Disasters

"Nuclear Rules in Japan Relied on Old Science"

"In the country that gave the world the word tsunami, the Japanese nuclear establishment largely disregarded the potentially destructive force of the walls of water. The word did not even appear in government guidelines until 2006, decades after plants — including the Fukushima Daiichi facility that firefighters are still struggling to get under control — began dotting the Japanese coastline."

Source: NY Times, 03/28/2011

FEMA Aims To Rehire Most Disaster-Response Employees It Fired Months Ago

"The agency is planning to bring back most of the staffers from the Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery who were terminated as part of Kristi Noem’s plans to cut the agency."

Source: Washington Post, 05/01/2026

Calif. Will Soon Have 300+ Data Centers. Where Will They Get Their Water?

"A proposed data center in the Imperial Valley would need 750,000 gallons of water a day. Satisfying the thirst of 24 more facilities expected to open in the state will be challenging, experts and officials say."

Source: Inside Climate News, 04/30/2026

"The Iran War Is Impacting the Environment in Unseen Ways"

"War had already darkened Tehran’s skies by March 8. When rain began to fall, residents said it was thick, foul-smelling and dark in color. Some described it as black rain, coating streets, rooftops, and cars in sootlike residue."

Source: WIRED, 04/29/2026

"Feds Order Immediate Inspection Of Cheboygan Dam Powerhouse"

"Federal energy regulators have ordered immediate inspections of the Cheboygan Dam powerhouse and other Michigan dams that faced the risk of failure in this month’s historic flooding. Separately, state officials said they plan to inspect dams under their oversight to check for damage from the high waters that nearly overtook several impoundments last week amid spring snowmelt and heavy rains."

Source: Bridge Michigan, 04/29/2026

"Drought Turns Southeastern US Into ‘Tinderbox’ as Wildfires Rage"

"Drought and fire are a dangerous duo. The Southeastern United States is witnessing this firsthand as several major blazes burn tens of thousands of acres across the parched region, destroying homes and prompting evacuations in some areas. Florida and Georgia have been particularly hard hit, and strong winds and unusually low humidity have made it difficult to combat the flames."

Source: Inside Climate News, 04/29/2026

"Shrunken Offshore Energy Regulator Faces An Outsize Challenge"

"A new agency for offshore energy development that’s seen its workforce shrink in recent years — and is targeted for funding cuts next year by the Trump administration — will be taking on a quickly growing portfolio of responsibilities."

Source: E&E News, 04/28/2026

Will Changes to US Forest Service Erase a Century of Historical Documents?

"Sweeping changes underway at the federal agency tasked with protecting the nation’s forests could result in the loss of more than a century of critical historical documents, conservationists warn."

Source: Inside Climate News, 04/27/2026

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Disasters