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Officials patched and prayed while pressure built on Houston's dams

Mihir Zaveri

December 15, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Following Hurricane Harvey, Houston officials are taking steps to better prepare the city for flooding. Two damns, Addicks and Barker, have long been in need of repairs to increase their capacity and resilience, and after decades of putting it off – and thousands of homes flooded – the city is hoping to invest in one of the large-scale remedies that have been recommended in the past.

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Harvey overwhelmed some levee systems. Future storms could do worse.

Emily Foxhall

December 14, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey left many Houston residents questioning the efficacy of one of the city’s only protections, the Levee Improvement Districts (LID), responsible for providing flood protection. In neighborhoods prone to flooding, there has been much debate about the actual protection the current levees provide, leading many to call for solutions like the expansion of the LIDs through elections (rather than appointees) or raising the levees.

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Build, flood, rebuild: flood insurance's expensive cycle

David Hunn Ryan Maye Handy James Osborne

December 09, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

What was originally conceived of to help protect homes from flooding has instead trapped homeowners in an endless cycle of filing claims and rebuilding their homes. The National Flood Insurance Program was supposed to discourage development in flooding zones and ease the costs after disasters. With lobbying money and power from developers, realtors associations, and others with vested interests, any opportunity to redesign the system through Congress have haven’t gone far.

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Yachters Are Sailing to the Rescue of Hurricane-Ravaged Islands

Erica Cirino

November 16, 2017 |

News Deeply |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Anguilla

The 2017 hurricane season resulted in damage to the Caribbean. YachtAid and Superyacht Aid Coalition are comprised of people who volunteer their yachts to bring supplies and aid to these damaged regions.

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With storms intensifying and oceans on the rise, Boston weighs strategies for staying dry

Eric Bender

October 24, 2017 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston and other flood-vulnerable areas are having to build for the future to prevent water damage from hurricanes and other natural disasters, especially as climate change makes storms stronger and bigger. Boston is researching the feasibility of a seawall as well as building other barriers at critical points, attention is being paid to preventive efforts in order to minimize future damages.

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Grit and the gridiron rescue a town

Carmen K. Sisson

October 17, 2017 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Refugio, Texas

Refugio, Texas was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey, leaving behind damaged houses, schools and businesses and people who can not afford to rebuild their lives. However, this town has used its community and found strength in their love of football and their support of one another to keep moving forward.

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Meet the women combing through Puerto Rico, searching for veterans in need

Jasmine Garsd Andrea Crossan

October 12, 2017 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Puerto Rico

One group of women roams shelters searching for Puerto Rican vets after Hurricane Maria, where there are “around 75,000 US Army veterans living.” “This is Americans helping Americans. These veterans were stationed in the US, went to war with the US. I think that’s the thing that people forget.”

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A Landmark California Plan Puts Floodplains Back in Business

Matt Weiser

October 10, 2017 |

News Deeply |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dos Palos, California

California aims to reconnect major rivers with their floodplains. This reduces flood risk and helps restore groundwater aquifers and wildlife habitat. A farm irrigation district in Dos Palos is proving this can work. A groundwater recharge project is taking pressure off levees while helping farmers get water to grow their crops.

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‘Fingerprinting' the Ocean to Predict Devastating Sea Level Rise

Erica Cirino

September 18, 2017 |

News Deeply |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

As temperatures continue to steadily and consistently rise because of climate change, the warming ocean has become an increasing threat to the livelihoods of those living near any shore. From Hurricane-force winds to rising sea levels that threaten floods, the potential for future storm surges is only becoming more apparent. In an effort to mitigate and potentially minimize loss, scientists from around the world are "fingerprinting" sea level rise by the use of satellites in an attempt to predict which coastal areas are most at risk from these impending storms.

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What Harvey and Irma Taught Us About Using Social Media in Emergency Response

A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez

September 15, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Hurricanes Irma and Harvey showed the power of social media to share real-time alerts and information as well as get resources to people more quickly when official channels like crisis hotlines are clogged. Officials originally discouraged the use of social media fearing panic and misinformation, but those attitudes changed as they saw the immediate impact it had on getting people help. More local and national organizations shifted to using social platforms to guide their emergency response efforts.

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