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Natural Disasters

Keeping you updated on the latest news about hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and more.

The latest in Natural Disasters

The lessons Houston didn’t learn from Hurricane HarveyThe lessons Houston didn’t learn from Hurricane Harvey
Climate

The city is no stranger to hurricanes and all sorts of extreme weather. So why is it struggling after Beryl?

By Umair Irfan
Why Hurricane Beryl was more than Houston could handleWhy Hurricane Beryl was more than Houston could handle
Climate

The factors fueling the storm’s strength — and the city’s widespread power outages — have been building for months.

By Umair Irfan
The US is failing renters during extreme heat wavesThe US is failing renters during extreme heat waves
Climate

Laws require landlords to provide heat. It’s not the same for AC.

By Li Zhou
The Caribbean has a defense system against deadly hurricanes — but it’s vanishingThe Caribbean has a defense system against deadly hurricanes — but it’s vanishing
Down to Earth

Hurricane Beryl and other superstorms would be much more dangerous without these iconic ocean animals.

By Benji Jones
Our most meaningful solutions to the climate crisis are hidden in plain sightOur most meaningful solutions to the climate crisis are hidden in plain sight
Climate

Introducing “Changing With Our Climate,” a new Vox series explaining Indigenous solutions to extreme weather.

By Paige Vega
What 6 degrees of warming means for a community built on ice
The Vox guide to extreme heat

Alaska is warming far faster than most of the world. For Indigenous people on the front lines, adaptation can be surprisingly simple.

By Joseph Lee
Hurricane Beryl is the terrifying storm that scientists have been expectingHurricane Beryl is the terrifying storm that scientists have been expecting
Climate

Beryl is now the earliest storm to reach Category 5 on record. It’s a terrifying preview of what the season could bring.

By Umair Irfan
Yes, you should prepare your kids for climate disastersYes, you should prepare your kids for climate disasters
Even Better

The catastrophic effects of climate change can happen anywhere. Here’s how to help your kids cope before, during, and after an emergency.

By Allie Volpe
The frogs of Puerto Rico have a warning for usThe frogs of Puerto Rico have a warning for us
Down to Earth

Scientists are finally listening to the island's iconic coquis — and they have a lot to say.

By Benji Jones
The race to get ahead of the next tornadoThe race to get ahead of the next tornado
Climate

AI is being tested against one of the most dangerous natural disasters.

By Umair Irfan
The race to get ahead of one of the deadliest natural disastersThe race to get ahead of one of the deadliest natural disasters
Natural Disasters

Japan’s early-warning system shows a few extra seconds can save scores of lives.

By Umair Irfan
The surprisingly subtle recipe making heat waves worseThe surprisingly subtle recipe making heat waves worse
The Vox guide to extreme heat

The anatomy of a heat wave, from “heat domes” to megadroughts.

By Umair Irfan
How one weather extreme can make the next one even more dangerousHow one weather extreme can make the next one even more dangerous
Climate

We’re in an era of compound natural disasters.

By Umair Irfan
How to prepare for another season of wildfire smokeHow to prepare for another season of wildfire smoke
Climate

Wildfire smoke can be hazardous, but there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself.

By Li Zhou
Something weird is happening with tornadoesSomething weird is happening with tornadoes
Climate

Tornado season is changing. That could have major consequences.

By Li Zhou
How La Niña will shape heat and hurricanes this yearHow La Niña will shape heat and hurricanes this year
Climate

Climate change and the outgoing El Niño will likely ignite more weather extremes.

By Umair Irfan
Climate change is disrupting our sense of home
Home Planet

As disasters displace more people around the world, our connection to place becomes more tenuous.

By Paige Vega
What to do during an earthquake, for people who rarely experience themWhat to do during an earthquake, for people who rarely experience them
Science

Why we need to take seemingly small earthquakes seriously

By Umair Irfan
Turkey and Syria earthquakes: Aftermath and updates on the humanitarian crisisTurkey and Syria earthquakes: Aftermath and updates on the humanitarian crisis
LIVE

Deadly earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, where war and economic crises already loomed. Here’s the latest news.

By Vox Staff
Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness saved a lot of lives — and prevented a catastrophe for the global tech economyTaiwan’s earthquake preparedness saved a lot of lives — and prevented a catastrophe for the global tech economy
Technology

From Taiwan to South Korea to Silicon Valley, some of the most important nodes in the global tech economy are in disaster-prone places.

By Bryan Walsh
Texas fires happen in the winter. Just never at this scale before.Texas fires happen in the winter. Just never at this scale before.
Climate

The Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle is the state’s largest blaze on record.

By Umair Irfan
How California’s torrential, life-threatening storms got so badHow California’s torrential, life-threatening storms got so bad
Climate

Back-to-back atmospheric rivers have triggered floods, snowstorms, and power outages in the Golden State.

By Umair Irfan
A traumatized Maui will soon resume selling paradise to tourists
Natural Disasters

As tourism returns to Maui, those displaced by this year’s deadly fires face losing their homes again.

By Frances Nguyen
The “new abnormal”: The rise of extreme flooding, briefly explainedThe “new abnormal”: The rise of extreme flooding, briefly explained
Climate

Climate change is contributing to heavier precipitation, a major factor in flooding.

By Li Zhou
The extraordinary need for disaster warning systems, explainedThe extraordinary need for disaster warning systems, explained
Climate

This tiny Caribbean country shows why early warnings are an essential climate change adaptation.

By Umair Irfan
The political failures behind Libya’s deadly floodingThe political failures behind Libya’s deadly flooding
World Politics

The death toll is a tragedy decades in the making.

By Jonathan Guyer
How rescuers find survivors after deadly earthquakesHow rescuers find survivors after deadly earthquakes
Science

People might be still trapped under debris in Morocco. Here’s how they could be saved.

By Neel Dhanesha
What we know about Morocco’s deadly earthquakeWhat we know about Morocco’s deadly earthquake
Natural Disasters

A massive quake near Marrakesh on Friday night has killed more than 2,100.

By Ellen Ioanes
A Florida hurricane and shooting are testing Ron DeSantisA Florida hurricane and shooting are testing Ron DeSantis
Politics

Can the weakened presidential candidate weather crises at home?

By Nicole Narea
Why Hurricane Idalia is so dangerous, explained in 7 mapsWhy Hurricane Idalia is so dangerous, explained in 7 maps
Climate

Several factors put Idalia on track to rival damage from previous deadly hurricanes.

By Benji Jones and Umair Irfan
Hurricane Hilary soaked an already wet California. Is the drought over?Hurricane Hilary soaked an already wet California. Is the drought over?
Climate

After years of extreme drought, the Western US has finally caught a break. But it may be a short one.

By Benji Jones
Why Hurricane Hilary is so strange — and how it has impacted CaliforniaWhy Hurricane Hilary is so strange — and how it has impacted California
Natural Disasters

The storm has caused significant flooding, power outages, and rock and mudslides in the Southwest, with more to potentially come.

By Ellen Ioanes and Nicole Narea
What I saw after the wildfires on Maui
Climate

The social ties keeping Lahaina fed in the wake of disaster.

By J. Matt
This strange hurricane season may take a turn for the worseThis strange hurricane season may take a turn for the worse
Climate

Oceans are at record high temperatures, but El Niño is keeping a lid on tropical storms in the Atlantic.

By Umair Irfan
There’s no such thing as a disaster-resistant place anymoreThere’s no such thing as a disaster-resistant place anymore
Climate

Climate risks are becoming increasingly expensive. Not just locally, but globally.

By Rachel DuRose
How to make your indoor air better when it’s smoky outsideHow to make your indoor air better when it’s smoky outside
Health

Air conditioning, purifiers, and even box fans can help.

By Keren Landman, MD
Why some of the US has the most polluted air in the world right nowWhy some of the US has the most polluted air in the world right now
LIVE

Canada’s smoke blanketing the US is just the latest example of intensifying wildfires.

By Rachel DuRose
How these buildings made the Turkey and Syria earthquakes so deadlyHow these buildings made the Turkey and Syria earthquakes so deadly
Video

And can the buildings be fixed?

By Rajaa Elidrissi
Why earthquakes are deadlier depending on where you liveWhy earthquakes are deadlier depending on where you live
Future Perfect

What Turkey and Syria’s deadly earthquakes reveal about wealth.

By Rachel DuRose
Deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria will add to the region’s humanitarian strugglesDeadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria will add to the region’s humanitarian struggles
World Politics

The massive earthquakes come on top of decades of civil war in the region, which has created millions of refugees and a spiraling economic crisis.

By Jen Kirby