Latest Natural Disasters Headlines
All the headlines from our Natural Disasters Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Social Media Valuable Tool for Forecasters, Residents in Path of Tornadoes
May 4 2022 // In the 11 years since a devastating tornado outbreak struck Tuscaloosa, Alabama, social media has evolved into a lifesaving tool during periods of severe weather, said Richard Scott, the chief meteorologist for...
Report Forecasts ‘Above-Normal’ U.S. Wildfire Season, Worse in Drought-Plagued West
May 4 2022 // The U.S. has in store an “above-normal” wildfire season if a prediction out on Wednesday from fire weather experts holds true – “intense” may be a better word for the expectations in Western...
2 Tornados Spotted in NE Illinois; Minimal Damage Reported
May 3 2022 // At least two twisters reportedly touched down briefly as part of a storm system that rolled across northeastern Illinois. One EF-0 tornado snapped tree branches and uprooted some trees as it traveled about two miles (3.2...
Kansas Tornado Generated 165 MPH Winds; Over 1,000 Buildings Damaged
May 2 2022 // The tornado that damaged more than more than 1,000 buildings in south-central Kansas generated winds up to 165 mph and carved a path of destruction nearly 13 miles long. The National Weather Service said the tornado that...
Electric Utilities in Pacific Northwest Spending Millions to Lower Wildfire Risk
May 2 2022 // Private electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest are planning tens of millions of dollars in upgrades to reduce the risk that their power lines could spark wildfires during extreme weather. Utilities such as Pacific...
Tornado Rips Through Kansas; 3 Meteorology Students Killed in Crash
May 2 2022 // A tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and buildings, injured several people and left more than 15,000 people without power, officials said Saturday. In addition to wreckage...
Historic Black Town in Carolina One Hurricane Away from Disaster
May 2 2022 // As she exits her hometown’s only restaurant clutching an order of cabbage and hush puppies, Carolyn Suggs Bandy pauses to boast about a place that stakes its claim as the oldest town chartered by Black Americans...
Natural Disasters Cost Global Economy $32B in Q1, With Only $14B Insured: Aon
May 2 2022 // Preliminary economic losses from natural hazards during the first quarter of 2022 totaled $32 billion, of which less than 50% (or $14 billion), was covered by public and private insurers, according to a report published by...
Progress Made in Containing Nebraska Wildfire
Apr 29 2022 // Progress has been made toward fully containing a deadly southwestern Nebraska wildfire that has been burning since last week, officials said. Crews had 88% of the Road 702 Fire contained behind fire breaks by Thursday...
North Carolina AG Sues Contractor for Deceptive AOB Work after Hurricane
Apr 29 2022 // North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has filed suit against an Illinois contractor who came to the state after Hurricane Florence in 2018, convincing homeowners to assign insurance benefits to his companies. Dennis...
Amazon Urged to Review Emergency Plans in Wake of Deadly Tornado
Apr 28 2022 // Amazon.com Inc. should better prepare workers for extreme weather events, according to federal regulators who investigated a deadly tornado strike on a company warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois. The storm ripped through...
Progress Made on Nebraska Wildfires, But High Winds Threaten Efforts
Apr 28 2022 // Fire crews took advantage of a break in the weather in their battle to contain large fires in the West and Plains states, but fear the return of stronger winds Tuesday could spread the flames further. A southwestern...
Kentucky Tornado Survivors Rebuilding With Help of Others
Apr 25 2022 // Sundays at the Bullock home in rural Kentucky were once filled with lasting memories: big family dinners, cornhole, basketball and karaoke. Those gatherings ended the night of Dec. 10, when a massive tornado obliterated...
1 Dead, At Least 3 Hurt in Nebraska Wildfires
Apr 25 2022 // Wind-driven wildfires sweeping through parts of Nebraska contributed to the death of one person and injured at least three firefighters, authorities said Sunday. The person who died was in Red Willow County, in the...
Emergency Declaration for Multiple New Mexico Wildfires
Apr 25 2022 // New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed emergency declarations as 20 wildfires continued to burn Sunday in nearly half of the state’s drought-stricken 33 counties. One wildfire in northern New Mexico that...
Lake Charles, Louisiana Starts Program for 2020 Hurricane Home Repairs
Apr 19 2022 // Registration has started for a new program to help low- and moderate-income Lake Charles residents fix 2020 hurricane damage to their homes, and Mayor Nic Hunter says he expects it to fill up fast. “We’ve...
Natural Disasters Cost Global Economy $32B in Q1, With Only $14B Insured: Aon
Apr 18 2022 // Preliminary economic losses from natural hazards billion during the first quarter of 2022 totaled $32, of which less than 50% (or $14 billion), was covered by public and private insurers, according to a report published by...
Earthquakes Recorded Near Long-Dormant Alaska Volcano
Apr 18 2022 // Hundreds of small earthquakes have been reported near a volcano in southeast Alaska believed to have been dormant for at least 800 years, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed The cause of the quakes under Mount Edgecumbe,...
Lawsuit Alleges Power Line Sparked Colorado Wildfire
Apr 18 2022 // The first lawsuit filed in connection with a wildfire that destroyed over 1,000 homes and other buildings in suburban Denver claims that sparks from a power line started December’s blaze. The lawsuit filed against...
Tornado Confirmed in North-Central Iowa
Apr 14 2022 // A tornado hit near Gilmore City in rural north-central Iowa as a strong line of storms moved across the state overnight, the National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday. The tornado was confirmed by a trained spotter...
