Rising Great Lakes water levels benefit some, but cost others

Aug 15, 2019
The shipping industry is profiting from rising water levels in the Great Lakes, but homeowners and city parks are struggling.
The city of Duluth, Minnesota’s construction projects supervisor Mike LeBeau looks down at the rebuilding of a section of the popular Lakewalk pedestrian and bike trail. The trail was damaged by a series of huge storms, compounded by high water levels on Lake Superior. The rebuild is costing about $3 million.
Dan Kraker/Marketplace

Floods, fires and financial risk: What climate change could do to the financial system

Aug 5, 2019
A regulator warns the changing climate could cause a financial crisis.
Midwest states are battling some of the worst flooding they have experienced in decades.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Stalled federal storm relief hurts communities of southwest Georgia

May 13, 2019
An impasse in Congress has life difficult for farmers and businesses serving them.
Seminole County, Georgia, Nov. 2018.
Emma Hurt

Midwest flooding has agriculture reeling

Mar 21, 2019
Nebraska officials estimate that flooding has caused $1.3 billion in damage in the state, more than half of it to crops and cattle. The disaster there and in neighboring Iowa follows a difficult year for both states’ farmers, who’ve been reeling from the ongoing trade war and softening global economy. Now Iowa and Nebraska, with […]
Floodwaters in Fremont, Nebraska, on March 16.
Courtesy of Scott Olson/Lee Valley Inc.

"It's a mess": Midwest flooding leaves small businesses reeling

Mar 18, 2019
Heavy rain and melting snow have brought historic flooding to parts of the Midwest. Around 200 miles of Missouri River levees in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas have been compromised, according to the Associated Press, and flood warnings are still up for at least a dozen states. At least two people have died, thousands have […]
Floodwater covers a famer's field near Plattsmouth, Nebraska.  Damage estimates from flooding in Nebraska top $1 billion. Midwest states are battling some of the worst flooding they have experienced in decades as rain and snow melt from the recent "bomb cyclone" has inundated rivers and streams. At least three deaths have been linked to the flooding.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

After multiple natural disasters, Florida residents have fewer options for insurance coverage

Jan 30, 2019
Larger insurance providers have been cutting back on Floridians' property insurance coverage.
Donnie Young reacts after seeing one of his houses in Port St. Joe beach, Florida, on October 13, 2018, three days after Hurricane Michael hit the area.
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images

Lack of housing leaves fire survivors searching for solutions

Dec 17, 2018
In the aftermath of the Paradise wildfire, RVs and motels have become housing alternatives for displaced residents.
Kelley Conner stands outside the used RV she bought after the Camp Fire destroyed her home in Magalia, just north of Paradise, California.
Ben Bradford/Marketplace

For public good, not for profit.

Repeated flooding leaves small North Carolina town looking for answers about its future

Nov 6, 2018
The Atlantic hurricane season officially has a few more weeks to go, but already this year has been deadly and destructive. The mainland U.S. took a hit from Hurricane Michael in October and Hurricane Florence the month before. Florence devastated many parts of North Carolina, including areas far from the coast. For many small communities, […]
A roadway is flooded by remnants of Hurricane Matthew on Oct. 11, 2016 in Fair Bluff, North Carolina. The town was devastated again by Hurricane Florence in 2018. 

A worldwide earthquake drill may spur more homeowners to buy insurance

Oct 18, 2018
Do not be alarmed if, a bit later on Thursday, you turn to see a bunch of co-workers peering out from under their desks. It’s not an alien invasion or a spontaneous game of hide-and-seek. Nearly 60 million people around the world are signed up to participate in a earthquake drill, the 2018 Great ShakeOut, […]

A worldwide earthquake drill may spur more homeowners to buy insurance

Oct 18, 2018
Do not be alarmed if, a bit later on Thursday, you turn to see a bunch of co-workers peering out from under their desks. It’s not an alien invasion or a spontaneous game of hide-and-seek. Nearly 60 million people around the world are signed up to participate in a earthquake drill, the 2018 Great ShakeOut, […]