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The Missing Maps

Charlotte Pritchard

November 07, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Malawi

In Malawi and other countries around the world, thousands of towns are not mapped. There is often no financial incentive to do so. However, unmapped areas face many challenges, especially because they are harder to reach after a natural disaster. Missing Maps is trying to help. The project holds map-a-thons in cities such as Beirut and London, and these events use the power of communities to map the world on a massive scale. Over 45,000 volunteers have mapped the homes of over 50 million people in less than three years.

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Three Underrated Ideas for Preventing Wildfire Devastation

Francie Diep

October 25, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

As wildfires grow more intense and deadly in California, some experts say previous strategies to save lives and property need to be revamped and they're pushing for changes in policies. Agencies are studying the deadly Tubbs Fire to redraw fire risk maps that take into account the safety of older homes that weren't previously included and pushing for more restrictions on where people can build. Some are also calling for rethinking brush clearance of native plants like chaparral.

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With storms intensifying and oceans on the rise, Boston weighs strategies for staying dry

Eric Bender

October 24, 2017 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston and other flood-vulnerable areas are having to build for the future to prevent water damage from hurricanes and other natural disasters, especially as climate change makes storms stronger and bigger. Boston is researching the feasibility of a seawall as well as building other barriers at critical points, attention is being paid to preventive efforts in order to minimize future damages.

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Grit and the gridiron rescue a town

Carmen K. Sisson

October 17, 2017 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Refugio, Texas

Refugio, Texas was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey, leaving behind damaged houses, schools and businesses and people who can not afford to rebuild their lives. However, this town has used its community and found strength in their love of football and their support of one another to keep moving forward.

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Meet the women combing through Puerto Rico, searching for veterans in need

Jasmine Garsd Andrea Crossan

October 12, 2017 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Puerto Rico

One group of women roams shelters searching for Puerto Rican vets after Hurricane Maria, where there are “around 75,000 US Army veterans living.” “This is Americans helping Americans. These veterans were stationed in the US, went to war with the US. I think that’s the thing that people forget.”

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A Landmark California Plan Puts Floodplains Back in Business

Matt Weiser

October 10, 2017 |

News Deeply |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dos Palos, California

California aims to reconnect major rivers with their floodplains. This reduces flood risk and helps restore groundwater aquifers and wildlife habitat. A farm irrigation district in Dos Palos is proving this can work. A groundwater recharge project is taking pressure off levees while helping farmers get water to grow their crops.

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The Case for the Flood-Proof Lawn

Aviva Shen

October 07, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

Below sea level and prone to floods, residents in New Orleans have been battling water for years. Urban Conservancy and other initiatives help residents to 'own' their water and install permeable concrete and water-loving plants in order to help absorb the water instead of pushing it somewhere else.

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Science, Interrupted

Jennifer Hattam

October 04, 2017 |

Discover Magazine |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Germany

Thousands of researchers across the world have been displaced by war. They struggle to resume their work as refugees in a foreign country. Yet, numerous organizations are trying to help at risk scholars by offering fellowships to help them continue their work.

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Scientists in Mexico Scramble to Deploy Seismic Sensors

Natalie Schachar

October 02, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Mexico City

Scientists in Mexico are deploying instruments to create a network using GPS, pressure and seismic data, to track the movement of tectonic plates with the goal of creating models of earthquakes and tsunamis that would help mitigate loss of life in the next disaster. The decision to focus on the Guerrero Gap was prompted by the 2011 quake and resulting tsunami that devastated parts of Japan. That came from an event similar to what happens in the Gap, prompting a Japanese scientistic group to invest in the research in Mexico.

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Tsunamis Are Bringing New Species to Our Coasts

Bob Berwyn

September 28, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

A new study shows where unprecedented amounts of aquatic invaders are washing up in Hawaii and the West Coast and could help guide a quick response for cleanups as well as ongoing monitoring. That's how biologists eradicated a mussel in Australia and parasites and invasive algae along the California coast. Stopping them before they get a foothold is key to protecting public health and ecosystems, as well as fisheries and tourism.

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