Preparing for the Worst: Science to Improve Disaster Resiliency
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association reports that the United States set a record in 2011 with 12 separate billion dollar weather/climate disasters. Our nation is particularly vulnerable due to its large populations living and working in high-risk areas: seismic zones, coastal and river flood plains, and dense urban population centers. Catastrophic events can and [...]
Science and Disaster Response: Tools to Predict, Prevent, Prepare and Recover
Recent experiences with natural and human-caused disasters here and elsewhere in the world remind us that extreme weather events and disasters can exceed our control and the affected communities’ ability to recover on their own. Some of these devastating effects on communities are the result of human decisions—for instance, land use and building codes, engineering [...]
