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Natural Disaster content

Wildfire Sensor Technology

Wildfire Sensor Technology

Wildfires across the U.S. and around the world are becoming more frequent, costly, and dangerous. The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate is working with the U.S. Fire…

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Wildfire Disasters: Opportunities to Improve Federal Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Efforts

Wildfire Disasters: Opportunities to Improve...

Wildfires are growing in size and severity, and the nation is experiencing longer wildfire seasons. In August 2023, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century was on the island…

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World Leaders Speak – 2024

World Leaders Speak – 2024

The annual forecast of global risk by World Economic Forum. Global business and government leaders gather in Davos, Switzerland and prioritize major risks expected in 2024. The number one risk…

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A Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program

A Brief Introduction to the National Flood...

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary source of flood insurance coverage for residential properties in the United States. The NFIP has two main policy goals, to provide…

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Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Climate-Informed Science Approach (CISA) State of the Science Report

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard...

The state of the science is described in the context of four types of flooding—coastal, riverine, pluvial, and compound. This report introduces two flood hazard projection workflows that describe the…

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The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS)

The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS)

Flooding is the most frequent and costly natural disaster facing the nation, and floodplain policy has particular relevance for infrastructure and the federal government’s exposure to flood losses and demand…

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Comparison of Earthquake Early Warning Systems And The National Volcano Early Warning System at The U.S. Geological Survey

Comparison of Earthquake Early Warning Systems And...

Every year in the United States, natural hazards threaten lives and livelihoods, resulting in thousands of casualties and billions of dollars in damage. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Natural Hazards…

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Calibrating Fiscal Rules: A Consideration of Natural Disaster Risks

Calibrating Fiscal Rules: A Consideration of...

This technical note assesses how large shocks from natural disasters are a key source of vulnerabilities for public finances. It extends the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Fiscal Affairs Department calibration…

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DHS Science and Technology Wildland Fire Sensors R&D

DHS Science and Technology Wildland Fire Sensors...

Wildland fires are a clear and present danger to the U.S. and the world. The Science and Technology department (S&T) is developing and testing a new form of wildfire sensor…

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Extreme Weather Risk in a Changing Climate:  Enhancing Prediction and Protecting Communities

Extreme Weather Risk in a Changing Climate: ...

Extreme weather has devastating impacts on the American people, our communities, and our economy. Severe wildfires that have ravaged parts of the American West, and destructive tropical cyclones along the…

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The Fossil Fuels Behind Forest Fires

The Fossil Fuels Behind Forest Fires

The communities, cultures, and ecosystems of the western United States and southwestern Canada evolved alongside wildfire for thousands of years. Over the last several decades, however, climate change has altered…

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National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

National Significant Wildland Fire Potential...

The National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook is intended as a decision support tool for wildland fire managers, providing an assessment of current weather and fuel conditions and how these…

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Modernizing Wildland Firefighting to Protect Our Firefighters

Modernizing Wildland Firefighting to Protect Our...

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has identified opportunities for science and technology to make the job of wildland firefighting safer and more effective. Indeed, the…

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Post-Wildfire Debris Flows: Federal Role in Assessment and Warning

Post-Wildfire Debris Flows: Federal Role in...

During and after a wildfire, various federal agencies coordinate with nonfederal agencies to assess the potential for debris flow hazards on the steep slopes of a burned landscape. The U.S.…

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How Aerospace is Advancing Sensor Capabilities For Wildfires

How Aerospace is Advancing Sensor Capabilities For...

In this report the Aerospace Corporation identifies opportunities to improve wildfire detection and monitoring capabilities, efforts that could ultimately protect biodiversity, infrastructure and human life, as well as mitigate wildfires’…

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