The southeastern coastal states are no strangers to hurricane fury. As the globe continues to warm, scientists predict that these powerful storms will only get more destructive – packing higher winds and torrential rainfall. A recent study published in Risk Analysis projects a staggering 76% increase in wind-related losses for homeowners in this region by the year 2060, and a whopping 102% increase by 2100.

University of Illinois civil engineer Eun Jeong Cha led a team that used machine learning to simulate the impact of future hurricanes on wooden single-family homes with concrete masonry in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Their worst-case scenario projections were based on the highest possible greenhouse gas emissions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The results are dire: losses from wind and rain-ingress will be 49-76% higher by 2060 and 71-102% higher by 2100. Hurricane wind speeds in Texas will increase by 14% in the 2050s compared to present-day levels, making it the state with the highest expected losses.

Some inland counties, such as Charleston, South Carolina, may experience a relatively large percentage increase in projected risk. At the county level, Cha’s team found variations of hurricane risk associated with climate change and differences in regional preparation for hurricane wind hazards.

“The discrepancies we found emphasize the necessity of vast regional risk assessment for federal- and state-level resource allocation and risk mitigation planning,” says Cha.

Insurance models need to account for heavier rainfall and stronger winds. Hurricane winds account for over 40% of storm-related losses in the residential sector, causing $14 billion in expected annual costs to the U.S. economy. Yet most hurricane models used by insurance companies fail to consider the impact of climate change.

“The worst-case scenario is widely used to explore high-impact possibilities for long-term planning and resilience studies,” says Cha.

Accurately estimating hurricane hazards and resulting losses is essential, says Cha. “Our findings contribute significantly to our understanding of climate change impacts on hurricane risks, providing valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and the insurance industry.”

In the spring of 2011, Joplin, Missouri, was ravaged by an EF5 tornado that left a trail of destruction and devastation in its wake. The storm caused 161 fatalities, injured over 1,000 people, and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. Traditional methods of assessing damage after such disasters can take weeks or even months, delaying emergency response, insurance claims, and long-term rebuilding efforts.

However, new research from Texas A&M University might change that. Led by Dr. Maria Koliou, associate professor in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, researchers have developed a model that combines remote sensing, deep learning, and restoration modeling to speed up building damage assessments and predict recovery times after a tornado.

The model uses high-resolution satellite or aerial images from sources like NOAA to show the extent of damage across large areas. Deep learning algorithms then analyze these images to identify the severity of the damage accurately. The AI is trained before disasters by analyzing thousands of images of past events, learning to recognize visible signs of damage such as collapsed roofs, missing walls, and scattered debris.

Restoration modeling uses past recovery data, building and infrastructure details, and community factors like income levels or access to resources to estimate how long it might take for homes and neighborhoods to recover under different funding or policy conditions. When these three tools are combined, the model can quickly assess the damage and predict short- and long-term recovery timelines for communities affected by disasters.

Researchers used data from the 2011 Joplin tornado to test their model, finding that it could accurately classify the severity of damage and even estimate the tornado’s track. They believe their model has the potential to be critical in future disaster response, helping communities recover faster and more efficiently.

The research team is now working on adapting the model for other types of disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, as long as satellites can detect damage patterns. They aim to extend the model beyond damage assessment to include real-time updates on recovery progress and tracking recovery over time, allowing for more dynamic and informed decision-making as communities rebuild.

Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation. The technology has the potential to transform how emergency officials, insurers, and policymakers respond in the crucial hours and days after a storm by delivering near-instant assessments and recovery projections.

The recent surge in measles cases across the United States has experts sounding the alarm about the importance of vaccination. Pediatric infectious diseases specialists are reminding parents that measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious complications, including hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.

“The most effective way to prevent measles is vaccination,” emphasizes Dr. Caitlin Naureckas Li, MD MHQS, an infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “If parents are concerned that their child was exposed to measles or may have measles, they should call their child’s doctor. They should not attempt to treat measles on their own without a physician’s advice.”

According to Dr. Li and her colleagues, who recently published an article in Pediatrics, the risk of serious complications from measles is very real. In 2024, for example, 40% of people with confirmed measles were hospitalized, including 52% of children under 5 years old and 25% of those between 5-19 years old.

Moreover, the mortality rate for measles in the US is estimated to be one-three deaths per 1,000 infections. This risk is even higher for young children under 5 years old.

One of the most common complications of measles is pneumonia, which affects over 50% of cases. Measles can also impact the brain, leading to encephalitis in about one out of every 1,000 cases. SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), a nearly universally deadly brain disorder that occurs years after measles infection, is another potential complication that strikes one in 100,000 cases, with a higher risk for children under 1 year old.

“MMR vaccination is safe,” Dr. Li stresses. “This vaccine is the best way for families to protect their children from potentially life-threatening complications.”

In conclusion, experts urge parents to prioritize vaccination against measles and take any necessary precautions if they suspect exposure or infection. By doing so, they can help prevent serious complications and keep their children safe.