Nearly half the U.S. population now lives in areas exposed to building-damaging earthquake shaking, a sharp jump from prior federal estimates that raises hard questions about infrastructure readiness nationwide. A new study built on the latest U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Model found that roughly 159.2 million Americans reside in zones exposed to "very […] The post New USGS earthquake model puts 159 million Americans in expanded danger zones appeared first on American Almanac .
Nearly half the U.S. population now lives in areas exposed to building-damaging earthquake shaking, a sharp jump from prior federal estimates that raises hard questions about infrastructure readiness nationwide. A new study built on the latest U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Model found that roughly 159.2 million Americans reside in zones exposed to "very strong" earthquake shaking, the kind that can crack walls, buckle frames, and knock buildings off foundations. The previous version of the USGS model placed that number at 111.8 million, meaning the updated science added more than 47 million people to the highest-risk category in a single revision. The numbers do not stop at population. Researchers calculated that 47.3…Open
Climate adaptation is increasingly moving from planning to real-world action as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and hurricanes test communities across the U.S. Why it matters: Even if greenhouse gas emissions decline, many communities are already facing more frequent or intense climate extremes, prompting officials to invest in infrastructure designed to reduce future damage. Driving the news: After catastrophic flooding killed more than 130 people in Texas Hill Country last year, newly installed sirens were credited with warning residents during July's floods, which killed three people but avoided a repeat of the 2025 disaster. - It's an example of Republican-led states adapting after disaster, said Alice Hill, senior fellow…
Climate adaptation is increasingly moving from planning to real-world action as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and hurricanes test communities across the U.S. Why it matters: Even if greenhouse gas emissions decline, many communities are already facing more frequent or intense climate extremes, prompting officials to invest in infrastructure designed to reduce future damage. Driving the news: After catastrophic flooding killed more than 130 people in Texas Hill Country last year, newly installed sirens were credited with warning residents during July's floods, which killed three people but avoided a repeat of the 2025 disaster. - It's an example of Republican-led states adapting after disaster, said Alice Hill, senior fellow…Open
Drawings obtained by The New York Times show the columns called for additional steel plates, but engineers reviewing site photos said they appeared to be missing.
Huge flames tore out of the entrance to the venue, which one investigator said had used inappropriate material for soundproofing. More than two dozen people died.
Last year, six states eliminated a fire-safety code requiring apartment buildings taller than three stories to have at least two staircases. More states are exploring the move.