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Fighting Fire with Fire: California Turns to Prescribed Burning

Jane Braxton Little

September 05, 2018 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Shaver Lake, California

In California’s wildfire-prone Sierras, forest managers are turning to an ancient, if not quite intuitive, tool: more fire. In 2019, the Forest Service will manage 250,000 acres with controlled burns and “mechanical thinning,” using equipment to take out small trees. Though such plans face some hurdles, states across the country are adopting them, reducing wildfire severity while often benefiting ecosystems.

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Florida Community Land Trust Makes Affordable Housing Part of Hurricane Recovery

Emily Nonko

September 05, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Florida

A community land trust is helping people in the Keys find another home, after Hurricane Irma ravished the area. “Four cottages are expected to wrap construction this fall, with another five finished by early 2019.” The arrangement was made possible after two friends got together and formed the Florida Keys Community Land Trust, secured land from the county, and raised $1 million to build affordable disaster housing.

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Jolted

Nina Keck Liam Elder-Connors

September 05, 2018 |

Vermont Public Radio |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Fair Haven, Vermont

When it’s discovered that someone is planning a mass shooting, what are the possible responses? Can those individuals be prosecuted? How do states balance personal liberty and public safety? These are all questions that residents of Fair Haven, Vermont had to grapple with when plans of a school shooting were found. From better threat assessments, to gun control legislation, to considering teen’s experiences in today’s world, the issues and corresponding responses prove challenging reconcile.

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Can't Tell Where It's Flooded? Look At Your Phone, Stay Safe

Mose Buchele

August 30, 2018 |

NPR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Austin, Texas

In Austin, Texas, the city is piloting a new system to prevent injuries and fatalities from flooding in a region known as Flash Flood Alley. The vast majority of flash flood deaths occur on the road, so the city is beginning to post images of rising water through a network of cameras meant to deter driving in those conditions.

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Mobile phone data could help speed up crucial aid to disaster victims

Fergus Peace

August 28, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Haiti

When disaster strikes, people are often quick to provide help -- but that help is often misdirected because it is hard to know where those who need help are located. Researchers are now exploring how to use cell towers and mobile data to predict movement and provide better services.

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Why your favorite bench might be there to thwart a terrorist attack

Katherine Shaver

August 27, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

How do you make a public space inviting so people will gather, but also safe from the growing danger of attackers using vehicles to ram large numbers of people? Many cities have responded to such attacks with concrete bollards and other barriers. But designers and architects are increasingly innovating other options that protect people via planters, fountains, trees, bike racks, steps and traffic calming designs to stop or slow down vehicles.

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These Cottages Were Built to Defy Storms—and Pricey Rent—in the Florida Keys

Nicole Javorsky

August 27, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Florida

Affordable housing for Florida Keys residents is often vulnerable to damage or destruction by extreme weather. The Monroe County Land Trust has created housing that is both affordable for county residents and built to withstand floods and wind.

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New Orleans floods with heavy rainstorms. Magnolias could be part of the solution

Joseph Darius Jaafari

August 17, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana is infamously known as a place of cultural celebration and community, but it's also a city plagued by consistent flooding. To reduce the impacts of heavy rainfall, one city-backed initiative is incentivizing people to replace their anti-absorbent concrete with plants and flowers that are designed to take in large amounts of water.

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How Forecasting Models Are Changing the Way We Fight Fires

Jenessa Duncombe

August 17, 2018 |

Eos |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

The National Weather Service has been helping firefighting crews better prepare for and fight wildfires. They’ve developed a model called the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh-Smoke (HRRR-Smoke) to show where there’s higher smoke density and what direction it’s heading toward. The agency is hoping to continue their work to become better at preventative measures so that towns and cities can prepare ahead of time.

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Wisconsin Reservation Offers A Climate Success Story And A Warning

Rebecca Hersher

August 15, 2018 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Odanah, Wisconsin

A Native American community in Onadah, Wisconsin has been hailed by scientists as a town that successfully relocated before a major flood destroyed it completely. The relocation process, which included some federally subsidized rental housing on higher ground and forced displacement by federal law, brings up a painful history of forced relocation for Native American communities in the United States.

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