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Do wildfires pose serious risks to human health?
Based on Science
Fires pose serious health risks even when they are not deadly. People in fire zones can suffer burns, breathing problems due to smoke inhalation, injuries, and other trauma from evacuations.
Two Decades Later, the Experience of Katrina Continues to Shape How the Nation Prepares for and Responds to Disasters
Program News
Two decades ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, submerging a major American city, claiming nearly 1,400 lives, and displacing one million people. The storm was a turning point in how the nation understands the risks of extreme weather and the urgency of disaster preparedness. As we mark this anniversary, we carry forward the lessons of Katrina to ensure communities are better prepared for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
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- Helping the Grid Keep Pace with a Power-Hungry Economy May 12, 2025 Feature Story
- How Science Is Using AI to Translate the Nonstop Chatter of the Earth Apr 15, 2025 Feature Story
- Advancing the U.S. Electricity System: New Forum to Explore Challenges and Solutions Mar 25, 2025 Feature Story
- AI Tools Can Enhance U.S. Biosecurity; Monitoring and Mitigation Will Be Needed to Protect Against Misuse Mar 14, 2025 News Release
- New Report Provides Forecast for the Next Decade of Ocean Science Feb 20, 2025 News Release
- NAS President Marcia McNutt Addresses AAAS Meeting in Boston Feb 19, 2025 Feature Story
- Building the Skilled Technical Workforce: ‘It’s Very Much a Work in Progress’ Dec 23, 2024 Feature Story
- Building a Fellowship that Empowers Policymakers to Leverage Science Nov 22, 2024 Program News
- Workshop Advances Disaster Preparedness Information Exchange Between Indigenous Leaders and Public Health Officials Nov 13, 2024 Impact Story
- Bridging the Gulfs: GRP Hosts First Gulf-Alaska Knowledge Exchange Around Oil Spill Impacts Oct 28, 2024 Program News
- Defense Department Should Invest in Leap-Ahead Semiconductor Technologies, Work to Reshore Production Capabilities, and Strengthen Industry and Interagency Engagement, Says New Report Aug 28, 2024 News Release
- Intensifying Pace and Severity of Extreme Events Increases Risks of Compounding Disasters and Demands Rethinking of U.S. Emergency Management, Says New Report Jul 17, 2024 News Release
- First Lady of Ukraine Visits National Academy of Sciences Jul 10, 2024 Feature Story
- What We’ve Learned from Survivors of the Atomic Bombs Jul 10, 2024 Program News
- New Reports Evaluate U.S. Readiness to Prevent, Counter, and Respond to Threats of Nuclear and Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction Jun 18, 2024 News Release
- The Challenge of Predicting Climate Migration Apr 23, 2024 Feature Story
- U.S. NAS Launches New Fund to Build Long-Term Ukrainian Science and Innovation Enterprise Apr 17, 2024 News Release
- Biomedical Journal Editors Announce New Practices for Using Race, Ethnicity, and Ancestry Descriptors in Genomics Research, Following Recommendations from 2023 National Academies Report Mar 12, 2024 Feature Story
- Recovery Agencies Should Proactively Plan for Community Relocation Before and After Climate Disasters, Says New Report Jan 17, 2024 News Release
- U.S. Should Build Out Secure ‘Cyber Interstate’ and Other Infrastructure to Support Smart Manufacturing and Circular Economy Efforts, Says New Report Dec 12, 2023 News Release
- Antarctic Research Remains Critical to National Security and Economic Interests; U.S. Investment in New Icebreaker and Other Infrastructure Is Essential, Says Report Oct 20, 2023 News Release
- For Ukrainian Researchers, Summer Institute Offers Rare Chance to Focus on Career Development During the War Aug 28, 2023 Feature Story
- National Academy of Sciences Receives $2.1 Million from Breakthrough Prize Foundation for Ongoing Support of Ukrainian-Led Scientific Research Projects Aug 10, 2023 News Release
- Global Science Leaders Gather in Warsaw to Underscore Their Support of Ukrainian Science and Scientists Jun 30, 2023 Feature Story
- Eighteen Ukrainian Research Projects Selected for Long-Term Funding by the Polish Academy of Sciences and U.S. National Academy of Sciences Jun 29, 2023 News Release
- U.S. Needs New Federal Strategy for Funding Community Health and Resilience in Gulf States, Better Data on Local Needs, Says New Report Jun 21, 2023 News Release
- Employing ‘Serious Gaming’ to Explore Challenges and Solutions in the Gulf of Mexico Mar 6, 2023 Feature Story
- On Supporting Science in Ukraine One Year After the Invasion Feb 15, 2023 Statement
- Gulf Research Program Announces Early-Career Research Fellows in Offshore Energy Safety and Education Research Jan 11, 2023 News Release
- Taliban’s Ban on Education for Afghan Women and Girls Will Have Potentially Disastrous Consequences, Say U.S. National Academies Presidents Dec 23, 2022 Statement
- New Grant Program Will Offer Long-Term Support to Sustain Ukrainian Science Dec 7, 2022 News Release
- U.S. NAS President Marcia McNutt Receives Honorary Doctorate from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Nov 30, 2022 News Release
- Scientific Organizations Form International Group to Advance Ukrainian Science and Support Researchers; Breakthrough Prize Foundation Provides $3 Million Oct 24, 2022 News Release
- Gulf Research Program Awards $3.4 Million To Reduce the Burden of Disaster-Related Mental Health Consequences Oct 14, 2022 Program News
- Historic Damage in Wake of Hurricane Ian Sep 30, 2022 Feature Story
- Maintaining U.S. Global Leadership in Science and Technology Requires Greater Focus on Strengthening Innovation, Not Solely on Restricting Access to Specific Technologies Sep 29, 2022 News Release
- Renewing U.S. Infrastructure for Resilience and Equity Jul 18, 2022 Feature Story
- Action Steps for Rebuilding Ukraine’s Science, Research, and Innovation Jun 13, 2022 Statement
- International Science Academies Meet in Poland to Explore How to Support Ukrainian Science and Researchers Jun 3, 2022 Feature Story
- New Publication Explores How to Prioritize Investments in Infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico May 25, 2022 Media Advisory
- What does the butterfly effect have to do with weather forecasts? May 25, 2022 Based on Science
- Can earthquakes liquefy soil? May 24, 2022 Based on Science
- American Chemical Society Joins U.S. National Academy of Sciences in Effort to Support Researchers Forced to Flee Ukraine Apr 21, 2022 News Release
- NAS Launches Effort to Help Support Ukrainian Researchers as They Relocate to Poland Mar 29, 2022 Feature Story
- Breakthrough Prize Foundation Partners with U.S. National Academy of Sciences to Support Scientists Forced to Flee Ukraine Mar 29, 2022 News Release
- ‘We Stand With Our Colleagues in Ukraine,’ Say U.S. National Academies Presidents Mar 3, 2022 Statement
- Safe Passage for Scientists: Evacuating Scientists and Engineers from Afghanistan Jan 26, 2022 Feature Story
- Preventing Another Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico: Offshore Situation Room Convenes Experts to Share Lessons, Future Actions Nov 16, 2021 Feature Story
- Transformative Opportunities in Transportation Oct 29, 2021 Perspectives
- Violence Against Health Workers During War Oct 26, 2021 Feature Story
- National Academies Presidents Commemorate 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Sep 10, 2021 Statement
- The National Academies Mark 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Sep 10, 2021 Feature Story
- Predicting, Managing, and Preparing for Disasters Like Hurricane Ida Aug 31, 2021 Feature Story
- Environmental Resilience of Transportation Infrastructure Should Be Assessed for All Federally Funded Projects, Says New Report Aug 5, 2021 News Release
- Infrastructure for a Changing Climate Jul 7, 2021 Feature Story
- Bridging Ghana and the Gulf: How One ECRF Fellow Is Tackling Urban Flooding Jun 17, 2021 Program News
- U.S. Should Make Monitoring and Detecting Nuclear Threats a Higher National Priority by Ensuring Coordination Across Federal Agencies and Expanding Research Efforts Apr 19, 2021 News Release
- U.S. Global Change Research Program Should Shift Focus to Preparing for and Avoiding Worst Potential Consequences of Climate Change, Says New Report Mar 16, 2021 News Release
- New Rapid Expert Consultation Offers Strategies for Navigating Disaster Response, Evacuation, and Sheltering Complicated by COVID-19 Feb 23, 2021 News Release
- Navigating ‘Compounding Disasters’ Dec 2, 2020 Program News
- Co-Chairs Appointed to Lead New National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable Oct 15, 2020 News Release
- Federal Agencies Should Adopt Uniform Framework for Quantifying Disaster-Related Deaths, Illness, Says New Report Sep 9, 2020 News Release
- Disaster Resources from the National Academies Aug 27, 2020 News Release
- With Summer Heat Waves, Hurricanes, and Flooding on the Horizon, Disaster Responders Grapple with Planning for Extreme Weather in the Time of COVID-19 May 22, 2020 Feature Story
- DOE Plan to Dilute and Dispose of Surplus Plutonium at New Mexico Site Technically Viable if Security, Execution, Other Challenges Are Addressed, Says New Report Apr 30, 2020 News Release
- National Academies, National Science Foundation Create Network to Connect Decision-Makers with Social Scientists on Pressing COVID-19 Questions Apr 28, 2020 News Release
- Lessons From A Crisis Apr 20, 2020 Feature Story
- DOD Biological Threat Reduction Program Should Be Part of a New Interagency Mechanism to Coordinate Efforts to Prevent Biological Threats, Including Natural Disease Outbreaks; Report Offers Five-Year Strategy for BTRP Apr 14, 2020 News Release
- At Hanford, Experts and Community Members Weigh In on Nuclear Waste Disposal Feb 21, 2020 Feature Story
- New Report Recommends Ways to Strengthen the Resilience of Supply Chains After Hurricanes, Based on Lessons Learned From Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria Jan 8, 2020 News Release
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