After Lahaina fire, Hawaii residents address their risk by becoming 'Firewise'

The ALERT California system is a network of 1,000 cameras using machine learning to identify wildfires in remote, high-risk areas. When a fire is detected, the system sends an alert to operators and emergency responders monitoring the technology. AI helps detect fires sooner, improving firefighting efforts and improving disaster recovery.

The Community Brigade program is a partnership with the LA County Fire Department that works to bolster community wildfire preparation and response by training volunteers on how to fight against and recover from wildfires, most recently proving to be extremely effective against the Palisades fires and during recovery efforts.

The Chithari River Restoration Project (CRRP) is reviving local aquaculture, biodiversity, and wildlife in Kerala, India. Supported by local community organizing and resources from government-backed Agro Service Centers, the project established a biodiversity management committee responsible for removing invasive species and reinforcing riverbeds with native plants and fertilizers. In its first year, 70% of the planted vegetation has taken root, earning praise from state government facilitators. Kerala is the first state in India to establish biodiversity committees across all 1,200 of its local bodies.

In the Indian state of Bihar, women-led self-help groups are challenging traditional gender norms and saving money to buy and install solar irrigation pumps. The pumps increase the local agricultural capacity by providing a cleaner, more affordable alternative to the diesel pumps typically used to combat water scarcity in the region.

Community-led volunteer groups in the American Southeast are clearing undergrowth by lighting prescribed burns to prevent future forest fires and make space for longleaf pine trees to grow. Much of their work is done on private property, where state governments are cautious to send the burners they employ because of liability concerns.

The community in Jakhni, India, reimplemented old farming practices, like building embankments to trap rainwater and planting trees to prevent erosion, to combat severe drought.

The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) started working with people who have disabilities to create better disaster preparedness measures that consider disabilities, ensuring support and shelter are accessible to anyone and everyone. ACI held an overnight shelter simulation exercise that allowed them to practice each step of an emergency shelter response with people who have disabilities to identify any areas that could be improved. These simulations have become a model for other counties across the state, inspiring more shelters to make improvements to their accessibility.

On its journey to become the first climate-resilient nation, Dominica created an early warning system for extreme weather. Once the warning reaches the national level, the information is distributed to communities where a network of local authorities spread the word. From there, neighbors and friends check in with each other, and traditional conch shells are blown as a warning, too.

After being hit by two natural disasters in one year, cities, Indigenous tribes, and government agencies in Whatcom County on the Nooksack River are working together to create a new plan to deal with flood risk and salmon restoration. The Floodplain Integrated Planning team is overcoming distrust among its partners to build a more holistic plan that incorporates tested solutions like fish-friendly floodgates, levee repairs, and property buyouts to remove homes that will continue to be flooded in the future.

Burying electrical lines underground — a process called undergrounding — can prevent wildfires and mass power outages. Most of the country’s existing electric infrastructure is above ground and outdated, which is something cities at risk for wildfires are beginning to address.