Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Researcher Seeks Answers to Question: How Does A Town Rebuild After a Wildfire?
Feb 7 2022 // Three months after the most destructive fire in California’s history, the residents of Paradise were sifting through the rubble of their houses, moving out of shelters and into less temporary but not permanent...
Natural Disasters Cost Insurers $116B in 2021, or 63% Higher Than Average: Gallagher Re
Feb 4 2022 // Insured losses from major natural catastrophes in 2021 – excluding COVID-related losses – have so far reached an estimated US$116 billion, the third largest total since 2011, and about 63% higher than the average loss...
Colorado Lawmakers Make First Pass on Wildfire Bill
Feb 3 2022 // Colorado lawmakers passed a bill to increase wildfire mitigation efforts, just a month since a devastating fire tore through suburbs north of Denver, destroying more than 1,000 homes and businesses and killing at least one...
4.5 Earthquake Hits Northern Oklahoma
Feb 1 2022 // A 4.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Oklahoma at 11:10 a.m. CST Jan. 31 about seven kilometers northwest of Medford, the United States Geological Survey confirmed. A USGS Community Internet Intensity Map reported...
MyShake Earthquake Warning App Available in Washington
Feb 1 2022 // A new earthquake-warning app is available for Washington state. The state said there are already two warning systems in place, but the MyShake app provides a third and possibly quicker option, The Seattle Times...
Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake Confirmed in California
Feb 1 2022 // A magnitude 4.1 earthquake rattled an inland region of San Diego County on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. The quake hit at 9:46 a.m. near Palomar Observatory, about 65 miles northeast of downtown San...
FEMA Extends Hurricane Housing in Louisiana
Jan 31 2022 // Nearly 2,000 households that survived Hurricanes Laura and Delta in Louisiana are getting more time in FEMA-provided housing as they complete the final steps of their recovery. The original end for the temporary housing...
Evacuations Lifted for Wildfire on California Coast
Jan 27 2022 // Evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday as firefighters strengthened control lines and mopped up hot spots at a wildfire along California’s Big Sur coast, authorities said. Fire activity was minimal overnight, with...
Only 38% of 2021’s Natural Disaster Losses of $343B Were Covered by Insurance: Aon
Jan 26 2022 // Natural disasters cost global economies a total of $343 billion in 2021, compared with $297 billion in 2020, according to Aon’s “2021 Weather, Climate and Catastrophe Insight” report. Insured losses from...
Wildfire on California Coast Now 45% Contained
Jan 25 2022 // Shifting winds and increased humidity helped firefighters make progress against a blaze burning in rugged mountains near California’s Big Sur coast, authorities said. The Colorado Fire was 45% contained on Tuesday,...
Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake Confirmed in Southern Alaska
Jan 25 2022 // A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck southern Alaska, and people reported shaking in Anchorage and surrounding areas, according to officials. The epicenter of Thursday’s quake was 49 kilometers, or 30 miles, northwest...
Hundreds Evacuated as Crews Battle California Wildfire
Jan 24 2022 // Hundreds of residents remained evacuated Sunday as crews battled a wildfire in rugged mountains along the California coast that forced the closure of the main roadway near Big Sur. One structure, a yurt, was destroyed by...
Colorado Wildfire Caused $513M in Damage, Officials Say
Jan 24 2022 // The Colorado wildfire caused at least $513 million in damage and destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and structures, officials as they updated the toll of property lost in the most destructive wildfire in state history. Boulder...
Woman Missing in Colorado Wildfire Was Last Seen Trying to Save Dogs
Jan 21 2022 // As a fast-moving wildfire spread in suburban Denver, an emergency responder warned Edna Nadine Turnbull to evacuate. But the 91-year-old went back inside her home to rescue her dogs. Turnbull and her pets were never seen...
Texas Rolling Pines Wildfire 70% Contained, Some Evacuations Lifted
Jan 20 2022 // A wildfire in a central Texas state park is no longer growing and no injuries were reported after the blaze, suspected to have been caused by a prescribed burn, charred 1.2 square miles (3.2 square kilometers), officials...
Insurtech Reask Gets Funding to Deliver Next-Generation Natural Disaster Modeling
Jan 20 2022 // Insurtech Reask, an Australian science and technology company that focuses on natural hazard modeling, announced it has closed its seed funding round, led by Tencent, the global technology giant headquartered in China. The...
Controlled Burn Likely Source for Bastrop County, Texas Wildfire
Jan 19 2022 // A wildfire burning east of Austin, Texas was likely the resulted of a planned burn, officials said. The Rolling Pines Fire in Bastrop County had burned through more than 780 acres and was 30% contained as of the morning of...
Report: Louisiana Seafood Industry Saw $580M in Losses From 2020-21 Hurricanes
Jan 19 2022 // Louisiana’s fisheries and seafood businesses experienced approximately $580 million in total losses resulting from four hurricane between August 2020 to August 2021, according to a new report by the Louisiana Sea...
Tornado Victim’s Family Sues Amazon Over Illinois Warehouse Collapse
Jan 19 2022 // The family of a delivery driver who died last month when a tornado collapsed the central Illinois Amazon facility where he worked filed a wrongful deathlawsuitMonday in Madison County. The action on behalf of Austin...
Biden Administration Unveils ‘Wildfire Crisis Strategy’ for Western States
Jan 19 2022 // The Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled a 10-year plan to treat and maintain millions of additional acres of forests in the western United States to reduce the severity of seasonal wildfires. “We’re not...
