On Feb. 22, a magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, killing nearly 200 people and causing $12 billion in damage. About three weeks later, a massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck northern Honshu, Japan. The quake and tsunami killed about 30,000 people and caused an estimated $310 billion in damage. Both events are stark reminders of human vulnerability to natural disasters and provide a harsh reality check: Even technologically advanced countries with modern building codes are not immune from earthquake disasters.

The American Geological Institute (AGI) has made available the recorded version of the webinar roundtable A Secure Future for Energy, Environment and Hazard Mitigation: Retaining students through the Student-to-Professional Continuum in the Geosciences.""

A Secure Future for Energy, Environment and Hazard Mitigation: Retaining students through the Student-to-Professional Continuum in the Geosciences. April 18, 2011: 2:00 - 3:00 pm (US EDT)

While homes are being lost and firefighters go about the dangerous work of fighting the Santa Barbara wildfires in California, EARTH magazine is reporting on new research that highlights a different approach: When fires near in, consider staying and defending your home instead of evacuating.

Many ongoing natural processes and human activities can displace the ground under our homes and communities at considerable economic cost and human suffering. The best solutions to these unstable ground problems are based on awareness of where and how they occur. Living with Unstable Ground, written by Dr. Thomas L. Holzer of the U.S. Geological Survey, explains how soil types, slope movements, catastrophic collapses, and regional ground movement affect communities and how to mitigate these disruptive, dangerous, and costly problems.

About 75 million Americans in 39 states face a significant risk from a strong earthquake. Because of this significant risk, the Congressional Hazards Caucus Coalition will sponsor an earthquake hazards briefing Tuesday, September 20 at 3:00 pm, in room 2325 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill.

The American Geological Institute (AGI), as an active member of the Congressional Hazards Caucus Coalition, helps to provide resources on the mitigation and response to natural hazards. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, AGI would like to remind the public of the availability of information and educational tools related to understanding the causes and effects of hurricanes as well as preparing for and responding these events.

Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting at least seven Atlantic hurricanes this year, with as many as five matching Ivan's destructive force. In light of the hurricane season predictions, the Congressional Hazards Caucus Coalition will sponsor two one-hour briefings on "Hurricanes: Lessons Learned to Reduce Future Risk," on Capitol Hill, Monday July 11, 2005.

In light of the recent tsunami disaster in Indonesia and other parts of Asia, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the American Geological Institute (AGI), is providing copies of the Global GIS DVD-ROM to U.S. Department of State-led teams traveling to Humanitarian Information Centers in affected areas.