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Power Struggle

Mitch Anderson

December 07, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Humboldt County, California

The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe in California installed its own small-scale electrical supply grid using solar panels and Tesla batteries to make their community more resilient to energy disruptions and lower carbon dioxide emissions. This proved useful during the 2019 wildfire season when utility companies shut down power for millions of residents. The tribe is now helping other Native reserves to build their own microgrid systems.

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This single shipping container can start powering a small renewable grid in less than a day

Adele Peters

November 18, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Grass Valley, California

Solar microgrids can improve community resilience to natural disasters by quickly restoring power. California-based startup, BoxPower, has developed an easy-to-install solar panels, packaged in a cargo shipping container. Housing the units in a shipping container allows for easy transport to disaster zones, such as the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and to communities in California left without power due to wildfires.

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After cyclone Fani, women in a migrant fishing community start resilience fund

Sahana Ghosh

November 12, 2019 |

Mongabay |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Penthakatha, Odisha

After an unexpected summer cyclone in the Indian state of Odisha, hundreds of women from slums across the region formed a community fund for disaster preparedness. The women all try to contribute 10 rupees per month to the fund, slowly building their security net in case of another natural disaster.

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Galvanized by disaster

Beth Edwards

November 11, 2019 |

Indiana Environmental Reporter |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Goshen, Indiana

After devastating floods hit the town of Goshen, the small town in Indiana used the experience as an opportunity to work towards disaster preparedness. Focusing not just on what would work best against environmental change and the subsequent severe weather created by it but also what would move the city forward, the mayor has been able to implement a series of changes including partnerships to increase awareness as well as community youth involvement.

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The Next Pandemic Is Out There. Is the Private Sector Ready?

B. David Zarley

November 08, 2019 |

Freethink |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

In 2019, a Pandemic Response Board made up of international leaders was created to determine a course of action should a contagious outbreak such as SARS occur. Although the director general of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control was not able to join, the region's response to Lassa virus offered lessons to the team, such as the benefits of private-public partnerships and eliminating the spread of misinformation by joining forces with social media outlets.

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Multnomah County Trees Are Doing Much More Than We Think

Monica Samayoa Priyanka Runwal

November 01, 2019 |

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Friends of Trees, a nonprofit organization in the Portland area, are not just planting trees because they help combat climate change and improve air quality, but because they also help stop major flooding and avoid erosion. While it can be expensive to maintain the trees and clean up the leaves from storm drains, these trees could prevent millions of gallons of rainfall from flooding neighborhoods as extreme weather events are expected to increase in the future.

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As fires rage, California refines an important skill: Evacuating

Heather Kelly Scott Wilson Joy Lanzendorfer

October 28, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Rosa, California

With wildfires becoming more and more common, Californians have become improved their evacuation procedures. Alerting residents earlier via cellphone and then ongoing door-to-door notices have made a difference, along with residents trusting the evacuation calls more than before. Notable improvements have been made in hospitals, with staff making arrangements with other hospitals as soon as they receive the evacuation notice.

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Wildfires and blackouts mean Californians need solar panels and microgrids

David Roberts

October 28, 2019 |

Vox |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Localized, distributed energy systems are popping up around California. As the larger electricity system becomes less reliable in the face of wildfires, more individuals are turning to microgrids and solar energy with help from organizations like Clean Coalition and Stone Edge Farm Microgrid. While still happening on a small scale, such energy systems may become more popular as its sustainability in a changing climate shows to be more resilient.

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Sonoma and Butte counties see natural lessons in wake of megafires

Stephen Nett

October 25, 2019 |

The Press Democrat |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sonoma, California

California’s Sonoma and Butte counties have been taking new approaches to wildfires – rather than preventing them, they’re hoping to support the ecosystem to withstand them and bounce back. This resilience-centered approach includes controlled burns, fuel breaks, cross-organizational collaboration, and educating the public – especially homeowners – about how they can help.

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Sprawling Las Animas County, like many rural areas, badly needs emergency responders. But it's a teachable moment.

Kevin Simpson

September 24, 2019 |

The Colorado Sun |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hoehne, Colorado

Las Animas County in Colorado is a large rural and remote area which makes it difficult for emergency responders to access people in a timely manner. To address this, emergency medical responder (EMR) classes are being taught in high schools in order to relieve the burden and offer a possibility for a career path to students in the area.

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