NH
Natural Hazards

Maria Papathoma-Köhle

Maria Papathoma-Köhle is a researcher at the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at BOKU University in Vienna. Her work focuses on vulnerability and risk reduction in natural hazards, including the vulnerability of buildings and communities.

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

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

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]