Fires are a natural part of the landscape and essential for many species. But scores of fires at once were more than anyone bargained for.

Puffy to wispy, barely there or dark and menacing, clouds come in many shapes and sizes. Each tells a story about what’s going on in the atmosphere.

NOAA’s work has kept fisheries from collapsing, helped coastal ecosystems survive extreme heat and battled invasive species, among many other tasks essential to coastal economies.

The latest floods exposed the deep vulnerability of many mountain communities in eastern Kentucky, where land ownership patterns and other barriers to recovery can leave residents with few options.

The latest floods exposed the deep vulnerability of many mountain communities in eastern Kentucky, where land ownership patterns and other barriers to recovery can leave residents with few options.

NOAA operates fleets of satellites, sensors on airplanes and ocean-going buoys, as well as radar, providing the data used by weather forecasters nationwide – and freely available to anyone.

FEMA pools national resources to help states quickly manage disasters. Without that federal support, each state would be left to build its own expensive response capabilities.

The LA wildfires stand as a reminder that evacuating fast in the face of a disaster isn’t easy, even when you think you’re prepared.

Rain on land burned by a series of devastating fires in the Los Angeles area has the potential to contribute to flooding and debris flows.

In the Los Angeles area, the potential for rain on land burned by a series of devastating fires has people on edge.