Natural Disasters

News about UB’s research and advocacy in extreme events and disaster response. (see all topics)

Meet an Expert
  • New York's Older Brick Buildings Are Especially Vulnerable to Extreme Events, such as Earthquakes and Hurricanes
    8/26/11
    To get a better idea of just how much damage even a moderate earthquake would cause to unreinforced masonry buildings, earthquake-engineering researchers in the University at Buffalo's MCEER are reconstructing brick walls like those in New York City buildings that are approximately 100 years old.
  • Earthquake + Hurricane = Powerful Reminders of the Vulnerability of Eastern Infrastructure, Say MCEER Engineers
    8/25/11
    As communities prepare for the hurricane, with many in the southeast evacuating, the earthquake that hit Virginia and the possibility that Hurricane Irene could hit the eastern U.S. serve as important reminders about the vulnerability of structures in these areas to the full range of extreme events, from earthquakes to hurricanes and terrorist attacks, say engineers at the University at Buffalo's MCEER (Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research).
  • Video Available: Earthquake Researcher Discusses East Coast Earthquake
    8/23/11
    Andre Filiatrault, PhD, director of the University at Buffalo's MCEER (Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research), met with media today to discuss the 5.9 magnitude that shook parts of the eastern U.S. and Canada.
  • Media Advisory: UB Expert Available to Discuss East Coast Earthquake
    8/23/11
    Andre Filiatrault, PhD, director of the University at Buffalo's MCEER (Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research), will be available to discuss the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck south of Washington DC and affected cities all along the eastern seaboard.
  • East Coast Earthquake was Moderate but Significant, says UB Earthquake Researcher
    8/23/11
    "The earthquake was moderate but significant because we haven't had very many earthquakes of this magnitude in the eastern United States or eastern Canada," said Andre Filiatrault, PhD, director of the University at Buffalo's MCEER (Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research).
  • 'Hacktivist' Groups Like 'Anonymous' are not the Biggest Threat to Cybersecurity, says UB Information Assurance Expert
    8/15/11
    UB Professor Shambhu Upadhyaya teaches and conducts research in the area of computer security. With hacker collectives carrying out high-profile cyber attacks -- most recently claiming to have stolen a large trove of data including personal information from U.S. law enforcement agencies -- Upadhyaya comments on how much of a threat these groups really pose to cybersecurity.
  • Fast-Shrinking Greenland Glacier Experienced Rapid Growth During Cooler Times
    7/14/11
    Large, marine-calving glaciers have the ability not only to shrink rapidly in response to global warming, but to grow at a remarkable pace during periods of global cooling, according to University at Buffalo geologists working in Greenland.
  • Be Still My Eyebrows: Researchers Say Liars Can't Completely Suppress Facial Expressions
    7/13/11
    Mark Frank has spent two decades studying the faces of people lying when in high-stakes situations and has good news for security experts. "Executing Facial Control During Deception Situations," a new study he co-authored with former graduate student Carolyn M. Hurley, PhD, reports that although liars can reduce facial actions when under scrutiny, they can't suppress them all.
  • UB to Hold Workshop on Methods for Analyzing Probabilities of Volcanic Hazards
    5/12/11
    The University at Buffalo will host the international workshop "Probabilistic Analysis of Volcanic Hazards" on May 16-19. Conference participants will include geologists, volcanologists and statisticians from several nations, who will consider current methodologies used in the analysis of volcanic hazards, including probability, randomness and statistical measures, in order to help define priorities for future research.
  • In an Extreme Year, Extreme Events Researchers Gather at Quake Summit 2011 to Discuss Resilience Against Earthquakes, Multiple Hazards
    5/5/11
    The 2011 earthquakes that struck New Zealand and Japan, research on improving nuclear power plant design, earthquake engineering research in the U.S. in the next quarter century and improving resilience of buildings, bridges and critical infrastructure are all on the agenda at Quake Summit 2011, Earthquake & Multi-Hazards Resilience: Progress and Challenges, in Buffalo, NY, June 9-11.