natural disasters

This fall Northern California saw some of the deadliest, most destructive wildfires in the state’s history, including wind-driven, ferocious blazes in Sonoma, Napa, Humboldt and Mendocino counties. Dozens were killed, and hundreds injured, including older and disabled adults who couldn’t escape in time.

By Gabrielle Wilkosz

We in Florida are certainly no strangers to hurricanes. To help, we’ve developed this primer for our fellow Floridians on who to follow on social media and state web pages you need to know to prepare and react when a hurricane hits your area.

Disaster rarely gives you a heads up, and can take many unexpected forms. Everyone should have a plan of action, but some Americans can be particularly vulnerable during times of uncertainty. It's important to keep this in mind when forming an effective plan, and to consider your personal needs. Disaster preparation is more than storing water and food, and every situation requires a different solution.

With 37 million people living and working in California, a major earthquake could cause unprecedented devastation. What we do now, before a big earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like afterwards.  With earthquakes an inevitable part of California’s future, we must act quickly to ensure that disasters do not become catastrophes.