natural disasters

Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in ways that will affect the hazards residents face far into the future.

FEMA head Deanne Criswell says the changes are designed to simplify and speed up the process for disaster survivors to get help. Criswell describes it as the “most comprehensive update" to FEMA's individual assistance program in 20 years.

The year Biden said 2022 produced the third-highest annual disaster costs since recordkeeping began in 1980, which aligns with official federal government statistics. However, that figure excludes smaller weather events.

After a natural disaster, a variety of resources become available through emergency declarations to aid in the cleanup process. FEMA financial assistance is just one of many ways to receive help after a weather event.

Out of all 50 states, Florida ranked first in damages with $116 billion attributed to the Sunshine State alone. It’s also the most expensive year for Florida in the 42-year history of the billion-dollar disaster report. Florida is the second-leading state in total costs across all years, behind Texas.

The federal government has begun tallying the damage climate change could do to the economy and its budget. This comes as scientists warn time is running out to avoid catastrophic global warming.

Hurricanes, wildfires and floods: Across the country, climate change is driving more severe weather, and many schools are not prepared.

Anywhere from tens of millions to a billion people could become climate migrants by 2050, according to a report from the RAND Corporation. The number varies widely depending on the definition used.

The mountain region where the mudslides occurred, just north of Rio de Janeiro, has experienced similar catastrophes in recent decades.

The images show populated areas in the archipelago with heavily damaged or destroyed buildings and homes and at least one island covered with ash.

The eruption severed Tonga's single fiber-optic cable, rendering the Pacific archipelago offline and unable to communicate with the rest of the world. Flights brought bottled water and other supplies.

Death tolls are rising and search efforts remain in place throughout western Kentucky following a series of catastrophic tornadoes that barreled through six states in the Midwest and South.