Disaster Planning

Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy made landfall at 8pm ET on October 29, 2012 about 5 miles southwest of Atlantic City, NJ, as seen in this NOAA GOES-13 satellite colorized infrared image from the same time.

Jail the Planners for Not Preventing Sandy!

Ed Blakely indicts the planning profession for failing to protect our communities from the threat of a changing climate. How can we plan places that serve as bulwarks from the worst physical traumas, while providing economic and social resiliency?

November 5, 2012 - Edward J. Blakely

Getting Raised in Gentilly, Loisiana

Adapting Building Codes to Natural Disasters Saves Billions

New research shows that modern building codes have prevented around $27 billion in damage from natural disasters between 2000 and 2016, yet many cities still operate under decades-old regulations.

December 22, 2020 - Route Fifty

Hurricanes

The Compounding Dangers of the Virus and Natural Disasters

As Hurricane Laura intensified into a Category 4 storm, public officials had to make decisions about evacuation during a time of sheltering in place. Researchers at Texas A&M University developed a risk index to guide decisionmaking processes.

August 28, 2020 - The Conversation

Paradise, California

In Paradise, Using Greenbelts to Manage Wildfires

The Camp Fire in California devasted the town of Paradise. As rebuilding progresses, local leaders are looking to protect the town using nature-based fire resilience strategies.

August 27, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Butte County, California

California Town Looks to Rebuild After Wildfire, but No Clear Path Forward

Paradise, California, burned to the ground last year, and the town’s recovery has begun. But questions remain about the measures that should be put into place to prevent another disaster.

November 15, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Mexico City, Florida

Awareness of Climate Change Threats Doesn't Motivate People to Act, Study Finds

Disaster preparedness efforts need to take into account that homeowners in vulnerable areas don’t take action even when the risks are clear.

October 25, 2019 - Grist

Tampa Bay Storm

Tampa Bay Isn't Prepared for the Hurricanes of the Future

The area is especially vulnerable to storm surge, and increased development means more people are at risk when major hurricanes push through.

September 26, 2019 - Vox

Downtown Los Angeles

L.A. Program Brings Earthquake Preparedness to Neighborhoods

A new Los Angeles initiative looks to neighborhood councils to lead disaster planning efforts that involve more residents.

July 25, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

California Wildfire

The Post-Wildfire Dilemma: Rebuild or Retreat?

Even after experiencing devastating wildfires, residents are often willing to take the risk to return and start over.

July 23, 2019 - MIT Technology Review

Hurricane Harvey Houston

Texas Has a Lot of Work to Do to Prepare for Future Hurricanes, Says Report

A new report outlines a long list of measures the state needs to take to prevent catastrophic outcomes. However, it avoids directly discussing climate change as a cause of increasingly severe natural disasters.

December 19, 2018 - Dallas News

Earthquake damage

Idea Worth Copying: Japan's Theme-Park-Style Disaster Preparation Centers

Visitors to Japan’s theme-park-style disaster preparation centers can experience simulated quakes, typhoons, and fires. Perhaps a similar idea would be helpful in part of the United States?

May 16, 2017 - The Seattle Times

FEMA to States: Want Disaster Mitigation Funds? Then Plan for Climate Change

A policy adopted earlier this year and due to go into effect next March would require states to plan for climate change before they are eligible to receive grant funding to plan for disasters.

May 6, 2015 - The Hill

FEMA Hurricane Sandy

National Resilience Agency Needed to Prepare for Continued Disasters

Be Prepared! It's more than a motto: it's how we must respond to continuing large-scale natural disasters.

April 30, 2014 - Edward J. Blakely

Aerial views during an Army search and rescue mission show damage from Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast, Oct. 30, 2012.

The Era of “When, Not If,” Compels a New Approach to Waterfront Development

On the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, ULI offers guidance on post-disaster rebuilding and building in anticipation of future disasters in a way that helps preserve the environment, boost economic prosperity, and foster a high quality of life.

October 29, 2013 - Patrick L. Phillips

Earl Blumenauer on America's Unwise Approach to Disaster Planning and Recovery

Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer talks about the failures with federal natural disaster relief and how the country should build its resiliency to climate change with The Planning Report.

September 27, 2013 - The Planning Report

Have Planners Made the Gulf Coast Better Since Katrina?

In the eight years since Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast states have made great strides in adopting new visions for their cities and towns. A new report outlines the recovery's progress, pointing to successes in housing and transportation.

September 3, 2013 - The Sun Herald

Coastal Flooding Could Cost $1 Trillion Annually by 2050

By 2050, scientists believe that flooding could inflict $1 trillion in annual loses globally, up from $6 billion per year today. The United States and China are well represented in a list of the 20 cities facing the highest annual flood costs.

August 26, 2013 - The Washington Post

After Disaster, Planning Provides Road to Recovery for Lac-Mégantic

Lac-Mégantic, Quebec was the site of a train derailment that cost dozens of lives and destroyed 10 blocks of its downtown. Now residents and town leaders are working to heal from that tragic event with plans for the future.

August 22, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

Penn Station Access Plan Has Long Island Legislators Worried

While MTA’s East Side Access project, which will bring Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) trains directly to Grand Central Terminal by 2019, has received much attention, less well-know is a complementary plan to bring Metro-North trains to Penn Station.

August 5, 2013 - City & State

Investigation Exposes New Jersey Transit's Botched Sandy Prep

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, NYC's rail system was up and running again fairly quickly, with only 19 of its rail cars damaged by the storm. By comparison, hundreds of New Jersey Transit's rail cars were damaged and months of delays ensued.

May 13, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

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