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Puerto Rico takes on major sheltering effort as Maria strikes Caribbean

Sep 20, 2017
As Hurricane Maria beats its path through the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has more than 450 shelters to house up to 60,000 evacuees. Many are from surrounding islands. They’ve been on Puerto Rico since before Hurricane Irma hit and may need a place to stay for weeks or months. Click the audio player above to hear […]

The Cassini mission has ended, but its legacy remains

Sep 15, 2017
After 20 years, the Cassini spacecraft has met its end — and NASA is already looking at the next horizon.
A computer-animated still showing the Cassini spacecraft in its final orbit. After 13 years, the spacecraft ended its mission and began a final descent into Saturn's atmosphere, where it burned up.  
Courtesy of NASA/Jet Propulsion Lab

Mosquitoes drawn by lingering hurricane waters could boost West Nile cases

Sep 11, 2017
After a hurricane, mosquitoes, drawn to standing water, can be a big problem. The accelerated spread of Zika isn’t likely, but cases of West Nile could spike. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

When disaster strikes, FEMA gets the call. So does Google

Sep 8, 2017
Corporations have donated $165 million to relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. And some also have provided logistical support and supplies to government and non-profit organizations. Now, as Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida, a broad assortment of corporate partners are again stepping in. Here’s how public-private […]

Cost of Irma ranges from $20 billion to $200 billion

Sep 8, 2017
As Florida faces the uncertainty of Hurricane Irma’s path, it is clear that losses will be in the tens of billions of dollars. Most of the damage is expected to be directly storm related, meaning largely from the strong, over 100 mph winds, rather than from floodwaters like Harvey. The costs of Irma are not […]

Houston has to decide whether to rethink its development strategy

Sep 8, 2017
Wes Highfield witnessed last week’s flood in real time from his home in Friendswood, Texas, about 20 miles south of downtown Houston. “I do this kind of research for a living,” said Highfield, who teaches about flood loss and mitigation strategy at Texas A&M, Galveston. “This is the first time I’ve watched it unfold before […]
Chris Ginter wades through deep floodwaters on September 6, 2017 in Houston, Texas. 
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Why disaster recovery is a long, slow process

Sep 7, 2017
When the storm has passed, local agencies step in to help survivors rebuild.
Justin Davison pulls a trash bag full of flood-damaged items to a trash pile today as he helps a friend clean out his flooded home in Richwood, Texas.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Citrus growers cower as Irma advances on Florida coast

Sep 7, 2017
With Hurricane Irma on the way, farmers from Florida on up the coast to the Carolinas are on alert. More cotton crops are threatened, and the price of orange juice futures is already up. Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Western wildfire season is getting longer and costlier

Sep 7, 2017
The costs are mounting for battling dozens of wildfires now burning in the Western United States, including some threatening popular national parks. Specifically, Glacier National Park in Montana and Yosemite National Park in California.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

A hurricane like Irma could cause serious damage in Tampa Bay

Sep 6, 2017
Darryl Fears discusses his piece for the Washington Post, "Tampa's Coming Storm."
Residents work together to fill sandbags for each other at Bobby Hicks Park as residents prepare for Hurricane Irma on Tuesday in Tampa, Florida. 
Brian Blanco/Getty Images