Disaster relief

Professor builds tool to help cities bounce back faster after disaster

The tool is designed to help emergency management officials prioritize relief efforts, particularly for clearing roads of debris.

by Allie Nicodemo February 15, 2018

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO Yabucoa after the passage of Hurricane Maria. In the photo village of Yabucoa (Photo Andre Kang / andre.kang@gfrmedia.com (GDA via AP Images)

In Puerto Rico, opportunity in the wake of disaster

This month, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, tearing up aging electrical infrastructure and stranding 3.5 million Americans without electricity for what could be months. But there’s a glimmer of hope, according to two Northeastern engineering professors. The destruction of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure offers an opportunity to rethink it entirely.

by Molly Callahan September 29, 2017

Puerto Rico native and Northeastern student Laura Rivera, DMSB/AMD'19, sorts though donations for the people of Puerto Rico at the Latinx Student Cultural Center on Wednesday. Rivera is leading the effort on campus to collect household items. <i>Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University</i>

Students support relief efforts for Puerto Rico

Life has been a whirlwind for Laura Rivera since Hurricane Maria struck her native Puerto Rico, causing devastating damage, knocking out power, and leading to food and water shortages. Rivera, a fourth-year student at Northeastern, is leading a donation drive on campus and a fundraising campaign among Boston-area college students.

by Greg St. Martin September 28, 2017

Juan Antonio Higuey, right, shows his destroyed home at Cold Bay community after the passage of Hurricane Irma, in St. Martin, Monday, September 11, 2017. Irma cut a path of devastation across the northern Caribbean, leaving thousands homeless after destroying buildings and uprooting trees. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

After recent disasters, Northeastern students, faculty help map crisis response

In the past month, hurricanes have pummeled Caribbean islands and regions of the U.S. With such catastrophic damage, it can be difficult to know where to begin recovery efforts. Enter Northeastern students and faculty, who are using geospatial technology to help map the destruction and aid rescue groups in identifying critical areas for response.

by Molly Callahan September 25, 2017

09/19/17 - BOSTON, MA. - A 'Crazy Flie' drone in Taskin Padir's lab in Richards hall on Sept. 19, 2017. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University

Northeastern researchers design robots to assist with disaster relief

A swarm of autonomous aerial robots may one day be deployed after natural disasters to take stock of the damage and assist in relief efforts. That’s the goal of a Northeastern research team developing such a robot.

by Allie Nicodemo September 21, 2017

The social side of Sandy

Marvin Nauman/FEMA photo When disaster strikes, we rely on our social networks for support. During hurricane Sandy, neighbors helped neighbors…

by Angela Herring March 8, 2013