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  • "Extreme Weather Onslaught Hits the U.S.: A Call for Increased Disaster Resilience"

    "Extreme Weather Onslaught Hits the U.S.: A Call for Increased Disaster Resilience"
    2025/06/28
    Over the past week, the United States has faced a series of severe natural hazards and disasters, highlighting ongoing vulnerability to extreme weather events. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Texas experienced catastrophic flooding in San Antonio on June eleventh and twelfth, when nearly nine inches of rain fell in just one day, equating to a month’s worth of rainfall. This rapid deluge led to flash flooding that trapped drivers, swept cars into creeks, and resulted in at least thirteen fatalities. Rescue operations were extensive, with nearly seventy people requiring assistance, and some survivors forced to climb trees to escape the water. Simultaneously, West Virginia faced swift and deadly floods on June thirteenth, as four inches of rain fell in just thirty minutes in the northern part of the state. These floods caused at least five deaths and left four people missing, prompted the partial collapse of an apartment building, and triggered more than twenty five hundred power outages.

    Elsewhere, the Midwest and Central United States continue to wrestle with the aftermath of a destructive tornado outbreak on May sixteenth, where powerful storms claimed the lives of at least twenty eight people across Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia. In St. Louis, an EF3 tornado struck the northern part of the city, killing five people, injuring thirty eight, and damaging or destroying approximately five thousand structures. The National Weather Service documented that emergency alert systems failed in some areas, contributing to the loss of life particularly in underfunded communities. The central region is now preparing for another wave of severe weather, keeping emergency services on high alert.

    June remains a peak month for tornado activity, especially in the Midwest and Great Plains, as confirmed by the National Weather Service. In Illinois, a notable tornado recently tore through the area near Moline, causing significant damage to mobile home parks, uprooting trees, and damaging commercial areas.

    Looking west, wildfires continue to be a substantial threat. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy reports that over one point two million acres burned in the United States this year as of early June, with California alone seeing more than two thousand wildfires that destroyed over sixteen thousand structures and claimed twenty nine lives earlier in the year. Wildfire risk is exacerbated by ongoing drought and warmer temperatures, particularly in California and Oregon, where new fires have prompted recent disaster declarations by FEMA.

    As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a sixty percent chance of an above-normal season with up to nineteen named storms and as many as five major hurricanes. Forecasters warn that communities should remain vigilant, as the combination of severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, and the looming hurricane season underscores a broadening pattern of more frequent, intense natural disasters across the United States. These events are prompting renewed calls for more robust emergency response infrastructure, greater public preparedness, and stronger community resilience nationwide.
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    4 分
  • "Extreme Weather Ravages the U.S.: Devastating Floods, Tornadoes, and Wildfires Disrupt Communities Nationwide"

    "Extreme Weather Ravages the U.S.: Devastating Floods, Tornadoes, and Wildfires Disrupt Communities Nationwide"
    2025/06/25
    In recent days, the United States has faced a series of devastating natural hazards and disasters. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, on June eleventh and twelfth, San Antonio, Texas, experienced extreme rainfall that delivered nearly nine inches within just 24 hours. This deluge caused major flash flooding across the city, resulting in the deaths of thirteen people, trapping drivers, and requiring the rescue of nearly seventy individuals. Some residents were forced to climb trees to escape the rising waters. Just days later, on June thirteenth, northern West Virginia was hit by a sudden downpour of four inches of rain in only thirty minutes. This led to severe flash flooding, five fatalities, four people reported missing, multiple water rescues, and even the partial collapse of an apartment building. The floods also disrupted essential services, causing power outages for at least two thousand five hundred customers.

    Earlier in May, powerful tornadoes swept across the Central United States, with Missouri and Kentucky bearing the brunt of the impact. Twenty-eight people died in these storms, including five in St. Louis, where an EF3 tornado destroyed or damaged about five thousand structures. Local warning systems failed that night, with tornado sirens not activated and emergency text alerts not sent, leaving many residents unprepared. The St. Louis area most severely affected was a predominantly Black and underfunded community. Kentucky reported twenty-three fatalities, Virginia lost two more, and the devastation left entire communities leveled. The National Weather Service in Kentucky is now operating with reduced staff and limited overnight coverage, increasing concerns about future response capacity. Tornado activity in June has remained high, with the Midwest and Plains states experiencing an average of over two hundred tornadoes in this period, continuing to disrupt communities and damage critical infrastructure.

    Wildfires continue to be a persistent threat as well. The U.S. Forest Service states that as of June ninth, more than one point two million acres have already burned nationwide this year in nearly thirty thousand separate fires. For example, a major fire in Oregon required a federal disaster declaration on June nineteenth, as containment efforts continue.

    Looking at broader trends, the World Economic Forum reports that insured losses from extreme weather globally could climb to one hundred forty-five billion dollars in 2025, with hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires identified as leading contributors to these rising costs. These losses are compounded by climate change, which is fueling more frequent and severe events. Patterns emerging this year suggest that extreme rainfall, flash floods, tornado outbreaks, and growing wildfire risks are not only becoming more common but are also impacting a wider swath of the country. This underscores the urgent need for improved early warning systems, better preparedness, and stronger community resilience as the Atlantic hurricane season also gets underway, with federal agencies warning of an above-normal season ahead.
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    3 分
  • Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc Across US: Tornadoes, Wildfires, and Hurricane Threats Disrupt Communities

    Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc Across US: Tornadoes, Wildfires, and Hurricane Threats Disrupt Communities
    2025/06/21
    In the past week, the United States has continued to experience the impacts of severe natural hazards. According to the National Weather Service, on June seventh, two EF one tornadoes touched down in Cape Girardeau County in southeast Missouri, impacting areas near Oak Ridge and Fruitland. These tornadoes caused localized damage to homes, outbuildings, and trees. The broader Midwest and southern Plains have seen a notable uptick in tornado activity typical for June, including a tornado in Bonham, Texas, that damaged hundreds of trees, multiple homes, a church, and various community structures, with strong inflow winds causing additional roof damage to a nearby store, school, and stadium scoreboard. The National Weather Service and Wikipedia’s tracking confirm that June remains one of the country’s most active tornado months.

    Severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding across Missouri led to a Major Disaster Declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on June ninth, underscoring the ongoing risk and the need for federal disaster assistance for residents and businesses affected by these spring weather events.

    Wildfire threat remains a critical issue as well. As of early June, more than one point two million acres have burned across the U.S. this year in over twenty nine thousand reported fires, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. California has been especially hard-hit, with major blazes earlier in the year like the Palisades, Eaton, and Hughes fires destroying over sixteen thousand structures and resulting in twenty nine fatalities. Drought conditions, persistent heat, and strong winds, particularly the Santa Ana winds, have contributed to the fast spread and severity of these fires.

    Preparation is also underway for what many experts expect to be an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The U.S. Forest Service recently emphasized that tropical storms and hurricanes remain among the most costly disasters. Last year’s Hurricane Helene made landfall as a category four storm in Florida, inflicting damage hundreds of miles inland into North Carolina, where power, water, and communications were disrupted for weeks, and extensive flooding hit mountain communities.

    Globally, the past week saw deadly flash floods in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province and severe flooding and landslides in Bangladesh. Canada is facing its own wildfire emergencies, with Toronto registering the world’s worst air quality as wildfire smoke blanketed the city. In China and Vietnam, tropical storm Wutip triggered widespread monsoon flooding, while Colombia experienced a significant earthquake.

    These recent events highlight a continuing pattern of intensifying weather extremes in the United States and around the world, driven by climate and environmental factors. The frequency and cost of natural disasters are rising, putting pressure on emergency resources and underscoring the importance of preparedness and resilience efforts.
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    3 分
  • "Escalating Natural Disasters Reshape Disaster Resilience Strategies Globally"

    "Escalating Natural Disasters Reshape Disaster Resilience Strategies Globally"
    2025/06/18
    Wildfires, severe storms, and tornadoes continue to dominate recent natural hazards and disasters across the United States, while globally, earthquakes, cyclones, and floods strike multiple regions. In the United States, the ongoing wildfire season is proving especially active as of mid-June. For example, the Oregon Alder Springs Fire, which began on June 16, remains active, threatening local communities and landscapes. In New Mexico, the Trout Fire, which started around the same time, is also burning, highlighting a pattern of early and widespread fire activity in the West, according to the latest incident reports from FEMA. By early June, official figures from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy showed that more than 1.2 million acres had already burned in the United States in 29,239 fires, underscoring the severity of this season.

    Tornado activity has also been notable in the past week, with June historically seeing an average of 213 confirmed tornadoes, many focused on the Midwest and central and northern Great Plains, according to Wikipedia. While no single major tornado outbreak has made national headlines in the past seven days, the pattern of late spring and early summer tornadoes persists, driven by the movement of the jet stream and the possibility of early-season tropical activity in regions like Florida.

    Meanwhile, the federal government and agencies are also preparing for the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began on June 1. Given that 2024 was a devastating hurricane season with 18 named storms, expectations are high for continued storm activity into the summer and fall, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Communities along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts are ramping up preparedness efforts, aware that hurricanes and tropical storms could compound existing wildfire and flood risks.

    Globally, the past week saw significant natural hazards well beyond U.S. borders. For example, a powerful earthquake recently hit the Tibet region. In Southeast Asia, monsoon rains and flooding have impacted Nepal, while earlier in the year, deadly floods also occurred in central Japan. Cyclone Chido recently caused destruction in Mozambique and the Mayotte region, with insured losses estimated between 650 and 800 million euros, according to Atlas Magazine. These events fit into a broader context where natural disaster costs are expected to rise, with Swiss Re forecasting that global insured losses from extreme weather could reach 145 billion dollars in 2025, a six percent increase over 2024.

    Within the United States, wildfire and hurricane preparedness is taking center stage as agencies and communities adapt to these escalating risks. Across the world, from the plains of the Midwest to the mountains of the Himalayas, the story remains much the same: natural hazards are intensifying, challenging response systems and reshaping disaster resilience strategies. The rising costs, both human and economic, are a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of communities everywhere to these catastrophic events.
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    3 分
  • "Extreme Weather Ravages US: Wildfires, Hurricanes, and Flooding Pose Mounting Challenges"

    "Extreme Weather Ravages US: Wildfires, Hurricanes, and Flooding Pose Mounting Challenges"
    2025/06/14
    Natural hazards and disasters have made a substantial impact across the United States in recent days and weeks as the summer season begins. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, wildfires have been a major concern so far in 2025, with more than one point two million acres burned nationally in over twenty nine thousand fires. California has experienced particularly damaging events, including the Palisades Fire, which has burned over twenty three thousand acres and is now considered the third-most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. The Eaton and Hughes Fires in California have also caused major destruction, collectively resulting in the loss of thousands of structures and at least twenty nine fatalities. Areas of ongoing concern include post-fire rebuilding, temporary housing, and support for those affected as the recovery effort continues.

    Along the Gulf Coast and throughout hurricane-prone regions, communities are preparing for what forecasters expect to be an above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a sixty percent chance of an above-normal hurricane season, with thirteen to nineteen named storms possible and as many as ten of them potentially becoming hurricanes. With hurricane season officially starting in June and continuing through November, local, state, and federal agencies are emphasizing preparedness and response activities, particularly after the severe 2024 season that caused significant damage.

    Recent extreme weather events have also brought severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes to various parts of the country. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued major disaster declarations for states including Missouri, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Iowa after intense storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding. Missouri experienced back-to-back storms and tornadoes in late April and mid-May, leading to widespread damage. Kentucky and Oklahoma have also seen significant tornado and wildfire activity in the past two months.

    In the western United States, Oregon and Nevada have both declared emergencies in response to large and fast-moving wildfires such as the Rowena and Marie Fires. The wildfire season is being driven by persistent drought conditions, high temperatures, and strong winds, contributing to increasingly dangerous fire behavior and challenging containment efforts.

    In Texas, San Antonio is now facing what officials describe as the second-worst drought in its recorded history, underlining the emerging pattern of more frequent and severe drought events across the southern and western states. This aligns with global trends, as other regions like South Australia are also experiencing record-breaking droughts and low rainfall.

    Globally, the last week has also seen deadly flooding in South Africa and the Philippines, major wildfires in southern California’s San Bernardino County, and continued typhoon risks in the western Pacific. These events highlight the growing intensity and frequency of natural hazards and disasters, both in the United States and worldwide, and the urgent need for coordinated preparedness, response, and resilience strategies.
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    4 分
  • "Preparing for the Escalating Threat: Navigating the 2025 Natural Disaster Landscape"

    "Preparing for the Escalating Threat: Navigating the 2025 Natural Disaster Landscape"
    2025/06/11
    The start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has brought heightened attention to natural hazards and disasters across the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a particularly active hurricane season this year, with a sixty percent chance of above-normal activity and up to nineteen named storms expected, including as many as five major hurricanes with winds exceeding one hundred eleven miles per hour. This follows a destructive 2024 season in which eighteen named storms, including Hurricane Helene, caused significant devastation and financial loss. Officials are urging communities, states, and local governments to utilize new data tools for better emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts, recognizing the persistent threat from increasingly frequent severe hurricanes according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

    Wildfires have also been a significant concern. As of early June, over one point two million acres have burned in the United States during 2025, with California bearing the brunt. The state experienced fast-moving, deadly wildfires earlier in the year, driven by persistent drought and the Santa Ana winds. Notably, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire have become among the most destructive and deadliest in California’s history, destroying over sixteen thousand structures and resulting in twenty-nine fatalities. Recovery efforts are ongoing, focusing on rebuilding, soil remediation, and providing temporary housing and support for affected communities.

    The Midwest and central United States have seen a surge in tornado activity, which is typical for June but remains destructive. Missouri and Kentucky have both received federal disaster declarations after severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding resulted in widespread property damage and disruptions. These disaster declarations underscore the compounding impact of multiple hazard events occurring in close succession, straining emergency response systems.

    Severe weather has not been confined to the United States. Internationally, powerful earthquakes have struck the Tibet region, causing fatalities and infrastructure damage, while deadly flooding in countries such as Nepal and devastating cyclones in Mozambique and the Philippines have highlighted global vulnerability to natural disasters. The increasing frequency and severity of these events, noted by sources like Atlas Magazine, align with broader patterns of climate change and urban expansion into at-risk regions.

    The ongoing trend suggests that communities in the United States and around the world must continue to adapt, improve emergency readiness, and invest in resilient infrastructure to mitigate the growing risks associated with hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and other natural hazards. With billions of dollars of damage already recorded from recent disasters, the need for comprehensive disaster risk management is more urgent than ever.
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    3 分
  • "Devastating Tornadoes and Storms Ravage Central US, Highlighting Climate-Driven Disaster Trends"

    "Devastating Tornadoes and Storms Ravage Central US, Highlighting Climate-Driven Disaster Trends"
    2025/05/31
    Powerful tornadoes and severe storms have dominated natural disaster headlines in the United States over the past week. On May sixteenth, a series of tornadoes swept across the central United States, claiming at least twenty eight lives and leaving dozens injured, with Missouri and Kentucky hit especially hard. St. Louis suffered major losses, as an EF-3 tornado killed five people, three of them children, and injured thirty eight others. Approximately five thousand structures were damaged or destroyed, and many residents did not receive tornado sirens or emergency text alerts as the storm approached. Most of the devastation in St. Louis occurred in predominantly Black neighborhoods in the north of the city, sparking concerns about inequities in emergency response and preparedness. Two additional deaths occurred elsewhere in Missouri, while Kentucky suffered the highest toll with twenty three fatalities. Virginia also reported two deaths linked to this storm system. Across the region, entire communities have been leveled, and many victims remain in critical condition as emergency crews continue to sift through the wreckage. The National Weather Service office in Jackson, Kentucky, has been hampered by funding cuts that have reduced staffing and eliminated overnight forecaster positions, complicating their ability to issue timely alerts during this deadly outbreak, according to Disaster Philanthropy.

    This tornado outbreak was part of a broader surge in severe weather affecting much of the central United States over the month of May, with more than twenty tornadoes reported in states including Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration highlights that, earlier in May, a multi-day tornado outbreak produced at least one hundred sixty five tornadoes across states from Oklahoma to Georgia, including a devastating EF-4 twister that swept through towns in Oklahoma, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, agriculture, and infrastructure. These storms have contributed to a record pace for billion dollar disasters in the United States in twenty twenty four, with twenty seven events surpassing that threshold so far this year.

    Beyond tornadoes, wildfires have erupted in Arizona and Minnesota, prompting disaster declarations and evacuations, as reported by the TRICARE Newsroom. Flash flooding in Oklahoma and severe thunderstorms stretching from Texas to Pennsylvania have also caused additional deaths and widespread power outages. Internationally, major wildfires in Canada have forced the evacuation of at least one thousand residents and claimed two lives, while floods and landslides in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have also resulted in fatalities. These events reflect an emerging pattern of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, both in the United States and worldwide, driven by climate variability and changing weather extremes.
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    3 分
  • "Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc Across the US and Globally: Kentucky, Nebraska, and More Impacted by Tornadoes, Storms, and Flooding"

    "Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc Across the US and Globally: Kentucky, Nebraska, and More Impacted by Tornadoes, Storms, and Flooding"
    2025/05/28
    In the past week, several significant natural hazards and disasters have affected the United States, with Kentucky experiencing particularly severe weather conditions. On May 16 and 17, 2025, Kentucky was hit by severe storms accompanied by straight-line winds and tornadoes, prompting FEMA to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for the state. This follows earlier disaster events from April 2, when numerous Kentucky counties suffered from severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides, with the impact extending to neighboring Indiana counties of Harrison, Jefferson, and Switzerland.

    The central United States has seen an active tornado season this spring. A tornado outbreak occurred between May 18 and 21, following another outbreak sequence just days earlier on May 15 and 16. These weather systems have caused significant damage across multiple states in the region.

    Nebraska recently declared a Major Disaster following a severe winter storm with straight-line winds, while Arkansas is dealing with the aftermath of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. Mississippi has also been impacted by similar weather conditions, receiving a Major Disaster Declaration.

    Oklahoma residents faced tragic consequences when floods claimed one life in Lawton as severe storms swept through the state in late April. In Nebraska, record rainfall triggered flash floods in Omaha, and a train was derailed near Ashby as 10 tornadoes struck the state.

    Internationally, severe weather has caused destruction in multiple countries. France's Riviera region experienced devastating floods in the Var area that killed three people, while huge hailstones pelted parts of southern France. India has been particularly hard hit with unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms disrupting life across cities, severe thunderstorms killing five people in the Delhi-NCR region, and flooding in Bengaluru that left three dead and over 500 homes underwater.

    Finland suffered a tragedy when five people were killed after two helicopters collided, while Indonesia continues to battle landslides and flash floods. In the Philippines, Bulusan volcano erupted, triggering a pyroclastic flow and ashfall in Sorsogon Province. Parts of Africa are experiencing a severe drought that experts expect to worsen in coming weeks. As climate patterns continue to shift, disaster management authorities worldwide remain on high alert for further developments.
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    3 分