Welcome back to Disaster Discourse Monthly!

Welcome back to Disaster Discourse Monthly. This month, we offer updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Atlantic Hurricane Season, and the fires continuing to impact the Western United States (US).

The COVID-19 Pandemic…

To date, the US has recorded more than 9.2 million cases and more than 230,000 deaths resulting from COVID-19. According to a recent survey by the New York Times, more than 214,000 cases and at least 75 deaths have been linked to colleges and universities over the course of the pandemic – a dramatic increase since the New York Times reported in August that 26,000 cases had been linked to colleges and universities across the country.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season continues to bring storms to the US…

Over the course of this historic Atlantic Hurricane Season, Louisiana residents have been in the potential path of seven tropical systems. Hurricane Delta was the tenth named storm and fifth hurricane to strike the continental United States (this season) and the first Greek-letter hurricane to make US landfall. Additionally, Hurricane Zeta, the sixth name storm in the Greek alphabet, was a powerful Category 2 storm when it made landfall in southern Louisiana late last week.

Fires in the West…

In the Western US, ten states are battling 39 large, active fires. California’s largest fire group, the August Complex, burned nearly 900,000 acres of northern California to date since igniting on August 16 but is showing signs of slowing down with 93 percent containment. Colorado and Oregon also continue to battle their own large fires. The Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado has ballooned to cover 208,913 acres and threatened Fort Collins and the surrounding region.

Thanks for reading. We’ll see you next month and stay healthy!