disaster preparedness Archives - State of the Planet

Eight months after the earthquakes, people still live in tents. Photo: Jeff Schlegelmilch

Why the Earthquake in Turkey Still Matters

Eight months after Turkey’s devastating earthquake, over three million people are still looking for a place to call home.

by |October 26, 2023
Map of the US depicting states color-coded by number of bills passed (between 1 and 16)

State Legislatures Continue to Enact Disaster Policies in 2023

States have already filed at least 103 bills related to disaster resilience. Columbia Climate School’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness reports on what has been achieved so far.

by Lucia Bragg, Abigail Menendez, Gillian McBride |June 12, 2023
map of us in shades of red, orange, and yellow

New Tool Helps Communities Prepare for Natural Hazards

A revamped map lets you zoom in to check the climate, weather, and geological hazards in your own backyard and then learn how to protect yourself.

by Emily Halnon |May 19, 2023

Christine Appah-Gyamfi Empowers Students to Lead on Environmental Justice Issues

In her class at the Columbia Climate School, this environmental justice lawyer provides tools and hands-on opportunities for her students to generate real-world impacts.

by |April 4, 2023
jeff schlegelmilch in washington dc

Why It’s So Hard to Be Prepared for Disasters

Disaster expert Jeffrey Schlegelmilch discusses February’s devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the challenges to building resilience, and how emergencies can reveal the inner workings of a society.

by Daniella Zandi |March 15, 2023

New Trainings Will Lead the Way on Climate Resilience and Equitable Disaster Response

With a $1.5 million grant from FEMA, Columbia Climate School’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness will create and deliver trainings on climate resilience with a focus on equity for state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency managers.

by |January 30, 2023

Flooding in California: What Went Wrong, and What Comes Next

Climate School experts help to explain this devastating weather and what it means in the broader conversation of climate change and disaster response.

by |January 12, 2023
map shows total enacted bills by state

New Climate School Report Details State Policy Trends in Disaster Resilience

As disasters become more expensive, state-level recovery measures are increasing in importance. A new report sheds light on state efforts to prioritize disaster resilience and recovery.

by Lucia Bragg, Gillian McBride, Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, and Lauren Esposito |December 13, 2022

Climate-Fueled Extreme Weather: Protection, Recovery, and Reconstruction

When a weather disaster happens every hundred years, it is an emergency. When it happens every year, it is a routine, periodic occurrence from which we need to protect ourselves.

by |October 3, 2022
jeff schlegelmilch in washington dc

Disaster Expert Testifies in Congress Regarding Future Pandemics

Columbia Climate School’s Jeffrey Schlegelmilch spoke to members of Congress about how better preparedness before disasters strike can save money and lives.

by |January 20, 2022