wildfire – The News Desk

Homes in parts of the U.S. are “essentially uninsurable” due to rising climate change risks

20Sep

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Money

Homes in parts of the U.S. are “essentially uninsurable” due to rising climate change risks

Millions of American homeowners like Mary Morse find themselves stuck in a financial bind, facing mounting risks from wildfires and floods linked to climate change while their home insurance rates rocket upwards. Increasingly, the crowning blow comes when insurers withdraw coverage, leaving individuals and even entire communities vulnerable."I got a letter from my insurance company that said, 'We're not going to serve your area anymore'," Morse, 75, told CBS News about her Pine Cove, California, home. "I even sent [the insurance agent] a picture of my fire hydrant. It didn't help."The growing risk of wildfire means that some parts of California are becoming "essentially 'uninsurable'," according to a new analysis from the First Street Foundation, a non-profit that studies climate risks, s...

Maui wildfire leaves behind “toxic air” that locals fear will affect their health for years to come

1Sep

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Health

Maui wildfire leaves behind “toxic air” that locals fear will affect their health for years to come

Weeks after a devastating wildfire ripped across the historic Maui town of Lahaina, residents are working to pick up the pieces of their homes' and businesses' remains. But the threat of the wildfire isn't over just yet – now, they're facing "toxic air." Wildfire smoke is known to cause a range of health issues, most notably breathing issues. But when they burn through cities, the flames also burn up industrial items, buildings, cars and a slew of other things that can release toxic chemicals. According to the state's Department of Health, "toxic contaminants present in debris and ash" remain a top hazard concern in Lahaina, as do other heavy metals and chemicals that may be in the ashen remains of the city, such as asbestos. Diana Felton, the state toxicologist, previously told Hawai'i P...

Oprah Winfrey, Dwayne Johnson launch the People’s Fund of Maui

31Aug

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Entertainment

Oprah Winfrey, Dwayne Johnson launch the People’s Fund of Maui

Oprah Winfrey, Dwayne Johnson launch the People's Fund of Maui - CBS News Watch CBS News Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson have teamed up to launch the People's Fund of Maui, which aims to provide immediate and ongoing assistance to those devastated by the Maui wildfires. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Meta’s News Block Causes Chaos as Canada Burns

28Aug

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Technology

Meta’s News Block Causes Chaos as Canada Burns

The surrounding Charlotte County covers 1,323 square miles of territory—about twice the area of Greater London, and four times the size of New York City—with a population of just 26,015. Its location means it’s faster to row a boat to the US than drive almost anywhere else in Canada. It’s far from an anomaly. Nearly 7 million Canadians live in rural or remote areas—about one-sixth of the country’s population.“Facebook has never been a numbers grab for us, because we live in such a small part of the world,” CHCO-TV news director Hogarth says. Instead, she sees her outlet’s Facebook page—currently followed by 28,000 people—as a way to keep locals connected on events and issues that matter to them.St. Andrews is a postage stamp of a town in a quintessentially rural area. Without the local ca...