Mitch Smith

2 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | Mitch Smith |Isabelle Taft |Rachel Nostrant |Amy Graff

Rivers were rising rapidly across much of the Midwest and South on Saturday, prompting water rescues, evacuation orders and road closures as a relentless storm continued to dump rain. The increased flooding, which was happening from Texas to Ohio, came after days of heavy rains and tornadoes that killed at least 14 people, including a Missouri firefighter who died while responding to a water rescue call Friday and a 74-year-old found trapped in a submerged vehicle in Kentucky.

2 months ago | news.nestia.com | Mitch Smith |Eden Weingart |June Kim

Wildfires Are Revealing the Limits of Our Hydrant Systems Firefighters struggled to control the Palisades fire as it tore through neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades earlier this month. Mark Abramson for The New York Times By Mitch Smith, Eden Weingart and June Kim Jan. 24, 2025 As firefighters scrambled to extinguish the wildfires consuming neighborhoods across Los Angeles County this month, they often found that the hydrants outside the burning houses were not much help.

Jan 11, 2025 | bostonglobe.com | Mitch Smith

When the flames in Los Angeles County are finally extinguished, the region will face the costly, time-consuming, and heart-wrenching task of hauling away tons of toxic rubble. Given the scale of devastation in and around America’s second-largest city, that cleanup could become one of the country’s most complex debris removal efforts ever. In each of the thousands of ash piles where homes once stood, there are remnants of lives upended.

Oct 22, 2024 | bostonglobe.com | Mitch Smith

Genesee County in Michigan, home to Flint and the birthplace of General Motors, has been loyal to the Democratic Party for decades. But after years of challenges — the closure of auto plants, an exodus of residents, a water crisis — the liberal stronghold is becoming a bona fide battleground. And with about 400,000 residents, the county could help tip the presidential election in this critical swing state.

Sep 30, 2023 | msn.com | Mitch Smith