losses-natural-catastrophes-2024/

A Massive Volcanic Catastrophe Could Hit the Pacific Northwest. Experts Are Sounding the Alarm https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a63433841/volcano-mudflow-lahar-pacific-northwest/

Accuracy and Precision of Earthquake Location Programs: Insights from a Synthetic Controlled Experiment https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/srl/article-abstract/doi/10.1785/0220240354/650396/Accuracy-and-Precision-of-Earthquake-Location

Emergency Management

Atami landslides 2021 Japan: Landfill issues, elderly casualties, key lessons and challenges https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666592124000556

Pikeville: mayor releases statement on flooding, curfew put into effect https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/pikeville-mayor-on-flooding-we-will-stand-together

How better water systems can help a city survive the next firestorm https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-los-angeles-water-utilities-infrastructure-firefighting-4bd38dde946d0add1545691b00a2d57b

‘Disaster amnesia’: The Los Angeles wildfires revealed a deeper, more vicious cycle that has plagued California for decades https://fortune.com/2025/02/17/los-angeles-disaster-amnesia-wildfires-revealed-deeper-vicious-cycle-plagued-california/

The Adaptive Shift: Embracing Complexity in Disaster and Emergency Management https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420925001475

How Abolishing FEMA Could Create A Crisis For States And Cities https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2025/02/15/how-abolishing-fema-could-create-a-crisis-for-states-and-cities/

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Through the eyes of educators: codifying barriers and enablers for the uptake of geography education in Australian schools https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00049182.2024.2434294

Take flood action https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/take-flood-action

Our kids have questions about climate change. Now there are answers https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025/02/17/climate-change-kids-tv-show

Running to Safety: How Gwadar’s Schoolchildren are Learning to Outsmart Tsunamis https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/running-safety-how-gwadars-schoolchildren-are-learning-outsmart-tsunamis

Disaster psychology

CEO Resilience in Family Firms in Times of Crisis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08944865251319954

Exploring psychological recovery and coping mechanisms: post-flood mental health and resilience of women in Punjab, Pakistan https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-025-00799-5

Sociology and disasters

Household resilience capital and community resilience: A comparative analysis of SHG and non-SHG households in rural India https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15575330.2025.2460110

The fires give a chance to reimagine our communities’ future https://www.fastcompany.com/91278569/recovery-urbanism-build-los-angeless-resilient-future

Resilience and recovery from an environmental disaster: the journey of child survivors of the Kiteezi landfill in Uganda https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311886.2025.2466790

“We are in jail!”: seawalls and landscape justice in post-disaster Japan https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01426397.2025.2465678

The Interplay of Perceived Social Capital, Financial Inclusion, Financial Literacy, and Micro Takaful in Sudan’s Post-Conflict Economic Rehabilitation https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/the-interplay-of-perceived-social-capital-financial-inclusion-financial-literacy-and-micro-takaful-in-sudans-post-conflict-economic-rehabilitation/

Today in disaster resilience (7 February 2025)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Major flooding underway in northern Queensland after extreme rainfall, Australia https://watchers.news/2025/02/02/major-flooding-underway-in-northern-queensland-after-extreme-rainfall-australia/

Santorini on alert as tremors rattle island https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2eg12jn730o

Streets turn into raging rivers as heavy rains hit Italy https://watchers.news/2025/02/03/streets-turn-into-raging-rivers-as-heavy-rains-hit-italy/

Over 9 000 people evacuate Santorini as seismic crisis worsens, UK issues travel advisory, Greece https://watchers.news/2025/02/04/over-9-000-people-evacuate-santorini-as-seismic-crisis-worsens-uk-issues-travel-advisory-greece/

North Queensland on alert for flash flooding as second death recorded in emergency https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-05/north-queensland-flooding-townsville-rainfall-flood-recovery/104894530

Heavy rains set new records in San Francisco, triggering floods and landslides, California https://watchers.news/2025/02/06/heavy-rains-set-new-records-in-san-francisco-triggering-floods-and-landslides-california/

Effusive eruption at Stromboli volcano, lava flowing down Sciara del Fuoco, Italy https://watchers.news/2025/02/06/effusive-eruption-at-stromboli-volcano-lava-flowing-down-sciara-del-fuoco-italy/

Volcanic activity worldwide 5 Feb 2025: Santorini volcano, Santiaguito, Popocatépetl, Semeru, Ibu https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/264126/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-5-Feb-2025-Santorini-volcano-Santiaguito-Popocatepetl-Semeru-Ibu-.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Fire chiefs warn UK is not prepared for climate crisis impacts https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/02/fire-chiefs-warn-uk-not-prepared-climate-crisis-impacts

Climate change increased the likelihood of wildfire disaster in highly exposed Los Angeles area https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-increased-the-likelihood-of-wildfire-disaster-in-highly-exposed-los-angeles-area/

Climate Change Increases Risk of Successive Natural Hazards in the Himalayas https://www.news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2025/sikkim-flood-desaster.html

Bhutan’s climate resilience: Ten years of partnership and a path forward https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/endpovertyinsouthasia/bhutan-s-climate-resilience–ten-years-of-partnership-and-a-path

Insuring Resilience: How Parametric Solutions are Transforming Climate Adaptation in the Pacific https://www.undp.org/pacific/blog/insuring-resilience-how-parametric-solutions-are-transforming-climate-adaptation-pacific

Customers will take as much wind and solar as they can “because they are the cheapest” https://reneweconomy.com.au/customers-will-take-as-much-wind-and-solar-as-they-can-because-they-are-the-cheapest-says-brookfield/

Greenland ice sheet cracking more rapidly than ever, study shows https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/03/greenland-ice-sheet-cracking-study

Mortality impacts of the most extreme heat events https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00635-w

Temperatures at north pole 20C above average and beyond ice melting point https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/04/temperatures-at-north-pole-20c-above-average-and-beyond-ice-melting-point

Paris When It Sizzles: The City of Light Aims to Get Smart on Heat https://e360.yale.edu/features/paris-heat-waves-climate-change

Global ‘Stilling’: Is Climate Change Slowing Down the Wind? https://e360.yale.edu/features/global-stilling-is-climate-change-slowing-the-worlds-wind

How Climate Change Could Upend the American Dream https://www.propublica.org/article/climate-change-homes-insurance-housing-rent-mortgage

Ancient Climate Reconstruction Links Past and Future https://eos.org/research-spotlights/ancient-climate-reconstruction-links-past-and-future

More, bigger crevasses open up in Greenland ice sheet, threatening increased sea level rise https://news.ufl.edu/2025/02/greenland-crevasses/

Half a degree rise in global warming will triple area of Earth too hot for humans https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/half-a-degree-rise-in-global-warming-will-triple-area-of-earth-too-hot-for-humans

January 2025 was the warmest on record globally, despite an emerging La Niña https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-january-2025-was-warmest-record-globally-despite-emerging-la-nina

It’s official: Australia’s ocean surface was the hottest on record in 2024 https://theconversation.com/its-official-australias-ocean-surface-was-the-hottest-on-record-in-2024-249277

Extreme heat: Where 50C temperatures could hit this week https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/extreme-heat-where-50c-temperatures-could-hit-this-week/k5h0nafly

Hottest January on record mystifies climate scientists https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/06/hottest-january-on-record-climate-scientists-global-temperatures-high

Disaster risk reduction

Countries are neglecting the existential threat of pandemics. Bold leadership is necessary https://thebulletin.org/2025/01/countries-are-neglecting-the-existential-threat-of-pandemics-bold-leadership-is-necessary/

What’s driving north Queensland’s deadly, record-breaking floods? https://theconversation.com/whats-driving-north-queenslands-deadly-record-breaking-floods-248847

The 1995 Kobe earthquake: Reflecting on past lessons and assessing modern resilience https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/insights/insurance/1995-kobe-earthquake-reflecting-past-lessons-assessing-modern-resilience.html

The effectiveness of disaster risk management policies in Brazilian municipalities https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056819025000028

Flood Risk Assessment and Modelling Helps Lincolnshire Development Get Planning Approval https://rabconsultants.co.uk/news/flood-risk-assessment-and-modelling-helps-lincolnshire-development-get-planning-approval/

Spending on flood defences set to rise to record levels https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly5rln4yd3o

LA wildfires highlight nation’s insurance crisis as homeowners try to recover lost homes https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/la-wildfires-highlight-nations-insurance-crisis-homeowners-recover-118473201

Twelve months of smart solutions to reduce disaster risks https://www.preventionweb.net/news/twelve-months-smart-solutions-reduce-disaster-risks

UW-led research identifies migration, housing quality as risk factors in earthquake deaths https://www.washington.edu/news/2025/02/03/qa-uw-led-research-identifies-migration-housing-quality-as-risk-factors-in-earthquake-deaths/

Commission reports show faster progress is needed across Europe to protect waters and better manage flood risks https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_342

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

Explainability can foster trust in artificial intelligence in geoscience https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01639-x

Emergency Management

How satellites and AI help fight wildfires today https://theconversation.com/how-satellites-and-ai-help-fight-wildfires-today-248420

North Queensland farmers assess flood damage as ‘wall of water’ smashes banana crops https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2025-02-04/bananas-and-cane-flooded-in-north-queensland/104891254

Nearly 250 million children missed school last year because of extreme weather, UNICEF says https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/250-million-children-missed-school-year-extreme-weather-118047443

Can We Rebuild Los Angeles? https://www.city-journal.org/article/los-angeles-wildfires-destruction-rebuild

Moving forward after the Los Angeles fires https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/moving-forward-after-the-los-angeles-fires-experts-discuss-physical-psychological-and-environmental-recovery

Volunteer fire departments in Arkansas struggling amid low number of volunteers https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/volunteer-fire-department-arkansas/91-3cfc8a9f-dd89-4e07-841e-71293d51f234

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Next slide please: data visualisation expert on what’s wrong with the UK government’s coronavirus charts https://theconversation.com/next-slide-please-data-visualisation-expert-on-whats-wrong-with-the-uk-governments-coronavirus-charts-149329

Disaster psychology

Geopsychiatry Survey – Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciJ1x9iNoag9tfRJ3xL36N8LxxNNSRmY39nT_Q_MlQSJyBOQ/viewform

Sociology and disasters

The role of urban amenities in facilitating social mixing: Evidence from Stockholm https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204624002494

Assessing Catchment Vulnerability of Community-Based Small Businesses to Coastal Hazards: Spatial and Sectoral Disparities https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/NHREFO.NHENG-2218

Connecting Social Capital and Vulnerability: Citation Network Analysis of Disaster Studies https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29NH.1527-6996.0000469

Assessing Urban–Rural Differences in Disaster Evacuation Vulnerability Among Minority Populations: Insights from a Recent Survey in Florida https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00330124.2024.2440713#d1e252

Community spirit strong as anxiety builds over north Queensland floods https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-04/north-queensland-communities-rally-amid-floods/104890762

Caring, Coping and Rebuilding—The Role of Social Infrastructure During and After the 2021 Flood Event in Germany https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1753318x

Substitute or complement? How social capital, age and socioeconomic status interacted to impact mortality in Japan’s 3/11 tsunami https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827319300308

Today in disaster resilience (31 January 2025)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Mudslides and debris flows grip Los Angeles as much needed rain arrives to California https://watchers.news/2025/01/27/mudslides-and-debris-flows-grip-los-angeles-as-much-needed-rain-arrives-to-california/

Why meteorologists are comparing Storm Éowyn to a bomb https://theconversation.com/why-meteorologists-are-comparing-storm-eowyn-to-a-bomb-248203

Cyclone risk amid latest start to Queensland monsoon season in decades https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-28/latest-start-to-queensland-monsoon-season-in-decades-cyclone/104864088

Volcanic activity worldwide 30 Jan 2025: Santorini volcano, Santiaguito, Merapi, Semeru, Dukono https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/263546/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-30-Jan-2025-Santorini-volcano-Santiaguito-Merapi-Semeru-Dukono-Rev.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Guidelines to quantify climate change exposure and vulnerability indicators for the future: an example for heat stress risk across scales https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/guidelines-quantify-climate-change-exposure-and-vulnerability-indicators-future-example

A principle-based framework to determine countries’ fair warming contributions to the Paris Agreement https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56397-6

How do we adapt enough? https://news.miami.edu/stories/2025/01/how-do-we-adapt-enough.html

Beyond Energy Access: How Renewable Energy Fosters Resilience in Island Communities https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/2/20#

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 sea levels may rise by up to 1.9m by 2100, exceeding earlier projections: NTU study https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/global-sea-level-may-rise-by-up-to-1-9m-by-2100-exceeding-earlier-projections-ntu-study

How Climate Risks Could Affect Property Taxes in Florida, California, and Elsewhere https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/climate-risks-could-affect-property-230408910.html

Renewable records surge across the grid in midst of latest heatwave https://reneweconomy.com.au/renewable-records-surge-across-the-grid-in-midst-of-latest-heatwave/

Study says climate change made conditions that fed California wildfires more likely, more intense https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfire-climate-change-burn-devastation-warming-1429ef7c613a0d97fc156068215571d2

Antarctic coastal polynyas in the global climate system https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00634-x

Anthropogenic climate change doubled the frequency of compound drought and heatwaves in low-income regions https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/anthropogenic-climate-change-doubled-frequency-compound-drought-and-heatwaves-low

Disaster risk reduction

Study finds statistical link between solar activity and rainfall variability https://watchers.news/2025/01/27/study-finds-statistical-link-between-solar-activity-and-rainfall-variability/

Human use of fire has produced an era of uncontrolled burning: Welcome to the Pyrocene https://theconversation.com/human-use-of-fire-has-produced-an-era-of-uncontrolled-burning-welcome-to-the-pyrocene-247195

Wanting to ‘return to normal’ after a disaster is understandable, but often problematic https://theconversation.com/wanting-to-return-to-normal-after-a-disaster-is-understandable-but-often-problematic-247884

Why the home insurance model is broken https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/27/why-the-home-insurance-model-is-broken.html

Two different perspectives on heatwaves within the Lagrangian framework https://wcd.copernicus.org/articles/6/131/2025/

In Vermont, a Push to Prevent Flooding or Get Out of the Way https://e360.yale.edu/features/vermont-floods

Global status of multi-hazard early warning systems https://www.undrr.org/reports/global-status-MHEWS-2023

The benefits and trade-offs of multi-variable calibration of the WaterGAP global hydrological model (WGHM) in the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/567/2025/

‘We have to figure this out’: Rising flood risks delivers double blow to communities with housing shortages https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/28/housing-shortages-flooding-climate-risk-00201069

Emergency Management

January 2025 Economist Snapshot: Los Angeles Wildfires Recovery Will Be Costly and Lengthy https://urbanland.uli.org/capital-markets-and-finance/january-economist-snapshot-los-angeles-wildfires-recovery-will-be-costly-and-lengthy

Head of disaster relief agency FEMA reassures staff after Trump criticism https://www.yahoo.com/news/head-disaster-relief-agency-fema-175054686.html

Toxic waste delays California wildfire cleanup efforts https://watchers.news/2025/01/30/toxic-waste-delays-california-wildfire-cleanup-efforts/

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Netflix’s La Palma’s ‘megatsunami’ has been debunked https://theconversation.com/netflixs-la-palmas-megatsunami-has-been-debunked-246916

Fireforest: A New Film on Forest Management and Wildfire https://fireadaptednetwork.org/fireforest-a-new-film-on-forest-management-and-wildfire/

Meet Flo the Flood Bus https://www.floodre.co.uk/flo/

Lessons for communication strategies during health emergencies from a COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes and practices study in an informal settlement in Mumbai, India https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12982-025-00410-2

Disaster psychology

Understanding Psychological Wellbeing Among Iranian Healthcare Workers: The Role of Resilience and Social Capital https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388470932_Understanding_Psychological_Wellbeing_Among_Iranian_Healthcare_Workers_The_Role_of_Resilience_and_Social_Capital

Sociology and disasters

Positioning the Sense of Coherence (SOC) in Disaster Recovery Planning and Design https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/2/161

The Dual Structure of Volunteering During Crises: A Task-Driven Approach to Volunteering https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08997640241311868

Do you know your neighbors? Why connecting with them can help combat loneliness and make you feel safe and supported https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/do-you-know-your-neighbors-why-connecting-with-them-can-help-combat-loneliness-and-make-you-feel-safe-and-supported-100012009.html

Community Resilience and Social Capital: Hindering vs Fostering Factors https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420925000378

Exploring multi-level governance arrangements in disaster recovery: A study of Lagos, Nigeria https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420925000780

The Pareto effect in tipping social networks: from minority to majority https://esd.copernicus.org/articles/16/189/2025/

Today in disaster resilience (24 January 2025)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Malaysia – Severe flooding hits Sarawak as torrential rains continue https://rsoe-edis.org/eventList/details/794597/0

Strong tornado hits Senganan village, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2025/01/19/strong-tornado-hits-senganan-village-indonesia/

California prepares for possible new fires as winds create conditions for ‘explosive growth’ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/21/wind-new-fires-california

At least 27 injured after M6.4 earthquake hits Taiwan, equivalent to ‘two atomic bombs’ https://watchers.news/2025/01/21/at-least-27-injured-after-m6-4-earthquake-hits-taiwan-equivalent-to-two-atomic-bombs/

25 dead and missing as severe floods and landslides hit Java, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2025/01/21/25-dead-and-missing-as-severe-floods-and-landslides-hit-java-indonesia/

Winter storm blankets New Orleans with up to a foot of snow, shutting down the city, Louisiana https://watchers.news/2025/01/22/winter-storm-blankets-new-orleans-with-up-to-a-foot-of-snow-shutting-down-the-city-louisiana/

Rapidly spreading Hughes Fire puts 54 000 under evacuation orders or warnings as investigators probe possible human cause, California https://watchers.news/2025/01/23/rapidly-spreading-hughes-fire-puts-54-000-under-evacuation-orders-warnings/

Ireland braces for Éowyn on Friday, the most powerful storm in decades. Winds to near 200 km/h are forecast https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/storm-eowyn-windstorm-ireland-bomb-cyclone-uk-north-atlantic-europe-mk/

Volcanic activity worldwide 23 Jan 2025: Santiaguito volcano, Popocatépetl, Semeru, Ibu, Marapi https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/263046/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-23-Jan-2025-Santiaguito-volcano-Popocatepetl-Semeru-Ibu-Marapi-Ki.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Whiplash: How Big Swings in Precipitation Fueled the L.A. Fires https://e360.yale.edu/features/daniel-swain-interview

Carbon Dioxide Levels Rose by a Record Amount Last Year https://e360.yale.edu/digest/2024-carbon-dioxide-levels

New Record for Annual Increase in Keeling Curve Readings https://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/2025/01/17/new-record-for-annual-increase-in-keeling-curve-readings/

Seven charts to discover the C3S Global Climate Highlights 2024 report https://climate.copernicus.eu/seven-charts-discover-c3s-global-climate-highlights-2024-report

The Welcoming Climate Shelters of Barcelona https://reasonstobecheerful.world/barcelona-climate-shelters

Mega-droughts are becoming more frequent and intense worldwide https://www.wsl.ch/en/news/mega-droughts-are-becoming-more-frequent-and-intense-worldwide/

Trump signs order to withdraw US from Paris climate agreement for second time https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/20/trump-executive-order-paris-climate-agreement

Melting ice reveals millennia-old forest buried in the Rocky mountains https://www.newscientist.com/article/2463397-melting-ice-reveals-millennia-old-forest-buried-in-the-rocky-mountains/

Heatwaves could worsen as soil moisture changes – study https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Research-News/Heatwaves-could-worsen-as-soil-moisture-changes—study

A Seychelles Shoreline Resists the Rising Seas https://eos.org/articles/a-seychelles-shoreline-resists-the-rising-seas

Giant iceberg on crash course with island, putting penguins and seals in danger https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd64vvg4z6go

Disaster risk reduction

Could natural disasters cause insurance companies to go out of business? https://www.marketplace.org/2025/01/17/could-natural-disasters-cause-insurance-companies-to-go-out-of-business/

Could Vancouver burn like L.A.? Yes, says Vancouver author of Fire Weather https://vancouversun.com/news/could-vancouver-burn-la-easily-author-canadian-wildfires

The LA fires have prompted a reckoning for the insurance industry – Australian premiums could soar as a result https://theconversation.com/the-la-fires-have-prompted-a-reckoning-for-the-insurance-industry-australian-premiums-could-soar-as-a-result-247207

Seismic hazard and shifting channels: Exploring coseismic river response https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825225000030

UCLA experts: Fire and the future of Los Angeles https://newsroom.ucla.edu/advisories/fire-and-the-future-of-los-angeles-ucla-experts-available

Why LA is on fire (it’s not just climate change) https://theconversation.com/why-la-is-on-fire-its-not-just-climate-change-246170

AI forecasts: Can Southeast Asia rise above the Mekong floods? https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/news/asean/40045287

Quantitative Analysis of EMDAT Indicates Changes in Disaster Trends over 124 Years Associated with Polycrisis https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4967313

Improving Streamflow Prediction Using Multiple Hydrological Models and Machine Learning Methods https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2024WR038192

How to navigate uncertainty in an unpredictable world https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00070-x

Cataclysmic megaflood refilled the Mediterranean Sea 5.33 million years ago https://watchers.news/2025/01/22/cataclysmic-megaflood-refilled-the-mediterranean-sea-5-33-million-years-ago/

Brazil saw 79% jump in area burned by fires in 2024 https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250122-brazil-saw-79-jump-in-area-burned-by-fires-in-2024-monitor

Ethiopian earthquakes and volcanic eruptions: earth scientist explains the link https://theconversation.com/ethiopian-earthquakes-and-volcanic-eruptions-earth-scientist-explains-the-link-247245

Flood Resilience in Malaysian Housing: A Critical Review and Proposed Planning Law Framework https://akademiabaru.com/submit/index.php/jarsbs/article/view/5948/5682

New AI tool generates realistic satellite images of future flooding https://news.mit.edu/2024/new-ai-tool-generates-realistic-satellite-images-future-flooding-1125

California’s insurer of last resort has potential exposure to LA wildfires of nearly $5 billion and reinsurance of $5.78 billion https://fortune.com/2025/01/18/fair-plan-la-wildfire-exposure-5-billion-palisades-eaton-claims-payments-reinsurance/

Emergency Management

Cleaning up after the LA wildfires is dangerous. Here’s how to protect yourself https://www.npr.org/2025/01/19/nx-s1-5259900/la-wildfires-health-risks

USA: Los Angeles fires 2025 https://www.preventionweb.net/collections/usa-los-angeles-fires-2025

California Firefighters Use AI to Combat Growing Wildfire Threats https://decrypt.co/300099/california-firefighters-use-ai-to-combat-growing-wildfire-threats

This California city lost thousands of homes to fire. Santa Rosa’s rebuilding has lessons for L.A. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-22/santa-rosa-offers-hope-lessons-for-rebuilding-after-la-fires

It’s science, not fiction: high-tech drones may soon be fighting bushfires in Australia https://theconversation.com/its-science-not-fiction-high-tech-drones-may-soon-be-fighting-bushfires-in-australia-247789

The rise of firefighters-for-hire exposes the inequality of climate-driven disasters https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-firefighters-for-hire-exposes-the-inequality-of-climate-driven-disasters-247851

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02090-5

False alerts — like the one sent during the Greater Los Angeles wildfires — can undermine trust and provoke anxiety https://theconversation.com/false-alerts-like-the-one-sent-during-the-greater-los-angeles-wildfires-can-undermine-trust-and-provoke-anxiety-247186

Help to reduce flood risk https://thefloodhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FT-Q-R40-Helping-to-Reduce-Flood-Risk.pdf

UC webinar series will provide valuable wildfire resources https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/employee-news/uc-webinar-series-will-provide-valuable-wildfire-resources/

‘One big team working together’ – Shifting narratives to encourage civic participation and collective action in disaster preparedness https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420925000421

Disaster psychology

Intersection between individual, household, environmental and system level factors in defining risk and resilience for children in Kenya’s ASAL: A qualitative study https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0316679

The Shortcomings of Stoicism https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-in-high-achievers/202411/the-shortcomings-of-stoicism

Survivors of the LA fires will face a complex blend of mental health challenges https://www.sciencenews.org/article/survivors-la-fires-mental-health

The Mental-Health Toll of the California Wildfires Is Just Beginning https://time.com/7207912/los-angeles-california-wildfires-mental-health-support/

Sociology and disasters

Adapting to Change and Transforming Crisis into Opportunity – Behavioral and Policy Shifts in Sustainable Practices Post-Pandemic https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(25)00426-8

Multi-index model for assessing population vulnerability and risk profiles after cyclone Amphan: a case study of Satkhira district https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-024-07099-7

Prospects for children in 2025: Building resilient systems for children’s futures https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/prospects-children-2025-building-resilient-systems-childrens-futures

Neighbors and strangers pulled together to help LA fire survivors – 60 years of research shows these unsung heroes are crucial to disaster response https://theconversation.com/neighbors-and-strangers-pulled-together-to-help-la-fire-survivors-60-years-of-research-shows-these-unsung-heroes-are-crucial-to-disaster-response-247660

Today in disaster resilience (17 January 2025)

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 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

Today in disaster resilience (20 December 2024)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Strong explosion at Mount Dukono, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2024/12/07/strong-explosion-at-mount-dukono-indonesia/

Flood along the River Wye, England https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rj5dpn65ko

Powerful explosive eruption and pyroclastic flows at Kanlaon volcano force urgent evacuation of 87 000 people, Philippines https://watchers.news/2024/12/09/powerful-explosive-eruption-and-pyroclastic-flows-at-kanlaon-volcano-force-urgent-evacuation-of-87-000-people-philippines/

Franklin Fire forces urgent evacuations near Malibu Canyon Road, Los Angeles, California https://watchers.news/2024/12/10/franklin-fire-evacuations-malibu-canyon-road-los-angeles-california/

Rare Scotts Valley tornado injures 5, overturns vehicles in shopping district, California https://watchers.news/2024/12/15/rare-scotts-valley-tornado-damage-injures-december-2024/

Chido strikes Mayotte as most violent and destructive cyclone in 90 years https://watchers.news/2024/12/14/chido-strikes-mayotte-as-most-violent-and-destructive-cyclone-in-90-years/

Chido strikes Mozambique after catastrophic landfall in Mayotte https://watchers.news/2024/12/15/chido-strikes-mozambique-after-catastrophic-damage-mayotte/

14 dead and hundreds injured after a magnitude 7.3 quake in Vanuatu leaves some trapped in rubble https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/magnitude-73-earthquake-hits-pacific-island-nation-vanuatu-116851766

Before-and-after satellite images show Agalega after Cyclone Chido’s direct hit https://watchers.news/2024/12/16/before-and-after-satellite-images-agalega-cyclone-chidos-direct-hit/

One home under threat from Emergency level Grampians bushfire as residents told to leave https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-18/more-residents-told-to-prepare-to-leave-grampians-bushfire/104741224

Tropical Cyclone Chido ‘spares nothing’ in Mayotte, thousands feared dead https://watchers.news/2024/12/16/tropical-cyclone-chido-spares-nothing-in-mayotte-thousands-feared-dead/

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

High Heat Is Preferentially Killing the Young, Not the Old, New Research Finds https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2024/12/06/high-heat-is-preferentially-killing-the-young-not-the-old-new-research-finds/

CSIRO reaffirms nuclear power likely to cost twice as much as renewables https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-09/nuclear-power-plant-twice-as-costly-as-renewables/104691114

‘Ominous milestone for the planet’: Arctic Ocean’s 1st ice-free day could be just 3 years away, alarming study finds https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/arctic/ominous-milestone-for-the-planet-arctic-oceans-1st-ice-free-day-could-be-just-3-years-away-alarming-study-finds

Autumn 2024 was the warmest in U.S. history, NOAA says https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/12/autumn-2024-was-the-warmest-in-u-s-history-noaa-says/

2024 will be world’s hottest year on record, and the first above 1.5°C target https://reneweconomy.com.au/2024-will-be-worlds-hottest-year-on-record-and-the-first-above-1-5c-target/

Understanding the drivers and predictability of record low Antarctic sea ice in austral winter 2023 https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01772-2

Study Reveals Green and Blue Infrastructure Reduce Urban Heat https://climateadaptationplatform.com/study-reveals-green-and-blue-infrastructure-reduce-urban-heat/

Coastal retreat in Alaska is accelerating because of compound climate impacts, researchers warn https://phys.org/news/2024-12-coastal-retreat-alaska-compound-climate.html

Another Hot Arctic Year Indicates a New Climate Regime https://eos.org/articles/another-hot-arctic-year-indicates-a-new-climate-regime

Arctic has changed dramatically in just a couple of decades – 2024 report card shows worrying trends in snow, ice, wildfire and more https://theconversation.com/arctic-has-changed-dramatically-in-just-a-couple-of-decades-2024-report-card-shows-worrying-trends-in-snow-ice-wildfire-and-more-237738

Tourism emissions surge over last decade and now make up 9 per cent of global total, report finds https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-11/tourism-air-travel-carbon-emissions-surge-environment/104701158

Projecting Socio-Economic Exposure due to Future Hydro-Meteorological Extremes in Large Transboundary River Basin under Global Warming Targets https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11269-024-04057-7

Mexico heatwave impacts https://futurism.com/the-byte/mexico-heat-young-people-deaths

Australia leads the world in arresting climate and environment protesters https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-15/australia-leads-world-in-arresting-climate-environment-activists/104721294

Association of climate variability modes with concurrent droughts and heatwaves in India https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589915524000269

Severe to Extreme Heatwave Warnings in all states and territories except Tasmania, Australia https://watchers.news/2024/12/15/severe-extreme-heatwave-warnings-australia-december-2024/

Islanders determined to keep hope, culture alive as Torres Strait rises https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-15/rising-ocean-threat-to-island-culture-torres-strait-australia/104613496

We finally have an explanation for 2023’s record-breaking temperatures https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458862-we-finally-have-an-explanation-for-2023s-record-breaking-temperatures/

Unpacking the progression of climate uncertainty into precarity in the urban context of drylands: the case of floods in Lodwar, Turkana https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17565529.2024.2434135

Australia’s deadliest natural disaster you’ve never heard of https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-17/heatwave-of-2009-australias-deadliest-natural-disaster/104648912

Around eight million properties in England – or one in four – could be at risk of flooding by 2050 as the danger increases due to climate change https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99x4599gr7o

Days above 0 C have seen dramatic increase around the world, Climate Central analysis finds https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/climate/impacts/canadas-cities-are-losing-up-to-19-days-of-winter-new-climate-report

Pakistan and Bahamas join push for global pact to phase out fossil fuels https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/18/pakistan-bahamas-fossil-fuel-climate-change

Evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet Over the Next Three Centuries From an ISMIP6 Model Ensemble https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024EF004561

Trouble in Arctic town as polar bears and people face warming world https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yg344zz1ro

Arctic Emits More Carbon Than It Stores as Warming Hits Canada’s Winter Economy https://www.theenergymix.com/arctic-emits-more-carbon-than-it-stores-as-warming-hits-canadian-economy-winter-sports/

Like minds, shared mission: Two projects on Disability-Inclusive Climate Action come together https://www.omlopezcenter.org/like-minds-shared-mission-two-projects-on-disability-inclusive-climate-action-come-together/

Most coastal Arctic infrastructure faces instability by 2100 https://news.agu.org/press-release/most-arctic-infrastructure-faces-instability/

A push to cool Australian cities may inadvertently increase our skin cancer risk, unless we act https://theconversation.com/a-push-to-cool-australian-cities-may-inadvertently-increase-our-skin-cancer-risk-unless-we-act-245744

More than 1,300 Hajj pilgrims died this year when humidity and heat pushed past survivable limits. It’s just the start https://theconversation.com/more-than-1-300-hajj-pilgrims-died-this-year-when-humidity-and-heat-pushed-past-survivable-limits-its-just-the-start-245271

Antarctica’s tipping points threaten global climate stability https://phys.org/news/2024-12-antarctica-threaten-global-climate-stability.html

Climate crisis deepens with 2024 ‘certain’ to be hottest year on record https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/09/climate-crisis-deepens-with-2024-certain-to-be-hottest-year-on-record

“An exclamation point on global warming”: Climate scientists warn 2024 was marked by broken records https://www.salon.com/2024/12/19/an-exclamation-point-on-global-warming-climate-scientists-warn-2024-was-marked-by-broken-records/

Disaster risk reduction

Taiwan logs record seismic activity with 42 quakes surpassing M5.5 in 2024 https://watchers.news/2024/12/07/taiwan-logs-record-seismic-activty-with-42-quakes-surpassing-magnitude-5-5/

Migration as a hidden risk factor in seismic fatality: a spatial modeling of the Chi-Chi earthquake and suburban syndrome https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/24/4457/2024/

Innovation, insight and impact: groundbreaking research through the 2024 hurricane season https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/innovation-insight-and-impact-groundbreaking-research-through-the-2024-hurricane-season/

Hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and floods drive insured losses above USD 100 billion for 5th consecutive year, says Swiss Re Institute https://www.swissre.com/press-release/Hurricanes-severe-thunderstorms-and-floods-drive-insured-losses-above-USD-100-billion-for-5th-consecutive-year-says-Swiss-Re-Institute/f8424512-e46b-4db7-a1b1-ad6034306352

What we can and (still) can’t predict about earthquakes https://theconversation.com/what-we-can-and-still-cant-predict-about-earthquakes-245456

Scientists urged to pull the plug on ‘bathtub modeling’ of flood risk https://news.uci.edu/2024/12/06/scientists-urged-to-pull-the-plug-on-bathtub-modeling-of-flood-risk/

Flooding is Not Like Filling a Bath https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024EF005164

Information Note for the eighth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025) is now available in the six official languages of the United Nations https://globalplatform.undrr.org/news/information-note-global-platform-2025-now-available-all-six-official-un-languages

Insights into tectonic hazards since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00613-2

Scientists mapped the world’s rivers over 35 years. They found shocking changes https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/12/climate/world-rivers-flow-mapped/index.html

More flow upstream and less flow downstream: The changing form and function of global rivers https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl5728

Supporting governments and other stakeholders in identifying infrastructure vulnerabilities and implementing resilience-building solutions https://www.undrr.org/resilient-infrastructure/enhance-infrastructure-resilience

Property Flood Resilience – Beyond Resistance https://rainnorthants.co.uk/property-flood-resilience-beyond-resistance/

Natural world heritage sites are at risk from climate change globally https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/natural-world-heritage-sites-are-risk-climate-change-globally

Agricultural land near where rivers meet can mitigate floods https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1066976

Technique to forecast where the next big quake will start https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2024/12/12/technique-forecast-where-next-big-quake-will-start

15% of global population lives within a few miles of a coast − and the number is growing rapidly https://theconversation.com/15-of-global-population-lives-within-a-few-miles-of-a-coast-and-the-number-is-growing-rapidly-240672

Future increases in landslide hazard across the high mountains of Asia https://eos.org/thelandslideblog/landslide-hazard-asia

Floods, insufficient water, sinking river deltas: Hydrologists map changing river landscapes across the globe https://www.umass.edu/news/article/floods-insufficient-water-sinking-river-deltas-hydrologists-map-changing-river

A global climatology of sting-jet extratropical cyclones https://wcd.copernicus.org/articles/5/1523/2024/

New data shows 6.3 million properties in England in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water https://www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-agency-publishes-major-update-to-national-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-assessment

Artificial intelligence applied to disasters and crises management https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/artificial-intelligence-applied-disasters-and-crises-management

Why Vanuatu should brace for even more aftershocks after this week’s deadly quakes: a seismologist explains https://theconversation.com/why-vanuatu-should-brace-for-even-more-aftershocks-after-this-weeks-deadly-quakes-a-seismologist-explains-246231

No parachute needed: New typhoon observation device demonstrates high accuracy in field test https://phys.org/news/2024-12-parachute-typhoon-device-high-accuracy.html

Morphologic and sedimentological signatures resulting from Hurricane Ian, southwest Florida, USA: Insight into intra-storm bidirectional sediment transport processes https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X24005154

Emergency Management

Minors had money to fight their insurer for 19 years over Katrina damage. They finally won https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article296635574.html

Urgent action required to tackle ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar after Typhoon Yagi https://www.ifrc.org/press-release/urgent-action-required-tackle-ongoing-humanitarian-crisis-myanmar-after-typhoon-yagi

90% of Mozambican city of Beira destroyed by Cyclone Idai – Red Cross https://www.africanews.com/2019/03/18/90-percent-of-mozambican-city-of-beira-destroyed-by-cyclone-idai-red-cross/

Australia sends ‘immediate’ search and rescue assistance to Vanuatu following powerful earthquake https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-18/vanuatu-locals-survey-damage-after-earthquake/104738368

Lahaina Wildfire Family Begins Path to Recovery After Losing Everything https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/emergency-preparedness/lahaina-wildfire-family-begins-path-to-recovery-after-losing-everything/

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Measuring the Effectiveness of a Community Engagement Theory-Driven Training Program https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420924008902

Looking back: PreventionWeb’s 2024 highlights! https://www.preventionweb.net/news/looking-back-preventionwebs-2024-highlights

The Future of Risk Communications is Community Engagement https://www.preventionweb.net/news/future-risk-communications-community-engagement

Disaster psychology

Parts of Australia will hit 45C on Monday. Experts say we need to do more to stay cool https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/parts-of-australia-will-hit-45c-on-monday-experts-say-we-need-to-do-more-to-stay-cool/u3gbpa57k

Sociology and disasters

The rapid rise of social infrastructure: Mapping the concept through a systematic scoping review https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275124008229

Returning to our roots: the value of ancestral knowledge in facing future challenges https://www.undrr.org/news/returning-our-roots-value-ancestral-knowledge-facing-future-challenges

Social Connectedness, Social Support, Social Capital and Health https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-97-0821-5_19-1

Today in disaster resilience (6 December 2024)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Record rains and 3 dead as Cyclone Fengal makes landfall over Puducherry, India https://watchers.news/2024/12/01/record-rains-and-3-dead-as-cyclone-fengal-makes-landfall-over-puducherry-india/

Severe floods hit southern Thailand, affecting over 240 000 households https://watchers.news/2024/11/30/severe-floods-hit-southern-thailand-affecting-over-240-000-households/

Steady eruption near Grindavík, Iceland https://watchers.news/2024/11/28/steady-eruption-near-grindavik-iceland/

Severe thunderstorms hit Rio Grande do Sul, leaving over 3 million without power, Brazil https://watchers.news/2024/12/02/severe-thunderstorms-hit-rio-grande-do-sul-leaving-over-3-million-without-power-brazil/

Storm Bora hits Greece with powerful winds and heavy rain, leaving at least 3 people dead https://watchers.news/2024/12/02/storm-bora-greece-damage-fatalities-december-2024/

Strong eruption at Bledug Kesongo mud volcano, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2024/12/03/strong-eruption-at-bledug-kesongo-mud-volcano-indonesia/

Phreatomagmatic eruption at Taal volcano, ashfall reported in Agoncillo and Laurel, Philippines https://watchers.news/2024/12/03/phreatomagmatic-eruption-taal-volcano-ashfall-agoncillo-laurel-philippines/

M7.0 earthquake hits near Northern California coast, Tsunami Warning issued for California and Oregon https://watchers.news/2024/12/05/m7-earthquake-northern-california-tsunami-warning-california-oregon-december-2024/

Volcanic activity worldwide 2 Dec 2024: Popocatépetl volcano, Semeru, Ibu, Reventador, Canlaon https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/259098/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-2-Dec-2024-Popocatepetl-volcano-Semeru-Ibu-Reventador-Canlaon-Lew.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

How climate change became a pretext for fascism https://www.salon.com/2024/11/30/how-climate-change-became-a-pretext-for-fascism/

2024 to be a record year for US solar with 32 GW of installations https://electrek.co/2024/11/29/2024-us-solar-with-record-32-gw-of-installations/

The carbon footprints of consumption of goods and services in Sweden at municipal and postcode level and policy interventions https://www.sei.org/publications/carbon-footprints-of-consumption-of-goods-and-services/

Misogyny, authoritarianism, and climate change https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/asap.12347

International Court of Justice to begin hearings in landmark climate change case started by Pacific Islander students https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-01/vanuatu-icj-climate-change-case-pacific-island-students/104657334

Collapse of Earth’s global water circulation system is already happening https://www.earth.com/news/collapse-of-main-atlantic-ocean-circulaton-current-amoc-is-already-happening/

Could Tenbury Wells be the first UK town centre abandoned over climate change? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/01/could-tenbury-wells-be-the-first-uk-town-centre-abandoned-due-to-climate-change

Striking photos highlight the stark reality of Arctic glacier melt https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435184-300-striking-photos-highlight-the-stark-reality-of-arctic-glacier-melt/

‘We are failing to protect the most vulnerable’ – pregnant women and babies at risk from climate change, researchers warn https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/we-are-failing-to-protect-the-most-vulnerable-pregnant-women-and-babies-at-risk-from-climate-change-researchers-warn/a1796508957.html

The slippery challenge of defining climate adaptation https://thebulletin.org/2024/11/the-slippery-challenge-of-defining-climate-adaptation/

Australia sweats through hottest spring on record as temperatures soar 2.5C above pre-industrial levels https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-02/australia-weather-hottest-spring-on-record-temperatures-soar/104673886

Rising sea levels could put Vancouver’s airport underwater https://vancouversun.com/news/rising-sea-levels-could-put-vancouvers-airport-underwater

Climate actions on the neighbourhood level—Individual, collective, cultural, and socio-structural factors https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000424

This summer will likely be wetter and warmer for most Australians, bureau forecast says https://theconversation.com/this-summer-will-likely-be-wetter-and-warmer-for-most-australians-bureau-forecast-says-244520

Climate damage: Australia faces $7 trillion hit to standard of living https://reneweconomy.com.au/climate-damage-australia-faces-7-trillion-hit-to-standard-of-living/

Linking glacier retreat with climate change on the Tibetan Plateau through satellite remote sensing https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/18/5595/2024/

Projections of multiple climate-related coastal hazards for the US Southeast Atlantic https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02180-2

Spain introduces paid climate leave after deadly floods https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/spain-paid-climate-leave-floods

Türkiye’s first Climate Portal launched to accelerate climate action https://www.undp.org/turkiye/press-releases/turkiyes-first-climate-portal-launched-accelerate-climate-action

Early Warnings for All: Empowering All to Climate Action https://wmo.int/media/magazine-article/early-warnings-all-empowering-all-climate-action

The weirdly hyperactive 2024 Atlantic hurricane season ends https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/12/the-weirdly-hyperactive-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season-ends/

Facing the new reality of urban wildfires https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-facing-the-new-reality-of-urban-wildfires/

Natural world heritage sites are at risk from climate change globally https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01933-3

Disaster risk reduction

Planetary boundaries: Confronting the global crisis of land degradation https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/press-releases/planetary-boundaries-confronting-global-crisis-land-degradation

An enhanced dynamic-network-based framework for quantifying and enhancing the resilience of disaster response networks to old communities under rainstorm waterlogging https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479724030846

Extreme weather has battered Australia’s eastern states this week. Here’s what’s causing it https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/extreme-weather-has-battered-australias-eastern-states-whats-causing-it/bxgkp7qvg

Predicting Flood Inundation after a Dike Breach Using a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/11/9/152

Mantle flow in subduction systems and its effects on surface tectonics and magmatism https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00612-3

World Drought Atlas https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/world-drought-atlas

Vulnerability evolution of critical infrastructures: A multidimensional environment-integrated system dynamics analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0951832024007907

Emergency Management

Exploring the Effects of Floods in Pakistan: Pre/Post Flood Analysis 2022 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420924007945

Report into destructive 2023 Okanagan wildfires details how fire spread https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grouse-complex-wildfires-report-1.7397912

Estimating displacement risk using data-driven approaches https://story.internal-displacement.org/estimating-displacement-risk-using-data-driven-approaches-flood-and-drought-displacement-risk-in-the-horn-of-africa/

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Conspiracy! Why lack of capacity will make one believe just about anything about disasters… https://www.preventionweb.net/drr-community-voices/conspiracy-why-lack-capacity-will-make-one-believe-just-about-anything-about

Dam Fine Ideas. An animated film about the impact on nature by man-made structures on British rivers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0y5kK2Vyzk

Using geoinformation for anticipatory action frameworks: a technical training workshop in Pakistan https://www.anticipation-hub.org/news/using-geoinformation-for-anticipatory-action-frameworks-a-technical-training-workshop-in-pakistan

Disaster psychology

Understanding protest intentions: The influence of belief systems post-earthquake tragedies https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420924007933

Determining the threshold of issuing flash flood warnings based on people’s response process simulation https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/5229/2024/

Sociology and disasters

Local Social Capital, Disaster Housing Damage, and Mental Health: Insights from Hurricane Harvey https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21568693241290307

The role of community leadership in building community adaptive capacity to coastal hazards – Insights from neighborhood networks in Semarang, Indonesia https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901124002971

Handbook on Inequality and Social Capital https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-on-inequality-and-social-capital-9781802202366.html

Filipino PWDs struggle more in disaster recovery and preparedness https://hhi.harvard.edu/blog/filipino-pwds-struggle-more-disaster-recovery-and-preparedness

Today in disaster resilience (29 November 2024)

Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disasters

A body has been found in Wales during widespread flooding, as disruption from Storm Bert continues in many parts of the UK https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7mnnmg038o

Four dead across U.S. West Coast as atmospheric river brings record rains and 20 landslides in California https://watchers.news/2024/11/24/four-dead-across-u-s-west-coast-as-atmospheric-river-brings-record-rains-and-20-landslides-in-california/

5 350 aftershocks recorded in Cuba following damaging M6.8 quake on November 10 https://watchers.news/2024/11/23/5-350-aftershocks-recorded-in-cuba-following-damaging-m6-8-quake-on-november-10/

5 000 vehicles stranded, 36 injured as Storm Caetano hits France https://watchers.news/2024/11/23/5000-vehicles-stranded-36-injured-storm-caetano-france/

Iceland deploys water cannons to fight lava, Reykjanes Peninsula https://watchers.news/2024/11/24/iceland-deploys-water-cannons-to-fight-lava-reykjanes-peninsula-iceland/

Heavy rains cause severe flooding and landslides in La Paz, Bolivia https://watchers.news/2024/11/27/heavy-rains-cause-severe-flooding-and-landslides-in-la-paz-bolivia/

Cervantes bushfire impacts evacuation routes, Western Australia https://watchers.news/2024/11/28/cervantes-bushfire-impacts-evacuation-routes-western-australia/

Landslides bury 40 homes in six villages, claim at least 13 lives in Bulambuli, Uganda https://watchers.news/2024/11/28/bulambuli-landslide-uganda-november-2024/

Buildings damaged, train services suspended after M6.4 earthquake hits Noto Peninsula, Japan https://watchers.news/2024/11/27/buildings-damaged-train-services-suspended-m6-4-earthquake-noto-ishikawa-japan/

Volcanic activity worldwide 27 Nov 2024: Santiaguito volcano, Fuego, Popocatépetl, Semeru, Ibu https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/258790/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-27-Nov-2024-Santiaguito-volcano-Fuego-Popocatepetl-Semeru-Ibu-Duk.html

Golok River reaches highest level since 1997, displacing over 71 000 across northern Malaysia https://watchers.news/2024/11/28/golok-river-reaches-highest-level-since-1997-displacing-over-71-000-across-northern-malaysia/

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

“At best the avoidance of a diplomatic disaster”: PIK assessment on COP29 closing https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/latest-news/at-best-the-avoidance-of-a-diplomatic-disaster-pik-assessment-on-cop29-closing

Systematic assessment of the achieved emission reductions of carbon crediting projects https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53645-z

Rooftop solar and EVs will dominate our grids: How do we reform the energy system around them? https://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-and-evs-will-dominate-our-grids-how-do-we-reform-the-energy-system-around-them/

How unusual is current post-El Niño warmth? https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/how-unusual-is-current-post-el-nino

Humanity has warmed the planet by 1.5°C since 1700 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455715-humanity-has-warmed-the-planet-by-1-5c-since-1700/

Anthropogenic climate change doubled the frequency of compound drought and heatwaves in low-income regions https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01894-7

Six Strategies to Safeguard Tourism and Health Systems from Climate Change https://blogs.adb.org/blog/six-strategies-safeguard-tourism-and-health-systems-climate-change

Human-caused ocean warming intensified recent hurricanes, including all 11 Atlantic hurricanes in 2024 https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/11/human-caused-ocean-warming-intensified-recent-hurricanes-including-all-11-atlantic-hurricanes-in-2024/

Challenging future projected for children in 2050 due to climate change https://www.preventionweb.net/news/challenging-future-projected-children-2050-world-transformed-extreme-climate-crises-population

COP29 climate talks end with $300 billion annual pledge, Guterres calls deal a ‘base to build on’ https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157416

Public demand for carbon capture and storage varies with information, development magnitude and prior familiarity https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01900-y

Albanese government says Australia on target to reduce emissions – but campaigners say they could do more https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/27/albanese-government-says-australia-on-target-to-reduce-emissions-but-campaigners-say-they-could-do-more

Sydney risks blackouts as heat soars and coal power plants falter https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/sydney-risks-blackouts-as-heat-soars-and-coal-power-plants-falter-20241127-p5ktvv.html

China’s CO2 emissions have peaked or will in 2025, say 44% of experts in survey https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/27/chinas-co2-emissions-have-peaked-or-will-in-2025-say-44-of-experts-in-survey

South-west France swelters in ‘staggering’ 26.9C November night heat https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/28/south-west-france-sweltered-in-269c-november-night-time-heat

The impacts of heat on health: surveillance and preparedness in Europe https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/the-impacts-of-heat-on-health

Disaster risk reduction

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) is the roadmap for how we make our communities safer and more resilient https://www.undrr.org/implementing-sendai-framework

Harnessing Real-Time Flood Intelligence for Community Resilience https://ww2.floodmapp.com/harnessing-real-time-flood-intelligence-gate

How Can Government Build Resilience in the Face of Crises? https://www.hstoday.us/featured/how-can-government-build-resilience-in-the-face-of-crises/

On the importance of discharge observation uncertainty when interpreting hydrological model performance https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/5011/2024/

Why Social-Ecological-Technological Systematic Perspective Can Enhance Urban Flood Resilience? A Literature Review https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-97-1949-5_97

Australia’s high-risk weather season is here, with several ‘unusual’ predictions https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australias-high-risk-weather-season-is-here-with-several-unusual-predictions/1ddkzw0p6

Emergency Management

DLDT: A new disaster losses anddamages tracking system https://www.undrr.org/building-risk-knowledge/disaster-losses-and-damages-tracking-system-dldt

Firefighters injured, Cervantes residents told to evacuate in emergency bushfire north of Perth https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-27/wa-firefighters-injured-in-wedge-island-bushfire/104655884

Inclusive Response: Strengthening Emergency Management Through DEI https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2024/11/27/inclusive-response-strengthening-emergency-management-through-dei/

‘Well primed for bushfires’: Australia facing heightened risk across several areas, authorities say https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/28/australia-bushfire-risk-summer-bom

Hurricane Beryl: Record parametric payouts underline the evolution of CCRIF’s role in the Caribbean https://www.disasterprotection.org/blogs/hurricane-beryl-record-parametric-payouts-underline-the-evolution-of-ccrifs-role-in-the-caribbean

Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement

Worst natural disasters of our lifetime https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/nov/25/tsunami-race-against-time-review-a-gripping-moving-look-at-the-worst-natural-disaster-of-our-lifetimes

Disaster psychology

Strengthening the relationship between community resilience and health emergency communication: a systematic review https://bmcglobalpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s44263-024-00112-y

How disasters make violence against women worse – and what we can do about it https://www.preventionweb.net/news/how-disasters-make-violence-against-women-worse-and-what-we-can-do-about-it

Sociology and disasters

An enhanced dynamic-network-based framework for quantifying and enhancing the resilience of disaster response networks to old communities under rainstorm waterlogging

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479724030846

Factors influencing women’s participation in disaster recovery after the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17477891.2024.2422353

The ‘Butterfly Effect’: Identifying pathways for sustainability transformation through social processes of disaster resilience https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/global-sustainability/article/butterfly-effect-identifying-pathways-for-sustainability-transformation-through-social-processes-of-disaster-resilience/79318ADA698334A4F55E26F3C6502CBE

Encyclopedia of Technological Hazards and Disasters in the Social Sciences https://www.elgaronline.com/display/book/9781800882201/9781800882201.xml