Natural Disasters

Flooded Houston street with half-submerged cars during Hurricane Harvey.

Migration to Disaster-Prone Areas Persists

Regions at high risk for flooding, wildfires, and other climate-fueled disasters continue to see rapid population growth.

October 14, 2024 - CBS News

Brick chimneys standing in rubble from Tubbs Fire in Northern California in 2017.

Sonoma County Bans Evictions During Disaster Recovery

Low-income renters face an increased risk of eviction after a natural disaster. Most cities and states don’t offer any protection.

October 13, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

"FEMA - STATE disaster recovery center" banner on brick building.

Proposed Bill Would Expand Federal Disaster Relief

The legislation acknowledges the impact of cumulative damage and expands access to funds for communities adjacent to storm-hit states.

October 10, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of smoke from fires in Lahaina area of Maui, Hawaii.

University of Hawaiʻi Researchers Assess Impacts of Maui Fires and Support Recovery

One year after the devastating Maui wildfires, UH researchers are addressing the disaster's impacts through studies on health, environmental contamination, disaster preparedness, and housing, aiming to support recovery and improve resilience.

August 19, 2024 - University of Hawai'i News

Asphalt road on coast with collapsed segments from erosion.

We Must Relocate to Prepare for Climate Change, and We Must Do it Now

As flooding, sea level rise, fires, and other climate impacts increase, we’ll need to move about 20 million Americans by 2100. Here’s how we can rethink managed retreat to get ahead of the rising tides.

August 8, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial view of New York City including Empire State Building blanketed in orange wildfire smoke

State AGs Call for FEMA to Classify Extreme Heat, Smoke as ‘Major Disasters’

State and local officials say explicitly naming heat and wildfire smoke would give local agencies more certainty in developing their mitigation strategies.

July 28, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Heavily damaged white small SUV parked on street with heavy tornado damage and leveled houses in Mayfield, Kentucky.

The Growing Role of Federal Government in Disaster Relief

As flooding, fires, and other disasters become more destructive, an effective response requires more resources than local governments can offer.

June 4, 2024 - Governing

Flooded park agains the downtown Houston skyline

FEMA Reforms Disaster Assistance Rules

The changes make it easier for households facing evacuation to access relocation funds.

February 6, 2024 - Word In Black

Aerial view of destroyed home and cars after Lahaina, Hawaii wildfires.

Displacement Fears in Lahaina

Economists warn that reconstruction could put new housing out of reach for long-time residents.

October 6, 2023 - Route Fifty

Man with leather messenger bag riding CitiBike bike on New York street

The Resilience of Bikeshare

The inherent simplicity of bikes makes shared mobility systems a crucial transportation option during natural disasters.

October 4, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

 The remains of a mobile home park in Sylmar, California. 480 of the park's 600 mobile homes were burned in the Sayre Fire in November 2008.

Rental Housing at Risk From Environmental Hazards

From wildfires to hurricanes, environmental risks pose a threat to around 40 percent of U.S. rental units.

March 10, 2022 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Earthquake damage

Protecting Affordable Housing After Natural Disasters

Research shows that low-income communities suffer most and take the longest to recover from disasters, which can often wipe out affordable housing stock and displace vulnerable households.

February 16, 2022 - The Conversation

 The remains of a mobile home park in Sylmar, California. 480 of the park's 600 mobile homes were burned in the Sayre Fire in November 2008.

U.S. Communities Increasingly at Risk of Extreme Weather Events

As development pushes into more wildfire-prone areas and climate change makes extreme weather conditions more common, more Americans are experiencing the destructive impacts of climate disasters.

January 9, 2022 - The Washington Post

Aerial view of Seaside, Oregon

State Study Calls For Tsunami Evacuation Structures In Coastal Communities

A Washington state study recommends the construction of dozens of tsunami evacuation facilities along the Pacific Northwest coast.

November 11, 2021 - KUOW

California Wildfire

California Bans Insurance Companies From Dropping Homeowners in Wildfire Zones

The one-year moratorium is a stopgap measure to assist homeowners affected by recent wildfires as the state assesses ways of addressing the root causes of increasingly damaging natural disasters.

October 3, 2021 - Sacramento Bee

Midwest Flooding

Most Americans Unaware of Flood Risks, Study Finds

The lack of disclosure laws in most states has led to an overvaluation of homes located in floodplains across the country.

May 10, 2021 - Grist

Polar Vortex

Texas Grid Operator to Be Investigated by Congressional Subcommittee

Texas' costliest natural disaster will be the subject of a congressional investigation by a House Oversight subcommittee thanks to Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who is concerned about ERCOT's lack of preparation for extreme winter weather.

March 7, 2021 - The Texas Tribune

San Francisco, California

2020 Sets Record for Billion-Dollar Disasters

Tropical storms, tornadoes, and wildfires, along with everything else.

January 10, 2021 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Los Angeles Earthquake

Los Angeles County the Riskiest Place in the U.S., FEMA Says

The new National Risk Index calculates the brutal equations of natural disasters.

January 4, 2021 - Associated Press

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

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.