"Wild" earthquake in Delaware highlights lesser-known seismic risks

On Thursday, November 30, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that an earthquake struck Delaware, with its epicenter just northeast of the state's capital. Reports show that it was felt as far north as Newark and as far west as Washington, though at a very mild intensity. While the quake didn’t seem to cause substantial damage or loss of life, it stood out as being an uncommon event for the region. Initial computer-generated reports of its magnitude ranged from 4.4 to 5.1, but experts later determined that it was actually a 4.1 on the Richter scale. This 4.1 measure is 10 times less intense than the earthquake’s highest magnitude estimation of 5.1.

$3B disaster balance enough for immediate Harvey response

The federal government has — for now — enough disaster aid money to deal with the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, but the ongoing storm appears sure to require a multibillion-dollar recovery package as did Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster fund currently contains about $3 billion, and top congressional aides said Monday that they have assurances from the Trump administration that it will be sufficient to deal with immediate needs such as debris removal and temporary shelter for tens of thousands of Texans displaced from their homes.

100th anniversary of the Spanish Flu: Has the world become more resilient to pandemics?

One hundred years ago, the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic infected one third of the global population, killing between 50 and 100 million people, and representing both the deadliest and fastest epidemic in human history. Two-thirds of these deaths occurred in 10-weeks during the autumn of 1918. Within the United States, the Spanish flu killed about as many individuals as AIDs would over 40 years. Major cities such as New York City and Philadelphia saw slowdowns of commerce as streets and large gathering areas emptied out. Unlike most other strains of the influenza virus, this strain killed millions of young adults with strong immune systems; in fact, this strength became a weakness because the Spanish Flu killed individuals by causing their immune systems to react so powerfully that it caused them to asphyxiate from bloody coughing and bleeding from different orifices, usually resulting in death. Breakthroughs in medical technology, such as vaccinations, and the advancement of scientific knowledge since the Spanish Flu pandemic have provided practitioners new tools to prevent epidemics.

160,000 residents flee Puerto Rico in search of opportunities in Florida

Over two months ago, Hurricane Maria moved across Puerto Rico, bringing 155 mph winds that wiped out power transmission lines and shut down running water. This left the U.S. territory in a vulnerable position, as its 3.4 million residents began their long wait for communication, electricity, and water systems to come back online. Many families who lost everything in the storm and faced the impossibility of the storm-ravaged conditions sought to migrate to the U.S.

5G: Striking a balance between resilience and risk

On Friday November 1st, China unveiled the world’s largest 5G network in 50 cities, including Shanghai and Beijing. China Mobile and other telecom companies now offer 5G plans, starting at 18USD for 30 gigabytes per month, however, many companies are charging by speed rather than by month. It is estimated by 2020, 7% of China’s population will use 5G, and the country hopes to continue to expand its coverage. Striking a balance between managing vulnerabilities and advancing resilience through the development of 5G technology remains a challenge for current and future policymakers.