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America's Leading Research Universities...
are helping communities better predict, mitigate, and prepare for disasters.
In a time when natural disasters are increasing in severity and frequency, America's leading research universities are stepping up to play a crucial role in preparing and protecting our communities from these events.
Whether by developing software to streamline disaster response, or creating fire-detection systems to stop the spread of wildfires - America's scientific researchers are working tirelessly to enhance resilience and save lives.
The University of Wisconsin Uses AI for Better Hurricane Prediction
The University of Wisconsin–Madison may be the birthplace of satellite meteorology, but scientists on campus have never stopped developing new ways for space-based instruments to protect and improve the lives of people back on Earth. When Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida in September of 2024 as a furious, category-4 storm, it was preceded by estimates of wind strength and direction from AI tools university researchers developed. This kind of advance warning can spare the lives of people in the path of storms like Helene, and protect their homes and businesses.
Arizona State University Experts Prevent Fires From Running Rampant
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a “revolutionary” system to reduce the death and devastation caused by wildfires. Wildfire Awareness and Risk Management, or WARM, is a fire-detecting and risk-mitigating system that improves the effectiveness of fire sensors while adjusting electric power grid operation — specifically those that relate to power lines and other equipment that run through remote areas, where wildfires can run rampant before anyone gets wind of them.
University of California, Los Angeles Supports Wildfire Recovery by Testing Soil for Toxins
A UCLA team uses spectrometry techniques to test for heavy metals like lead and arsenic, human-made PFAS (so-called “forever chemicals”) and other potentially hazardous pollutants. The hope they provide? That homeowners can have peace of mind and go back and live in their house.
University Research Driving Innovation in Wildfire Recovery and Response
Research shows that wildfires in the United States are becoming larger, more frequent, and more widespread now than in the past. Beyond immediate death and destruction, wildfires also affect communities in the long term – they can contaminate drinking water; lead to habitat loss for wildlife; cause lingering adverse health effects; and even increase the risk of preterm birth.
Scientists at America’s leading research universities are working to fully understand both the short- and long-term effects of wildfires and to help communities become more resilient to these fast-moving disasters.
Find out more about how America's leading research universities are taking disasters head-on:
From AI-powered hurricane forecasts to real-time wildfire detection, UW–Madison’s CIMSS is turning satellite data into life-saving tools — improving disaster response, aviation safety, and severe weather alerts across the U.S.
University of Kansas researchers unveiled Sentinel GreenReport Plus — a free web app using high-res satellite data to monitor vegetation, drought, and crop health across the U.S., helping farmers, researchers, and policymakers make data-informed decisions.
A new Rice University report finds over half of Houston-area workers lost income from 2024 storms. Power outages, food loss, and property damage compounded financial stress — with many residents facing lasting hardship as hurricane season returns.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s NICS platform is now used worldwide to help first responders coordinate during disasters. Originally built for wildfires, it now supports crises from floods to pandemics — improving communication, situational awareness, and lives saved.
