SUMMARY: In Santa Rosa, California, what's left of a mobile home park is still desolate after a 2017 wildfire. The former residents with homes still standing aren't allowed to live there, but they have also had trouble getting insurance money. Karla Carballo-Torres and Lorin Eleni Gill of UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism report.
SUMMARY: A string of tornadoes cut a path of destruction across parts of Ohio and Indiana Monday night. The twisters, some with winds of 140 miles per hour, flattened entire neighborhoods, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more. Millions are without power as officials scramble to uncover the scope of the damage and encourage residents to check on their neighbors. Judy Woodruff reports.
SUMMARY: Severe weather is devastating the American Heartland. Spring storms have led to at least eight deaths in Oklahoma, which has been hit by tornadoes and record rain. With more precipitation expected, state officials are closely watching levee systems for signs of a potentially catastrophic failure. Judy Woodruff speaks by phone with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt about managing the situation.
SUMMARY: Violent weather has tormented regions from the Rocky Mountains to the Mid-Atlantic in recent weeks. In Kansas Tuesday night, strong tornadoes tore houses apart, littered an airport runway with debris and hoisted a car onto a roof -- but widespread flooding may be the biggest and most prolonged threat. William Brangham talks to atmospheric scientist Victor Gensini about the brutal spring weather.
William Brangham (NewsHour): My understanding is, there's been some reporting that climate change perhaps might be shifting where certain tornadoes might be hitting, hitting places that are not used to them.
Is that right?
Victor Gensini, Northern Illinois University: That's exactly right.
We did a study last October that looked at, well, the number of tornadoes across the United States really hasn't changed very much over the last 40 years, but where they're happening has been changing.
So places like Tornado Alley, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, we have been seeing a downward trend in some of those locations, and an increasing trend further to east in places like Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and portions of the Midwest, which is a big deal for population density and vulnerability, of course, the exposure, as we have many more people living east of the Mississippi River.
SUMMARY: The U.S. has experienced its wettest 12-month period on record. Scientists warn that climate change is causing more intense storms, resulting in increased flooding risk for millions of Americans living near rivers and along the coasts. How can vulnerable communities prepare? Special correspondent Cat Wise reports on a radical approach some are exploring: relocation of the towns themselves.
SUMMARY: In March, FEMA ended its temporary housing program for people affected by Hurricane Irma, which slammed the Florida Keys in September 2017. But as rebuilding continues after one of the costliest storms in U.S. history, shelter for survivors and volunteers continues to be a major challenge in an area known for a critical shortage of affordable housing. Special correspondent Alicia Menendez reports.
SUMMARY: A wide-ranging disaster relief bill failed in the Senate Monday due to a disagreement about federal aid for Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, the island territory is struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria's damaging blow a year and a half ago. Lisa Desjardins reports on the stalled legislation, and John Yang talks to Associated Press reporter Danica Coto about what’s at stake for Puerto Rico's people.
SUMMARY: In the 11 days since Northern California's Camp Fire ignited, residents have experienced “hell on earth." Firefighters have now contained about 66 percent of the fire. But as rain approaches, rescuers scramble to locate the nearly 1,000 people still missing--fearing that piles of ash will become treacherous mud. William Brangham speaks with Jim Wood, a forensic dentist helping to identify victims.
SUMMARY: The Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise but is now 70 percent contained, marking progress for Northern California. Predicted rain should reduce risk of additional fires, but heavy smoke and threats of mudslides and flooding loom over residents’ heads. The situation remains dire for the thousands who lost their homes. William Brangham talks to Mat Honan of BuzzFeed News from South Lake Tahoe.
SUMMARY: California's recent spate of wildfires has caused devastating death and destruction. Can scientific experimentation help us minimize the scope of fire disasters? Scientists at the National Fire Research Laboratory in Gaithersburg, Maryland, are studying how materials burn and combust, in an effort to inform us about avoiding and mitigating fires. Science producer Nsikan Akpan has the details.
SUMMARY: In the areas of California hit hard by recent wildfires, displaced residents are struggling to find shelter. In some of these places, like Chico, there was already a housing shortage even before the fires hit. What resources are available to help? Judy Woodruff speaks with Raquel Dillon of KQED for an update on the services being provided by FEMA and other organizations during the crisis.
SUMMARY: President Trump has said the federal government in "totally prepared" for Hurricane Florence, but the federal reaction to Hurricanes Harvey and Maria last year have raised questions about the nation’s disaster response. Judy Woodruff talks with former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate and Chris Currie, a Director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
SUMMARY: How do meteorologists and scientists make predictions about the power and trajectory of a hurricane? Buckle up. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien joins a crew of scientists who fly right into the eye of Hurricane Florence.
SUMMARY: In the months since Hurricane Maria, studies estimating the death toll in Puerto Rico have far exceeded the government's initial figure. But President Trump is denying a conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the storm, and defending the government's response. John Yang talks with Philip Bump from the Washington Post.
SUMMARY: As Hurricane Florence was closing in on the Carolina coast this week, the role of climate change in intensifying weather was back in the national conversation. Amna Nawaz talks with Radley Horton of Columbia University about the link between climate change and sea level rise and rising temperatures.
SUMMARY: The death toll from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year was far larger than known, according to a new study. At least 4,645 people on the island are estimated to have died as a result of the storm and devastation that followed, far exceeding the official number of 64. Judy Woodruff talks with Sarah Varney of Kaiser Health News.
