NH
Natural Hazards

Natural Hazards

Knowing better, but still losing more: why disaster risk reduction breaks down

, , , , and May 11, 2026
Knowing better, but still losing more: why disaster risk reduction breaks down
Image generated using ChatGPT 5.4

The surviving house in Pacific Palisades became one of the most discussed images from the 2025 California wildfires (Fig. 1). What makes it scientifically interesting, though, is not that it survived. It is that many of the features associated with the house’s survival – a more fire-resistant exterior, stronger windows, and details that reduce ember entry – are already well known. This case points ...[Read More]

Assessment of multiple predictors to the psychological effects of flooding for residential and business sectors in Peninsular Malaysia

, , , , , and April 29, 2026
Assessment of multiple predictors to the psychological effects of flooding for residential and business sectors in Peninsular Malaysia
The summary of the study developed using Generative Ai

Experiencing a severe flood can lead to profound emotional and mental distress, including anxiety, depression, and long-term stress. These mental health struggles often stem from the trauma of losing cherished possessions, disrupted daily routines, or the terrifying threat to personal safety and the lives of loved ones. Yet, because mental well-being is an “intangible” loss, it is freq ...[Read More]

Multi-Risk Forecasting: Operational Reality or Scientific Ambition?

, , , and April 27, 2026
Reflections from a workshop on multi-risk impact-based forecasting and warning systems for weather-related hazards.
A collective moment from the Glasgow workshop (25 March 2026), where researchers and operational experts came together to explore the challenges of multi-risk impact-based forecasting and warning systems. Image credit (Chris White)

  Reflections from a workshop on multi-risk impact-based forecasting and warning systems for weather-related hazards.   With mounting evidence that hazards rarely occur in isolation, the question is no longer whether multi-risk impact-based forecasting and warning systems are needed, but how to build them [1]. Yet, moving beyond single-hazard thinking towards genuinely multi-hazard and t ...[Read More]

From Seismic Signals to Safer Trains: Italy’s First Earthquake Early Warning System for High-Speed Railways

and March 16, 2026
From Seismic Signals to Safer Trains: Italy’s First Earthquake Early Warning System for High-Speed Railways
Image generated using ChatGPT 5.4

Earthquakes remain among the most disruptive natural hazards worldwide, capable of causing sudden loss of life, severe economic damage, and long-lasting societal impacts. One of the most effective tools developed in recent decades to mitigate these effects is Earthquake Early Warning (EEW), a real-time monitoring strategy that exploits a fundamental physical property of earthquakes: seismic waves ...[Read More]