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As the West burns, a town fields its own amateur firefighters

Carl Segerstrom

September 05, 2018 |

High Country News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dufur, Oregon

In the town of Dufur, Oregon, local residents have been acting as firefighters to protect their fields and homes, using farming equipment to bury dry vegetation and tanks of water to put out the flames. While this has been the norm for years – because of the length of time it takes professional firefighters to arrive – the recent increase in wildfires is calling into question the safety of this informal fire fighting and figuring out how to work together with professionals.

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These Cottages Were Built to Defy Storms—and Pricey Rent—in the Florida Keys

Nicole Javorsky

August 27, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Florida

Affordable housing for Florida Keys residents is often vulnerable to damage or destruction by extreme weather. The Monroe County Land Trust has created housing that is both affordable for county residents and built to withstand floods and wind.

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How Forecasting Models Are Changing the Way We Fight Fires

Jenessa Duncombe

August 17, 2018 |

Eos |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

The National Weather Service has been helping firefighting crews better prepare for and fight wildfires. They’ve developed a model called the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh-Smoke (HRRR-Smoke) to show where there’s higher smoke density and what direction it’s heading toward. The agency is hoping to continue their work to become better at preventative measures so that towns and cities can prepare ahead of time.

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What are coastal nuclear power plants doing to address climate threats?

John Vidal

August 08, 2018 |

Ensia |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Somerset

The World Nuclear Association counts 50 nuclear power plants being built, with 150 more in the planning stages. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, nuclear plants on coasts began to be built with contingencies that account for sea-level rise. But new studies suggest that many such plans rely on outdated climate change projections.

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3,000 Rohingya refugees train to tackle natural disasters

Kelli Rogers

August 02, 2018 |

Devex |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh, Cox's Bazar

Bangladesh has become a leader in disaster preparedness through its strategy of training thousands of community members to give early warnings on cyclones and other disasters. This approach has saved thousands of lives and has become a model for other countries. Now the country is training Rohingya refugees living in Bangladeshi camps after fleeing persecution in Myanmar to do similar work as they face threats of widespread damage due to cyclones.

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A unique nature insurance policy aims to preserve Mexico's Great Mayan Reef

Shay Meinecke

June 29, 2018 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Cancún

Coral reefs can dramatically reduce the power of a wave's energy, making the impact of severe storms (such as hurricanes) less devastating. In order for this to work, however, the coral reefs have to be healthy. In Mexico, the government and The Nature Conservancy have collaborated with a reinsurance firm, reef engineers and oceanographers to figure out how to create an insurance plan that uses tourism dollars to guarantee reefs will restored should they be harmed.

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What Alabama Can Teach You about Storm Resilience

Emily Nonko

June 18, 2018 |

Next City |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Mobile, Alabama

After witnessing the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina, changemakers in Alabama took control of creating a more accountable insurance system that valued weather-resilient home construction.

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How a Low-Tech Solution Helped Anchorage, Alaska's Gardeners

Sara Hudson

June 13, 2018 |

Slate |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Anchorage, Alaska

Starting small has had a big impact in Anchorage, Alaska as the city looks at low-tech composting solutions that could alleviate their growing landfill problem. By revisiting a once-failed attempt to encourage composting, the local government found a way to not only build trust with the community, but also increase sustainability and resiliency efforts city-wide.

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Singapore using virtual reality in counterrorism

Nurfilzah Rohaidi

June 12, 2018 |

GovInsider |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Singapore

Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality optimize limited public safety resources and help officers better respond to complex situations under pressure. As Singapore invests in such technologies, the focus is always on improving the capabilities of frontline officers, says Ng Yeow Boon, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ tech chief.

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Trump Wants to Arm Teachers. These Schools Already Do.

Erica Green, Manny Fernandez

March 01, 2018 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Sidney, Ohio

Amidst a backdrop of growing conversation around gun control and reform, especially as it pertains to school shooting incidents, President Trump suggests the solution is arming teachers. Some schools, however, have already done this to varying degrees of success and acceptance.

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