Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
5.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Northern California Coast
Jan 30 2015 // A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 struck off the coast of Northern California on Jan. 28. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake shook at 1:08 p.m. about 40 miles southwest of Eureka. Lt....
Kansas Geologists Seek More Funding for Earthquake Monitoring
Jan 28 2015 // Kansas geologists say they need more funding to investigate an unprecedented spike in earthquakes in the state. Kansas Geological Survey Director Rex Buchanan told the House Energy and Environment Committee that about half...
Oklahoma Supreme Court to Hear Oil Company/Earthquake Lawsuit
Jan 26 2015 // Oklahoma’s highest court has decided to hear a lawsuit that alleges two oil companies are liable for injuries a Prague woman suffered during a 2011 earthquake. The lawsuit by Sandra Ladra of Prague is among dozens of...
Characteristics of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ Attack Thwarted Counter-Terrorism Efforts: RMS
Jan 26 2015 // A number of unique characteristics of the January 7 terrorist attack against satirical French magazine “Charlie Hebdo” allowed terrorists to succeed despite counter-terrorism efforts, according to a new report...
Legislative Focus for Texas Windstorm Insurer: Funding, Depopulation
Jan 22 2015 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the state-created insurer that provides property coverage for wind and hail in 14 coastal counties and parts of Harris County, has submitted a report to the Legislature with...
Work on ‘Tsunami-Proof’ School on Washington Coast Underway
Jan 22 2015 // Ground has been broken for a new school building on the Washington coast at Westport. Officials say the structure is designed to be tsunami-proof. KOMO-TV reported that the planned “vertical evacuation...
Small Tornado in Washington Confirmed by Weather Service
Jan 21 2015 // The National Weather Service confirms it was a small tornado that knocked down some trees and blew around loose objects Sunday afternoon at Gig Harbor in Washington. A Weather Service survey team determined the tornado was...
Experts: Steady Rate of Earthquakes in Oklahoma in 2014
Jan 21 2015 // After increasing rapidly over the past three years, the pace of earthquakes in Oklahoma held steady in 2014 at a rate higher than California and far higher than the historic average in Oklahoma. Oklahoma experienced 567...
Texas Windstorm Expert Panel to Discuss Work at Public Meeting
Jan 20 2015 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance expert panel will hold a public meeting on Jan. 28 to inform the public about the progress of the panel’s work, to allow the public to observe the panel discussing its work, and to give...
Earthquake Risk in North Texas Likely to Be Upgraded
Jan 20 2015 // The U.S. Geological Survey is considering raising its risk projections for earthquakes in North Texas. The Dallas area has experienced more than 120 quakes since 2008. The Dallas Morning News reports that USGS will likely...
Connecticut Issues Consumer Advisory on Earthquake Insurance
Jan 15 2015 // The U.S. Geological Service has reported a series of minor earthquakes in parts of eastern Connecticut this week, including a 2.0-magnitude earthquake Thursday morning near Plainfield, Connecticut. The Weston Observatory...
Seismologists Expand Texas Earthquake Study
Jan 12 2015 // Southern Methodist University seismologists are installing more measuring equipment in a Dallas suburb as earthquakes continue to rattle North Texas. More localized seismometers in Irving are “the first step in...
Weather Service: Fewest Tornadoes on Record in Oklahoma in 2014
Jan 12 2015 // Just 16 tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma in 2014, which the National Weather Service says is the fewest on record. Oklahoma state climatologist Gary McManus says a combination of factors led to the relative lack of...
Natural Disasters in 2014
Jan 12 2015 // All in all, 2014 was not as bad as it could have been for natural disasters in the United States. Last year closed with fewer tornadoes, a mild hurricane season, lower acreage lost to wildfires, and an overall decline in...
Officials Confirm Weekend Tornado in Alabama
Jan 9 2015 // The National Weather Service is checking the damage from a weekend of rough weather in Alabama. Officials confirmed Monday that a weak tornado touched down in west Alabama in Hamilton on Saturday evening. A twister with 85...
More Earthquakes in Oklahoma in 2014 than in Past 30 Years
Jan 8 2015 // Officials say Oklahoma had more earthquakes last year than in the past 30 years. The U.S. Geological Survey says 567 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 or greater were registered in Oklahoma, making it the most seismically...
Australian Firefighters Containing Sprawling Wildfire
Jan 7 2015 // Firefighters in southern Australia were winning the battle on Tuesday to contain a sprawling wildfire raging on a 240-kilometer (150-mile) perimeter that has razed 38 homes and left two people in hospitals, officials...
3.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Central Oklahoma
Jan 6 2015 // A 3.7 magnitude earthquake has rattled the Guthrie area in central Oklahoma. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was recorded at 3:37 p.m. Sunday about two miles south-southwest of the Logan County city. The USGS...
Rock Slides, but no Injuries From 4.9M Idaho Earthquake
Jan 5 2015 // A 4.9 magnitude earthquake in a remote Idaho county triggered rock slides that blocked some road lanes Saturday but did not cause any major damage or injuries. Hours later around midnight, quakes of magnitude 4.0 and 3.6...
Australian Wildfire Threat Eases as Cool Front Moves In
Jan 5 2015 // Cooler conditions on Sunday were helping hundreds of firefighters working to contain a massive wildfire that had forced thousands of people to flee their homes in southern Australia. A dozen homes have been destroyed by...
