Research Counts

The importance of getting disaster lessons into the hands of those who need it is more pressing than ever. Lori Peek describes a new Natural Hazards Center platform to do just that—Research Counts is dedicated to giving experts an opportunity to apply their knowledge to current disasters, as well as ponder new questions.

Most people want to return home after a disaster, but they need something to return to. Learn about how community leaders and entrepreneurs provide the seeds to regrowing communities.

What do children need after a disaster? Drawing from lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina, Fothergill and Peek highlight six critical spheres in a child's life that need additional support when disaster strikes.

Safe and contamination-free spaces in shelters for infant feeding can substantially improve the evacuation and displacement experience for families in disaster.

Recovering from disaster is hard enough, but when people are forced relocate—especially lower-income women—they can lose the help of family and friends who might make it easier.

After a disaster, people with disabilities face different challenges in recovery. Laura Stough looks at the myriad of resources and services that need to be rebuilt with an eye to future resilience.

The area where vulnerable populations live often have equally vulnerable infrastructure. Marccus Hendricks examines how increased risk can be literally built into some neighborhoods.

Long-term recovery work often falls to nonprofit and community groups. Good coordination at the outset can make all the difference in their success.

Even in a fast-growing city like Houston, there's much that can be done to protect residents from flood risk—and improve the urban experience in the process. Philip Berke gives examples in this follow up for Research Counts.

Lightening fast growth into wetlands and low-lying areas—with little attention to flood sensitive development planning—has left Houston uniquely susceptible to storm impacts.

During hurricane recovery, the focus is often on the work being done to rebuild. Elizabeth Fussell reminds us that those who do the work are often taken advantage of in the rush to return communities to normal.

Disasters are understandably frightening for children, but there are steps that parents and teachers can take to ensure more positive outcomes.

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey left a special soup of petrochemicals, sewage, and other dangers lurking in floodwaters. Kathleen Tierney discusses what we know—and don't know—about what's in the water.

Rebuilding after a hurricane isn't just a matter of replacing what was lost. Communities need to consider how to make sure homes and infrastructure are ready to withstand subsequent events, as well.