Lauren Sommer
Correspondent at NPR
Climate correspondent for @NPR, West Coast-based. Wildfires, water, oceans, adaptation and accountability. @KQEDscience alum.
Articles
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4 weeks ago |
laist.com | Lauren Sommer
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4 weeks ago |
laist.com | Lauren Sommer
Homeowners in Los Angeles have started the long process of rebuilding after the destructive wildfires in January. Some are constructing homes that are much less likely to burn when the next wildfire hits. That's because California is one of the few states with building codes that require using fire-resistant materials in places prone to wildfires.
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4 weeks ago |
nhpr.org | Lauren Sommer
The wildfires in LA were so large, they burned areas that weren't considered at risk. That means as residents start the process of rebuilding, thousands of them won't be required to use fire-resistant building materials. Experts say those materials dramatically reduce the chance a house will burn. But now, Los Angeles officials are changing the rules to require more homeowners to use these materials - a rare example of tightening the rules post-disaster, instead of loosening them. Copyright 2025 NPR
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2 months ago |
kpbs.org | Lauren Sommer
For the first time in years, a rare bird is flying free in the forests of Hawaii. The ʻalalā is a species of crow found only on the Hawaiian Islands, one that holds an important place in Native Hawaiian culture. When it was clear decades ago that the chatty, intelligent birds were heading toward extinction, they were brought into captivity as a last resort. They went extinct in the wild in 2002.
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2 months ago |
kpbs.org | Lauren Sommer
More than 200 employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been fired, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA. The move is part of the Trump Administration's sweeping layoffs across government which have led to thousands so far losing their jobs. The loss is likely to hinder FEMA's ability to respond to disasters, according to several current and former FEMA employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity over concerns of reprisal.
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For 25 years, FEMA has helped develop building codes that help homes survive floods and hurricanes. Now, FEMA is pulling back on that work, taking its name off recommendations its experts have written. On NPR today https://t.co/T32mCUpQ23
Los Angeles has wildfire policies that are far tougher than many other states. But the recent fires show there’s still big gaps. https://t.co/nQHX6Ef7DG
The 1-year anniversary of Maui's fires is this week. Many of the destroyed properties were built right on the water. With sea levels rising, the community is debating whether they should be rebuilt at all - on @NPR today https://t.co/GqHFJXMLQQ