33 Items Tagged

Natural Disaster

People visit the beach in in Fort Myers, Florida, as storm clouds gather ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival.

As Hurricane Milton Approaches, Communities Repair and Prepare

In the wake of one hurricane and the looming shadow of another, millions find creative ways to face a crisis.

Atlas Obscura October 8, 2024

Galveston, Texas

1900 Storm Memorial

This memorial and the seawall that it stands near are powerful symbols of the island’s resilience.

Sponsored by Visit Galveston

Our planet frequently gets dinged with smaller, harmless asteroids like RW1. Planetary defense systems able to detect them should also be able to spot bigger threats.

Asteroid 2024 RW1 Just Hit Earth. That's a Good Thing.

The asteroid that exploded over Luzon was not a threat—but it was a victory for our planetary defense systems.

Robin George Andrews September 5, 2024

The crumbling tracks of the Ozarka Splash ride at Six Flags New Orleans.

The Brief Rise and Steep Fall of a New Orleans Amusement Park

Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, the abandoned Six Flags that became a symbol of the city still bears deep scars.

Matthew Christopher August 5, 2024

Trees and other plants can’t escape wildfire smoke.

Trees Hold Their Breath to Avoid Wildfire Smoke

Researchers made the surprise discovery when wildfire smoke blanketed their test site.

Delphine Farmer and Mj Riches August 5, 2024

Brooklyn, New York

Urban Post-Disaster Housing Prototype

An interim housing alternative to FEMA trailers that is designed for densely populated areas during recovery and rebuilding following a natural disaster.

Cougar, Washington

Trail of Two Forests

See the imprints of ancient trees, burned and preserved by lava.

Armero, Colombia

Armero, Colombia

A town half-submerged in volcanic mud has become a pilgrimage site for devotees of one of the tragedy's victims.

Flemming, Montserrat

Montserrat Volcano Observatory

Safely view the Soufrière Hills volcano, which has been erupting since 1995.

Lisbon, Portugal

Church of St. Dominic

The scorched Lisbon church that survived two earthquakes and a massive fire.

Is your state in danger of an earthquake? Well, yes.

Not Even Minnesota Is Safe From Earthquakes

Was the recent New York quake really all that uncommon? Here's a state-by-state map.

Frank Jacobs April 12, 2024

The beautiful Italian town has been left deserted since the '70s due to an aborted eruption.

A False Volcano Emergency Created This Stunning Abandoned Village

Welcome to the ghost town of a modern Vesuvius that never happened.

Alessio Perrone February 27, 2024

Lower Mississippi River Museum

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Lower Mississippi River Museum

A free museum that memorializes the deadliest river flood in American history, and the civil engineering efforts to tame the Mississippi River.

Dolores, Colorado

Memorial Rock

A boulder so big and tough, they had to turn it into a landmark.

Memorial Park of Houses Destroyed by Debris Flows

Minamishimabara, Japan

Memorial Park of Houses Destroyed by Debris Flows

Buried nine feet under, these houses are preserved as a stark reminder of the disastrous 1991 Unzen eruption.

Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

This massive section of quay destroyed by an earthquake is preserved to remember the past.

Anchorage, Alaska

Earthquake Park

The now-serene site of the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America.

An adult male orangutan contemplates his next move in haze produced by Indonesia’s 2015 wildfires.

Wildfire Smoke Changes Orangutan Calls in Borneo

During massive fires in Indonesia, the critically endangered primates' voices provided clues to their overall health.

Wendy Erb July 3, 2023