Natural Disasters
Flood Risk and Community Resiliency
An analysis of how flooding, the most frequent and costliest natural disaster in the U.S., will cause stress to the housing market in coming decades.
After Michael: Updating Florida's Building Code to Better Weather Future Storms
Code requirements for wind resistance vary substantially across Florida, with less stringent building requirements in areas of the Panhandle hit hard by Hurricane Michael.
San Francisco Considers More Aggressive Measures to Earthquake-Proof High Rises
The city has proposed tighter rules for new construction and a more active approach to securing existing tall structures from collapse.
Mapping the Repeated Occurrence of Natural Disasters
The New York Times publishes an interactive feature that illustrates the stubbornness of natural disasters (or humans, in the face of natural disasters).
In Texas, More Sprawl Means More Homes in the Path of Tornadoes
Revisiting one day in 2012, a reporter finds that many of the Dallas-Fort Worth areas affected by the storms were barely inhabited 20 years ago.
When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays
Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.
How to Fight 'Coastal Squeeze' By Engineering Nature
A Rutgers professor restores natural processes to help shorelines adapt to rising sea levels.
2017 Set a New Precedent for Natural Disasters
Floods, hurricanes, wildfires, drought, freezes, and tornadoes—the list of disasters that struck the United States this year covers every corner of the country.
Florida Prepares for Irma: Building Codes, Cranes, Evacuation, Storm Surge
As Irma leaves the Caribbean and heads for Florida, with landfall expected this weekend, there is a lot to worry about: New building codes will be put to test, fuel to evacuate is in short supply, and cranes have not been dismantled.
EPA's Scott Pruitt Dismisses Global Warming Connection to Houston Flooding
While any one event can not be attributed to global warming, climate scientists have long acknowledged a connection to extreme weather. Pruitt, a climate denier, dismisses any such connection with the amount of rainfall from Hurricane Harvey.
The Culprit of Houston Flooding: Sprawl, Not Lack of Zoning
As Houston's flood waters recede and attention turns from rescue to recovery and soon rebuilding, critics have pointed to the city's lack of zoning as the cause of the devastation. But are they looking in the right direction?
A New Earthquake Warning System for the Pacific Northwest
Oregon and Washington are implementing sensors that can detect and report an earthquake to communities with as much as a minute or two of warning.
Can Insurance Markets Jump-Start Resilience?
Risk-management experts are seeking creative ways to finance resilience investments that prevent damage from natural disasters. Insurance markets, with their direct stake in protecting homes and businesses, can be key partners in this effort.
Wildfires Becoming More Common in Southern States
This year has seen a significant uptick in wildfires across much of the South, spurred by drought and heat waves. The region's pattern of development increases the potential danger.
New Flood Maps Downplay Risks in New Orleans
Recently released flood maps created by FEMA for the city of New Orleans are receiving criticism for being 'overly optimistic' when it comes to risks posed by hurricanes and rising sea levels.
When Mt. Rainier Blows, What Will Be Left?
As with most natural disasters, it's not a question of 'if' but 'when' when it comes to the eruption of Mount Rainier in Washington state. Scientists lay out a scenario for what to expect when the volcano erupts.
Urban Planners Have a Role to Play in Humanitarian Crises
"Humanitarians are conditioned to think about people, urban planners are conditioned to think about how the place affects people."
Retrofitting Vulnerable Buildings Becomes Mandatory in Earthquake Prone LA..
Decades in the making, the Los Angeles City Council has approved regulations requiring the retrofit of vulnerable wood and concrete buildings.
Nepal Earthquake a Reminder of the Critical Role of Planning Enforcement
It's too late to save the lives of thousands in Nepal, but can other cities in South Asia and around the world learn from the mistakes of unplanned growth before another catastrophic event?
Oklahoma and Texas Experience the Costliest Natural Disasters
The Insurance Information Institute released a report detailing the insurance payouts for natural disasters in 2013. Oklahoma and Texas topped the list, with $2 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, in payouts.
Barrett Planning Group LLC
City of Cleburne
KTUA Planning and Landscape Architecture
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
