Buncombe County has a new plan to make life better for everyone. This plan is called the 2030 Strategic Plan. It covers six big areas: growth, money, schools, health, safety, and nature. The plan was made with help from experts and the community. The county wants to build more homes and fix old ones. They also want to create more green spaces. They aim to add 3. 5 m...
Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction in Jamaica and Cuba. The storm was one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic. It caused severe damage to homes, roads, and buildings. In Jamaica, the western part of the country was hit the hardest. The storm flattened seaside communities, leaving piles of brick, wood, and twisted metal. Floodwaters gouged as...
Floods are happening more often and with greater force, putting lives and economies at risk. This is a major concern for everyone. When floods hit, outside help is often needed to rebuild. This help, called external assistance, can be a game-changer. But how do we know if it's making a real difference? That's where things get tricky. Until now, there hasn't been a cl...
Have you ever wondered how folks prep for storms, and if it makes a difference afterwards? Research has focused a lot on getting ready for big weather events, but not on how people's worries before a storm affect how they bounce back. A study about families hit by Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey took a closer look at this. So, what shapes people's fear of storms befor...
Imagine a community shaken by a natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The road to recovery isn't just about fixing buildings, but also about restoring daily routines and activities. This research looked at how people in Harris County, Texas, got back to their usual lifestyles after the storm. Scientists used data from safe location trackers to study how oft...
When disaster strikes, like Hurricanes Harvey and Ida, communities face a tough climb back to normal. This study zooms in on how individual households start living their lives again after such events. They looked at places people liked to visit, figuring out how quickly folks got back to their usual spots. It turns out, even neighbors can have very different recovery...
After a disaster like Hurricane Harvey, getting back to normal daily activities is a big deal. It shows how well a community is recovering. This study looked at how people's routines changed in Harris County, Texas, after the hurricane. They used location data to see patterns in where people went before and after the disaster. They found four main types of routines –...
Hurricane Helene left behind a trail of devastation in the Southeast, causing significant disruptions to students' education. Schools in North Carolina, like Buncombe County, are still closed weeks after the storm hit because of damaged buildings and lack of essential services like water and power. This has led to concerns about students missing up to a month of scho...
As the storm clouds cleared, the people of western North Carolina were left to face the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The Category 4 storm had brought unprecedented destruction, leaving a trail of damaged homes, businesses, and infrastructure in its wake. At least 49 people had lost their lives, and dozens more were still missing. The storm's impact was...